Schemes
GSDCA - Breed Improvement Schemes
The German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia Inc. (GSDCA) has developed a number of Schemes for improvement to the German Shepherd Dog as a Breed. Access to these schemes is available in all significant states and territories of Australia.
Qualifying for participation in GSDCA Schemes.
To participate in any German Shepherd Dog Council Schemes that are conducted for and on behalf of the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia, one must be a member of an affiliated member Club of the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia.
If a dog is owned in partnership, provided one partner is a member of an affiliated Member Club, then the normal fee structure shall apply.
Residents of Australia who are non-members of any affiliated Member Club may apply for participation in a German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia Scheme provided that the equivalent of one years subscription fee plus the joining fee of that member Club, is paid in addition to the normal fee applicable to the desired scheme.
Residents of New Zealand wishing to participate in a German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia Schemes, must be a member (or member of an affiliate) of the New Zealand German Shepherd Dog Advisory Council.
Breed Survey:
GSDCA Breed Survey Scheme
The Breed Survey Scheme is a nationally accredited scheme run by the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia. At a minimum age of eighteen months the dog/bitch is presented to a panel of GSDCA Breed Surveyors who assess the animal, not only on its anatomical breed worth, but also on its character and temperament.
During the assessment the dog is gun tested, crowd tested and the dog's reaction to all aspects of the survey observed. Any fault in temperament is an automatic fail no matter how beautiful the animal is.
After assessment that the dog/bitch is above average in anatomical breed worth, providing the dog/bitch has the necessary hereditary diseases criteria and has passed the temperament tests, the animal is classified as suitable for breeding and recommendations made as to a suitable mate.
Breed Survey Scheme Entry Criteria.
For animals to enter a Breed Survey the following criteria must be adhered to :
1. The animal must be 18 months of age and not over 8 years of age.
2. The animal must be tattooed by a Tattoo scheme recognised by the German Shepherd Dog Council of
Australia.
3. The animal must be in procession of an `A' stamp for hips and a `Z' stamp for elbows, or passed any
other GSDCA approved evaluation scheme for hips and elbows.
4. The relevant paperwork is to be forwarded to the State Registrar prior to the survey date. The paperwork
must include the following :
a. The required fee.
b. Certified pedigree and certificate of ownership.
c. Copies of the `A' and `Z' stamp results/certificate.
d. Five generation pedigree.
e. For all imported animals a copy of the letter received from the NBC Chairman that details any items and titles have been verified.
5. A coloured photograph is to be submitted on the day of the Breed Survey, or post / e-mail a photo to the NBC Chairperson within 7 days of the Breed Survey.
Please note:
For all animals the original documentation (pedigree, hip and elbow results/certificate.) is to be brought to the survey and shown to the Surveyor.
All imported male dogs must possess the GSDCA certificate for H neg. clearance prior to being submitted to the Breed Survey Scheme.
All male progeny from imported bitches must provide the GSDCA certificate H neg. clearance for presentation at Survey.
Dogs which are listed on the Limited Register, can not be accepted for survey.
Breed Survey Requirements.
In order to achieve a successful Breed Survey Classification, either Class I or II, a German Shepherd Dog must meet the requirements as presented in the following PDF format documents :
GSDCA Brief Breed Survey Requirements DownloadGSDCA Detailed Breed Survey Requirements DownloadGSDCA Breed Survey Manual (Very large File) DownloadThe above documents are also available for download in PDF format from the GSDCA website
Identification Schemes:
GSDCA Tattoo Scheme
All puppies are tattooed in the right ear, with three letters and three numbers, at 7-8 weeks of age. The letters represent the breeders' prefix and the numbers represent the individual puppy in order of its litters breeding.
Each tattoo is unique and is used as identification in all of our schemes. An added side benefit is that through the tattoo number and via the breeder a lost animal can be quickly reunited with its owner and no special equipment is required to read a tattoo.
Requirements for Tattoo Identification that is Difficult.
Procedure if a Tattoo is Difficult to Read :
Case 1. If the tattoo is partially visible, but you are unable to read the entire tattoo. The dog is to be tattooed when under anaesthetic for the hip/elbow xray, by a club tattoo officer, not the veterinarian, in the left ear with its original tattoo prefix/number.
Case 2. If the tattoo is not visible at all, then the owner is to apply for an "AUS" number. This is to be applied when the dog is under anaesthetic for the hip/elbow xray, by a club tattoo officer, not the veterinarian, in the right ear.
