The constitution of the Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Club reflects the desire of the membership to protect and advance the breeding of purebred Labrador Retrievers. To insure that stud dogs and brood bitches and their progeny listed by the Club have demonstrated basic characteristics of soundness and natural ability, and to assist and encourage the Breeder in evaluating his breeding stock, the following guidelines have been established.

1. Stud dogs and brood bitches should be AKC registered Labrador Retrievers.

2. Stud dogs and brood bitches should be certified radiographically free of hip and elbow dysplasia by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals or the Wind-Morgan Program in the GDC (Institute for Genetic Disease Control) or equivalent.

3. Stud dogs and brood bitches should be examined annually and certified free of eye diseases currently recognized as having a genetic basis by a board certified veterinary ophthalmologist.

4. Stud dogs and brood bitches must have earned at least one of the following:
   1. A Companion Dog title (CD) as awarded by the American Kennel Club (AKC),
   2. One (1) championship point in an AKC licensed dog show,
   3. Judges Award of Merit (JAM) or placement in an AKC licensed field trial, or a Hunting Retriever title as awarded by the AKC.
   4. A GGLRC Retrieving Dog Elementary Certificate defined as:
      1. A land retrieve at approximately 50 yards.
      2. Back-to-back water singles at approximately 50 yards. Dogs should show no hesitation in re-entering the water.
      3. Basic obedience training - heel, sit, down on lead, stay and recall.
      4. Appropriate birds will be used in all tests. Dogs should deliver birds to the area of the handler (within a radius of 6 feet). The dog should display boldness and desire in retrieves. Steadiness is not required, so a dog may be on leash prior to the retrieve command.

Although the following are not requirements of the Breeders' Code of Ethics, the GGLRC wishes to encourage breeders to use the following suggestions:

1. A breeder should evaluate the temperament of a prospective stud dog and brood bitch prior to breeding. Shyness and aggressiveness are not desirable Labrador Retriever characteristics.
2. A breeder should guarantee the general health of a sire and dam at the time of mating.
3. A breeder should guarantee the general health of the puppies at the time of sale.
4. A breeder should not supply puppies for resale through pet stores or other wholesale outlets.

Any litter may be recognized in the Club Newsletter as long as both sire and dam meet the minimum requirements, A through C above, and the breeder specifies that the performance requirements have been satisfied. OFA, Wind-Morgan, GDC, and CERF numbers or evaluations must accompany litter listing ad copy when submitted for publication to the newsletter.

All stud dogs owned by members in good standing of the GGLRC that have met the requirements of the Breeders' Code of Ethics may be listed in the GGLRC stud dog referral list if so desired.

In proposing the above suggestions, the members of the Golden Gate Labrador Retriever Club do not intend to dictate to individuals, but rather to offer these criteria as guidelines.