BREEDING RESOURCES
NKCUSA Breeding Committee
Your resource for Best Breeding Practices, forms, health testing information, and educational articles for breeders of Nederlandse Kooikerhondje; as well as the Breeders’ Directory.
The mission of this committee is to benefit the future of the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje by providing informational resources and educational support to all Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the USA members interested in breeding the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje. Committee goals are: to promote knowledge of and breeding to the AKC approved breed standard; to promote quality and integrity in all aspects and issues regarding breeding, care, rearing, placement and continuing breeder responsibility to the purebred Nederlandse Kooikerhondje; and to promote open communication in regard to continuing development and support for more informed, responsible, committed and ethical breeding practices.
NKCUSA Breeding Committee Scope
1. To encourage participation in NKCUSA health testing recommendations and participation in the Health and Litter Database by providing information to the VHNK through the Breeding Committee.
2. To develop and provide programs for breeder development and education to assist NKCUSA members in understanding breeder responsibilities, ethics, and issues.
3. To promote educational development and more informed breeding choices by supporting study of the AKC approved Nederlandse Kooikerhondje standard, pedigrees, health, and temperament issues.
4. To develop and maintain Breeder Referral materials including a list of NKCUSA breeders, a list of upcoming litters, and a list of stud dogs for dissemination to Breeder Referral inquiries as well as for the NKCUSA website.
5. To offer informational resources regarding the breeding of the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje for NKCUSA members; to always foster an open, non-judgmental, and unbiased dialogue among breeders, the committee and the board that encourages member growth, participation and information dissemination to those members interested in breeding.
6. Provide, coordinate and host an annual breeder educational conference at the NKCUSA National Specialty. Topics will benefit both the novice and experienced breeder.
7. Continually update and maintain educational information for the NKCUSA membership with the inclusion of Kooiker Chronicle articles, a page on the NKCUSA website, and provide additional informational resource materials as needed to benefit novice and experienced breeders alike.
For NKCUSA Members who wish to breed . . .
Members who wish to breed Nederlandse Kooikerhondje should do so with the full understanding of the responsibility they bear to the future of this breed. Breeders are expected to understand the breed standard, the traits in a breeding dog’s immediate and extended family, the application of the principles of genetics, and abide by the NKCUSA Breeders' Code of Ethics and Best Breeding Practices (see below). Additionally, breeders should have a practical knowledge of mating; care of the bitch in whelp; the rearing of a litter; and the time, effort, and resources to engage in this activity.
Educational Opportunities
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AKC Canine College Courses for Breeders https://www.caninecollege.akc.org/collections/courses-for-breeders
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Institute of Canine Biology Genetic courses http://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/courses.html
NKCUSA Breeders' Code of Ethics
As Breeders, we will respect the history and tradition of the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje, and work to protect, promote and safeguard the breed. We have studied the approved AKC Breed Standard and the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of The United States of America's "Best Breeding Practices" and strive to abide by the principles described therein.
I hereby affirm that I will strive to follow the Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the USA Code of Ethics and NKCUSA Breeder's Code of Ethics.
I believe breeding purebred dogs involves certain responsibilities and I will not take that responsibility lightly.
Additionally, I will:
1. Take full responsibility for any puppies I cause to be produced and agree to take back or assist in re-homing any dog at any point in their life if the owner can no longer keep the dog. (http://www.akc.org/dog-breeders/responsible-breeding/)
2. Report all litters, including registered names and numbers, to the NKCUSA Breeding Committee for inclusion in The Dutch Club Register and ZooEasy.
3. Take the necessary safeguards in preventing the breeding of any of my dogs that would result in un-registered or crossbred puppies.
4. Not do a breeding to only satisfy sales demand or for the sole purpose of economic gain nor encourage buyers to regard the breeding potential of a dog/puppy as a business or a way to increase their income. (http://www.akc.org/dog-breeders/responsible-breeding/)
5. Advertise dogs/puppies factually and honestly, both in substance and implication.
6. Not make unverifiable claims regarding the health or genetic status of my dogs, and always include OFA or CHIC numbers in all advertising.
7. Not allow any puppy or litter to be displayed in public places for the purpose of immediate sale, nor sold to commercial breeders, pet dealers, pet stores, pet wholesalers, or pet brokers, nor offered as raffle or contest prizes, or any other type of giveaway or auction.
NKCUSA Breeders' Best Practices
9. A bitch should deliver no more than two litters in any 24-month period.
10. Use the stud dog selectively. The stud dog owner should consider explaining why a bitch is refused. The stud dog owner should be certain the owner of the bitch has the necessary knowledge and facilities to care for the puppies as long as it requires to properly place them.
11. Use the stud dog sparingly. Avoid “popular sire syndrome” by limiting the number of litters the stud dog sires. The use of fresh chilled or frozen semen both from within North America or abroad is a way to maintain genetic diversity. ***
12. Both owner of the bitch and stud dog shall maintain an active interest in each puppy produced for the lifetime of that puppy.