In both cases, the attending club tattoo officer is to report this to the club's Tattoo Registrar for GSDCA recording purposes.
Microchip Scheme
In Tasmania, all pedigreed puppies are now required to be microchipped before sale.
TCA Inc. Microchip Regulations
109B
From 01 October,2005 all puppies registered on the Main or Limited Register in the records of the TCA Inc. must be microchipped. It is the responsibility of breeders to ensure that puppies bred by them are microchipped prior to supply/sale and the microchip number is recorded in the records of the TCA Inc.
A Certificate of Registration will not be issued for puppies born after 30 September, 2005 unless:
i the puppy is microchipped
ii the sire and dam are microchipped.
Exemption may be given where the Sire is not microchipped and is registered by another ANKC member body, or body recognised by the ANKC, where microchipping is not compulsory.
109C
Microchipping may be undertaken by a registered vetinarian or TCA Inc. approved implanter.
NOTE: Contact the TCA Inc. for details of approved microchip implanters.
Hip & Elbow Dysplasia
GSDCA Hip Dysplasia (HD) and Elbow Dysplasia (ED) Control Scheme.
GSDCA Hip Dysplasia Scheme
At twelve months or older the dog's hips are x-rayed and the plates scored and graded, if the animals hips fall into the normal parameters for breeding, the dog is given an `A' Stamp.
GSDCA Elbow Dysplasia Scheme
This scheme is similar to the hip scheme, again if the elbows fall within normal parameters for breeding, the dog is given a `Z' Stamp.
Both of the above assessments are recorded on a single form which is available from the State Hip and Elbow Registrar.
Hip Dysplasia and Elbow Dysplasia Application Form.
An application form is to be issued by the State H.D./Elbow Dysplasia Registrar upon payment of the required fee. The State Registrar fills out the form with the following details :
1. State Contract Number allocated.
2. Name of Dog
3. Tattoo Number of Dog.
4. Mark the reader who will be reading the x-rays. A HD/ED Contract will be issued upon the applicant returning Club HD/ED application form and payment with a copy of TCA Registration/Pedigree and SAE. The contract, once issued cannot be transferred or refunded under any circumstances.
NOTE - The dog's tattoo number and name must be embedded in the X-rays
The Instructions to the Veterinarian should be highlighted to be clearly visible.
Incorrectly labeled films will not be accepted for reading. The only accepted means of identification is the GSDCA tattoo or a tattoo number from a GSDCA recognised scheme. The onus is on the Veterinarian to ensure that the animals comply with the requirements of the GSDCA scheme. If there is no tattoo number on the x-ray plate, then that animal must be re-x-rayed.
Please Note: That no attached labels or microchip numbers will be accepted as means of positive identification.
Tooth Certificate
GSDCA Tooth Certificate Scheme
Tooth Certificates.
The GSDCA tooth certificate is the only recognised certificate that can be used for Shows and Breed Survey.
The President or the National Breed Affairs Chairman should inform all overseas judges that this is an official certificate and is the only one to be accepted.
The final and only arbitrator and issuer of Certificates shall be the President of the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia.
The fee for a certificate is $35.00
For a tooth certificate to be issued the following procedure must be met :
For animals not previously breed surveyed :
1. X-ray proof that a normal, healthy, developed adult tooth existed at a point of time. Certificates will only be issued where a tooth or teeth have been removed or are not visible from above the gum line. The x-ray must be identified radiographically with the dog's name and GSDCA Tattoo number. The documentation must be forwarded to the Club Chief Surveyor/Breed Affairs Chairman with the required fee. The onus of proof shall be squarely upon the owner of the dog to prove absolutely beyond all doubt that the said tooth was a normal healthy adult (secondary) tooth.
For animals that have been surveyed :
2. A copy of the Breed Survey Certificate verifying complete dentition must be forwarded to the Club Chief Surveyor/Breed Affairs Chairman with the required fee of $35.00.In both sets of circumstances the Club Chief Surveyor/Breed Affairs Chairman must forward all correspondence and x-rays and the required fee to the President of the German Shepherd Dog Council of Australia. A letter of recommendation from the Club Chief Surveyor/Breed Affairs Chairman must also accompany the application.
Please note that an animal with damaged/broken teeth does not require a Tooth Certificate as it is only where the tooth is not visible above the gum line.
The Breed Affairs Chairman is only used when there is no Club Chief Surveyor in Clubs where there is no resident breed Surveyor. The National Breed Commission Chairman can appoint a Chief Surveyor.