About The Club

About the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club

The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club is an Association of owners and enthusiasts of the Welsh Springer Spaniel. The Club was formed in 1923, and has promoted the interests and development of the Welsh Springer Spaniel continuously since that time.

By definition of its Rules, the Club exists to promote “the best breeding for exhibition and working of Welsh Springer Spaniels according to the Breed Standard defined, published, and endorsed by the Club, and approved by the Kennel Club, and to further the training and working of the breed”. In order to provide additional guidance to its members, the Club has developed a Breeders’ Code of Practice.

Officers and Committee

MRS ANNE WALTON

PRESIDENT

Club Rules

The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club Rules 

(Revised 2022)

1.     Name and Objects of the Club

The name of the club shall be The Welsh Springer Spaniel Club.  Its objects shall be the promotion of the best breeding for exhibition and working of Welsh Springer Spaniels according to the standard defined, published and endorsed by the Club and approved by the Kennel Club and to further the training and working of the breed.

2.     Constitution

The Club shall consist of a President, Vice-Presidents, Honorary Life Members and an unlimited number of Ordinary Members and Junior Members whose names and addresses shall be entered in a Register and kept by the Honorary Secretary.  A Member aged eighteen years or over shall not be accepted as a Junior Member.

3.     Honorary Life members

The Annual General Meeting may elect any person or persons (either resident in the United Kingdom or elsewhere) to be Honorary Life Members of the Club, who, in the opinion of the Annual General Meeting, are considered worthy of the distinction by virtue of their interest in, devotion and value to the breed.

4.     Officers

The Officers of the Club shall be the President, Chairman, Vice-Chairman, Honorary Secretary, Honorary Treasurer and Assistant Secretary.  One person may not hold the two offices of Honorary Secretary and Honorary Treasurer.

5.     Management

The Management of the Club shall be conducted by a General Committee consisting of the Officers referred to in Rule 4 and up to twelve Members elected for two years, of which six retire annually, but are eligible for re-election.  The Committee shall hold such meeting as may be required.  Seven days notice thereof must be given by the Honorary Secretary.  Five Members shall form a quorum.

6.     Powers of the Committee

The Committee shall have such powers as may be necessary for properly carrying out the objects of the Club in accordance with these Rules, and from time to time may from among their Members appoint such Sub-Committees as they may deem necessary and may co-opt any other Members of the Club for such limited purposes as they may deem necessary. Sub-committees shall periodically report their proceedings to the Committee and shall conduct their business in accordance with the direction of the Committee.  In the equality of votes the Chairman shall have a second or casting vote. In the absence of the Chairman from any meeting the Committee shall appoint from among their Members an Officer or Committee Members to take the Chair for that meeting.

7.     Vacancies on the Committee

In the event of the vacancy of any office and/or on the Committee the Committee shall have the power to elect any Member to fill such vacancy for the duration of that term of office.

8.     Election of Officers and Committee

The election of the Officers referred to in Rule 4 shall take place annually at the Annual General Meeting.  Of the twelve elected Committee Members referred to in Rule 5, six shall retire annually, but shall be eligible for re-election at the Annual General Meeting.  Nominations for the Committee (the prior agreement of the Nominee must be obtained) must be received by the Honorary Secretary at least twenty-one days before the Annual General Meeting.

Vice-Presidents, who shall not be ex-officio members of the General Committee, shall retire annually and shall be elected by the Annual General Meeting.  Those retiring shall be eligible for re-election.

No person whilst an un-discharged bankrupt may serve on the Committee or hold any other Office of appointment within a Kennel Club Registered Society.

9.     Election of Members

Candidates for membership shall submit an application to the Honorary Secretary who shall then place the same before the General Committee for consideration and if approved, election.  Should any person make application to become a Member, enclosing subscription at the same time to the Honorary Secretary, his or her membership shall count from the date of receipt of such subscription, if the same be accepted.  On being accepted, a Member must be supplied with a copy of these rules.

An up to date list of members and their addresses, and those of branch members where appropriate, must be maintained and, if so requested, the list of names made available for inspection by the Kennel Club and members of the society. A declaration of the number of members of the society must be made with annual returns.

10.       Subscription and Voting Rights

The annual subscription shall be such sum as shall be agreed by a majority of Members present at an Annual General Meeting following a resolution from the Committee and to take effect from 1^st January next following the date of the Annual General Meeting.  The full Membership is to be notified of any increase(s) in the Club’s Year Book and/or Newsletter.  Any such resolution shall include subscription rates for single and joint membership (UK); single and joint membership (Europe other than UK); single and joint membership (outside Europe); and junior membership for those under the age of 18 years on 1^st January when the new rates become effective.

Any item(s) carried by a simple majority of those present.

Only fully paid up Members may attend the Annual General Meeting and vote in any ballot of the Club.  Junior members may attend the Annual General Meeting but shall not be entitled to vote.