13. Provide the best of care to the litter including: feeding a high quality diet, providing an enriched environment, and appropriate socialization during the entire time in the breeder’s care.
14. Appropriate veterinary care should be given, including but not limited to de-worming when appropriate, and vaccinations as advised by veterinarian. Only a healthy puppy is to be turned over to the new owner.
15. Supply the new owner with instructions in feeding and continued socialization.
16. Release puppies to a new home only after the age of eight weeks and identified by microchip.
17. Breeders/sellers should request that owners advise them and the NKCUSA Breeding Committee immediately if any diseases or conditions arise at any point in the life of the dog.
18. Encourage every new owner to complete health testing on their dog - whether intended for breeding or not - and report to the NKCUSA Breeding Committee as part of the international effort to improve and maintain health and longevity in the breed.
1. Make all breeding decisions to best benefit the breed. The breeding pair must both be in excellent health and free of any major health concerns.
2. Never undertake a breeding unless it is specifically to improve the structure or temperament of the dog that is bred. Breed only if able to distinguish between the correct and incorrect. Such ability presupposes careful study of the breed standard, the basic principles of genetics and the pedigrees of prospective stud and dam.
3. Breed only with full health testing according to the Canine Health Information Center (CHIC) as reported to the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA): *
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veterinary examination for Patellar Luxation,
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eye certification within one year of the planned breeding,
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OFA Hip certification **
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DNA Testing at the University of Utrecht in the Netherlands for hereditary necrotizing myelopathy (ENM) and von Willebrand’s Disease (vWD),
They should also be clear from other serious hereditary defects, so far as is currently known.
4. Ideally, dogs and bitches should be two years of age at first breeding. Bitches should have their first litter before six years of age, and should have their last litter no later than eight years of age.
5. All dogs considered for breeding should attain at least a Canine Good Citizen title from the American Kennel Club.
6. In consideration of the small gene pool, brood bitch and stud dog owners must use restraint and judgment in the repeated use of a brood bitch or stud dog. Care must be used to maintain genetic diversity and breeders should limit the number of puppies produced.
7. Remove from a breeding program any dog or bitch that is known to have repeatedly produced any significant condition that affects the physical or mental soundness of the progeny. This information can be gained only through active involvement and life-time interest in all dogs produced.
8. Repeat breedings of the same two parents are discouraged.
The “Best Breeding Practices” are subject to revision by the NKCUSA Health and Genetics Committee in conjunction with the NKCUSA Breeding Committee. Revisions become effective upon approval by the NKCUSA Board of Directors. These advisory practices are designed to stay abreast of the advances in animal genetics and husbandry. They represent the latest current knowledge from researchers both in North America and Europe. References to relevant research articles available upon request.
*The potential breeding of any animal with minor abnormalities on health testing should be discussed with the NKCUSA Health and Genetics Committee. ENM carriers must not be excluded from breeding programs, but must be mated only to dogs who are tested ENM Clear.
** There are two exceptions to a dog having a CHIC number. First, when using a foreign sire, the sire must have the health clearances required by the country in which he resides. Second, if a North American dog is to be used before its second birthday, it must have a preliminary evaluation of its hips done by OFA prior to breeding.
***Consultation with the NKCUSA Health and Genetics Committee is encouraged.
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AKC Canine College Courses for Breeders https://www.caninecollege.akc.org/collections/courses-for-breeders
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Institute of Canine Biology Genetic courses http://www.instituteofcaninebiology.org/courses.html
NKCUSA Stud Dogs
The Nederlandse Kooikerhondje Club of the USA (NKCUSA) maintains this directory of members active in breeding Nederlandse Kooikerhondjes and provides this list as a service to club members.
These breeders are in good standing with NKCUSA, have been members for a minimum of two years, and have paid a fee to be listed on this website.
Each has studied the AKC-approved Breed Standard and NKCUSA’s Best Breeding Practices and has signed NKCUSA’s Breeders Code of Ethics.
Under no circumstances does the NKCUSA guarantee the services of said member(s) or assume any responsibility or liability regarding any agreements you may enter in with any of the breeders listed.
The information listed has been provided to NKCUSA directly by the breeder. If an assertion has been made regarding health testing and it is later deemed to be untrue, this will be grounds for removal from this list.
NKCUSA does not endorse any kennel listed on these pages.
Stud Dog List
To Appear on this List:
If a NKCUSA member wishes to be listed, please fill and send in the Breeders Application (includes instructions for payment and mailing).
Remember to read the AKC-approved Breed Standard and NKCUSA’s Best Breeding Practices.
Then sign and attach a copy of NKCUSA’s Breeders Code of Ethics to the form before mailing.