The ICCGB Ethical Breeding Code of Practice establishes the standards required of all breeders participating in the ICCGB Accredited Breeder Scheme.

This Code exists to protect the welfare of individual dogs, safeguard the integrity of the Cane Corso, and ensure long-term preservation of the breed.

Accreditation is conditional upon adherence to the principles outlined below.

Legal Compliance & Welfare

All breeders must:

• Comply fully with the Animal Welfare Act and all applicable UK breeding legislation.
• Comply with Lucy’s Law.
• Ensure puppies are microchipped with the breeder recorded as first keeper.
• Provide appropriate housing, nutrition, hydration, exercise, enrichment, and veterinary care.
• Maintain dogs in safe, secure environments and prevent roaming or nuisance behaviour.
• Ensure dogs are properly identified and under effective control at all times.

Welfare is the foundation of ethical breeding.

Breed Integrity & Preservation

Breeders must:

• Breed exclusively Cane Corso.
• Breed only recognised Cane Corso colours.
• Prohibit merle, crossbreeding, and falsified pedigrees.
• Protect correct structure, temperament, and function.
• Avoid breeding decisions driven solely by trend or commercial demand.

Every breeding decision must contribute positively to the long-term preservation of the breed.

Minimum Breeding Age Requirements

To promote physical and psychological maturity:

Stud dogs must be a minimum of 18 months of age before being used at stud.

Bitches must be a minimum of 2 years of age before their first litter.

Breeding before full maturity is incompatible with ICCGB ethical standards.

Health Testing & Genetic Responsibility

All breeders must:

• Complete and disclose Hip Dysplasia testing (BVA/recognised scheme).
• Complete and disclose Elbow Dysplasia testing.
• Complete DSRA DNA testing.
• Prohibit Affected breeding's and Carrier × Carrier DSRA mating's.
• Submit documentation for ICCGB verification.

Higher tiers require additional testing and continued compliance.

Breeders must:

• Maintain accurate, auditable health and litter records
• Keep health testing current
• Avoid popular-sire overuse
• Actively consider genetic diversity
• Health transparency is non-negotiable.

Responsible Breeding Management

Breeders must:

• Avoid excessive breeding frequency per dam.
• Ensure dams are physically and mentally fit for breeding.
• Provide written puppy contracts.
• Provide dietary guidance and responsible ownership information.
• Supply all ICCGB documentation promptly.

Breeding carries lifetime responsibility.

Surgical Transparency

Breeders must:

• Not promote illegal ear cropping or tail docking.
• Avoid creating a market for illegally altered dogs.
• Report structural surgical procedures and caesarean sections to ICCGB.
• Consent to veterinary reporting where required.

Transparency protects the breed and future breeding decisions.

Ethical Sales & Representation

Breeders must not:

• Sell to commercial wholesalers or retail pet dealers.
• Use dogs as prizes or promotional items.
• Sell ICCGB registration certificates separately from dog's.
• Misrepresent health, quality, or breed characteristics.

Honesty and accountability are fundamental to ICCGB recognition.

Cooperation, Audits & Enforcement

Accredited breeders must:

• Agree to ICCGB inspections, audits, and record checks
• Participate in ICCGB education or data initiatives where required
• Operate within the ICCGB disciplinary and appeals framework

Approval at all tiers is conditional and may be downgraded, suspended, or revoked where standards are not maintained.

Our Commitment to the Breed

The ICCGB Ethical Breeding Code of Practice reflects our commitment to safeguarding the Cane Corso through:

• Responsible breeding
• Transparent governance
• Evidence-based standards
• Long-term preservation over short-term trends

Every accredited breeder is a steward of the breed’s future.

Declaration of Commitment

By operating under ICCGB recognition, breeders and owners affirm their commitment to uphold the principles of preservation, integrity, and responsible stewardship of the Cane Corso.

Accreditation is not a marketing device, nor a permanent entitlement. It is a privilege granted to those who demonstrate transparency, accountability, and dedication to the long-term welfare and preservation of the breed.

ICCGB reserves the right to withdraw recognition where these standards are not maintained.

The future of the Cane Corso depends upon ethical decision-making, informed breeding practices, and a collective commitment to protect the breed from dilution, misrepresentation, and neglect.

Through adherence to this Code, ICCGB breeders stand not only as dog owners, but as custodians of the breed’s legacy.

Breach of these rules may lead to expulsion from the Club, disciplinary action by the

Club, and/or legal action by relevant authorities.