If the subscription shall remain unpaid by 31^st March, membership shall be deemed to have lapsed.

11.     Banking Account

A banking account shall be opened in the name of the Club into which all the revenue of the Club shall be paid and from which withdrawals shall only be made on two signatures from the Chairman, the Honorary Secretary, the Honorary Treasurer and a designated Committee Member.

The accounts and balance sheet shall be prepared by the Treasurer and presented to a qualified Accountant or two unqualified individuals with accountancy experience for certification.  The certified accounts shall first be shown to the Committee and then presented to Members at the Annual General Meeting.  A copy of the accounts shall be printed in the Club’s annual Year Book.  Those undertaking the certification of the accounts must be independent from the Treasurer who prepares the accounts and shall be elected annually at the Annual General Meeting and their fee shall be such a sum as agreed by the Committee.

12.     Annual General Meeting

The Annual General Meeting of the club shall be held after the 28^th day of February but before the 30^th day of April in each year upon a date and at a time and place to be fixed by the Committee.  Notice of such Meeting shall be given to every Member at least fourteen days beforehand.  The balance sheet will be available at the Annual General Meeting, and copies can be obtained 14 days prior to the Annual General Meeting, on request, from the Honorary Treasurer.  Any request by a Member for a special item or items to be placed on the agenda must be received by the Honorary Secretary at least twenty-eight days before the date of the Annual General Meeting.

1. The business to be conducted at the Annual General Meeting shall include the Chairman’s Report, Treasurer’s Report, election of President, Vice-Presidents, Officers, Committee and Cup Steward, approval of Club’s Auditor, Delegate to the United Spaniel Association, Health Report, Report from Working Sub-Committees and Honoraria. The Honoraria to be approved by the Membership for the period since the previous Annual General Meeting.  The Agenda shall also include any Items referred to the Honorary Secretary within the time specified in the first paragraph of this rule.
2. A provisional Agenda shall be circulated by post to the Membership during the month of January prior to the Annual General Meeting

13.      Special General Meeting

A special General Meeting of the Club may be held on the written request of either the President or ten Members, stating the object of such meeting; the Honorary Secretary shall give Members twenty-one days notice of such meeting and the notices must be sent out within seven days of receiving the request.  No business other than that stated in the notice shall be brought before the Special General Meeting.

14.     Alteration to Rules

No alteration or addition to these Rules shall be made except by the vote majority of the Members present at the Annual General Meeting or at a Special General Meeting convened for this purpose in accordance with Rule 13 and such alteration or alterations shall not be brought into force until the Kennel Club has been advised and given its approval to the alterations.

15.      Omission of Notice

The accidental omission to give notice to any Members of any meeting of the Club and non-receipt by any Member of any such notice shall not affect the validity of the proceedings of such meeting.

16.      Expulsion of Members

Any Members who shall be suspended under Kennel Club Rule A11j(5) and/or and Member whose dog(s) is/are disqualified under Kennel Club Rule A11j(9) shall ipso facto cease to be a Member of the Club for the duration of the suspension and/or disqualification.

If the conduct of any Member shall, in the opinion of the Committee of the Club be injurious or likely to be injurious to the character or interest of the Club, the Committee of the Club may, at a Special Meeting the notice convening which includes as an object the consideration of the conduct of the Member, determine that a Special General Meeting of the Club shall be called for the purpose of passing a resolution to expel him/her.  Notice of the Special general Meeting shall be sent to the accused Member, giving particulars of the complaint and advising the place, date and hour of the Meeting that he/she may attend and offer an explanation.  If at the Meeting a resolution to expel is passed by a two-thirds majority of the Members present and voting, his/her name shall forthwith be erased from the list of Members, and he/she shall thereupon cease for all purposes to be a Member of the Club, except that he/she may, within two calendar months from the date of such Meeting, appeal to the Kennel Club upon which and subject to such condition as the Kennel Club may impose.

An expelled Member shall not be entitled to the return of his or her subscription for the then current year, and shall have no claim whatsoever against the Club or the General Committee, or any Member or Members thereof respectively, by reason of such expulsion, and he or she shall, within seven days of his or her expulsion, hand over to the Honorary Secretary any of the Club’s Challenge Bowls or Cups of which he or she may be holder for the time being.

17.        Cups and Trophies and Special Prizes at Shows and Trials

All cups and trophies shall be the property of the Club until won outright.  They can only be awarded to dogs of fully paid-up Members, and can only be given to dogs placed among the first four in a Class.  This also applies to special cash prizes and only one cash prize can be won by any dog at the show.

In the event of the Club ceasing to exist, a Special General Meeting shall be called to decide the disposal of any assets.

18.        Final Authority

The Kennel Club is the final authority in interpreting the Rules and in any matter of dispute in the Club.  The Club shall not join any federation of Clubs or Societies.

19.        Judges Lists

The Judges Lists shall be compiled by the Committee in accordance with kennel Club guidelines.

20.         Eligibility

No Officer or Committee Member of another Welsh Springer Spaniel Club in Great Britain is eligible to serve as an Officer or Committee Member of this Club.

21.        Members Code of Ethics

Members will make every effort to adhere to the Breeders’ Code of Ethics set out in the Schedule to these Rules.  Any failure to do so will be investigated by the Committee who may then, if they consider it appropriate, institute the procedures for expulsion in accordance with Rule 6.

22.       Missing Meetings

Any Committee Member who misses three consecutive Committee Meetings in any twelve month period, without giving and apology with an acceptable reason for doing so, shall no longer be considered for re-election at the next Annual General Meeting as a Committee Member of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club, and shall also not be considered for re-election for a minimum period of twelve months.

23.       List of Members

The WSSC will make a list of Members and their addresses available for inspection if so requested by Members of the Club or by the Kennel Club.

24.       Maintenance of Title

The Officers of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Club acknowledge that during the month of January each year the Maintenance of Title fee will be forwarded to the Kennel Club by the Honorary Secretary for the continuance of registration and that by 31^st July each year, other returns, as stipulated in Kennel Club Regulations for the Registration and Maintenance of Titles of Societies and Breed Councils and the Affiliation of Agricultural Societies and Municipal Authorities, will be forwarded to the Kennel Club.

The Officers also acknowledge their duty to inform the Kennel Club of any change of Honorary Secretary of the Club which may occur during the course of the year.

Code of Ethics

Club members:

1. Will properly house, feed, water and exercise all dogs under their care and arrange for appropriate veterinary attention if and when required.
2. Will agree without reservation that any veterinary surgeon performing an operation on any of their dogs which alters the natural conformation of the animal, or who carries out a caesarean section on a bitch, may report such operation to the Kennel Club.
3. Will agree that no healthy puppy will be culled. Puppies which may not conform to the Breed Standard should be placed in suitable homes.
4. Will abide by all aspects of the Animal Welfare Act.
5. Will not create demand for, nor supply, puppies that have been docked illegally.
6. Will agree not to breed from a dog or bitch which could be in any way harmful to the dog or to the breed.
7. Will not allow any of their dogs to roam at large or to cause a nuisance to neighbours or those carrying out official duties.
8. Will ensure that their dogs wear properly tagged collars and will be kept leashed or under effective control when away from home.
9. Will clean up after their dogs in public places or anywhere their dogs are being exhibited.
10. Will only sell dogs where there is a reasonable expectation of a happy and healthy life and will help with the re-homing of a dog if the initial circumstances change.
11. Will supply written details of all dietary requirements and give guidance concerning responsible ownership when placing dogs in a new home.
12. Will ensure that all relevant Kennel Club documents are provided to the new owner when selling or transferring a dog, and will agree, in writing, to forward any relevant documents at the earliest opportunity, if not immediately available.
13. Will not sell any dog to commercial dog wholesalers, retail pet dealers or directly or indirectly allow dogs to be given as a prize or donation in a competition of any kind.  Will not sell by sale or auction Kennel Club registration certificates as stand alone items (not accompanying a dog).
14. Will not knowingly misrepresent the characteristics of the breed nor falsely advertise dogs nor mislead any person regarding the health or quality of a dog.

Welsh Springer Spaniel Breeders’ Code of Ethics:

1. Before breeding a litter serious and equal consideration should be given to type, temperament, health and soundness.  In the choice of breeding stock it should always be borne in mind that aggression and nervousness form no part of the Welsh springer spaniel’s temperament and character.
2. No bitch should be required to have more than four litters and no bitch should be bred from at successive seasons, unless a period of time of more than twelve months has elapsed between each season or a period of 12 months has elapsed between each litter. No bitch should be mated before the age of two years (preferably three), nor if the bitch will have reached the age of eight years at the date of whelping, unless permission has been given by the Kennel Club.  Before a bitch is mated due regard should be given to her general condition and fitness and, in the case of second or subsequent litters, her previous breeding history (including ease of whelping).
3. All breeding should be aimed at the improvement of the breed.  Members should do everything in their power to discourage breeding from clearly inferior specimens and those members who own stud dogs should refuse stud services to such specimens.  It is recommended that all animals, particularly those to be bred from, should be tested for all current health issues.
4. The Club and the Joint Health Group maintain that a breeder/stud dog owner, having bred a litter that has produced a fitting animal, where the condition, after tests, is deemed to be idiopathic (primary) epilepsy, should not breed from the sire/dam again.  The failure of the breeder/stud dog owner to adhere to this rule shall be considered a breech of the Clubs’ Code of Ethics and will be dealt with accordingly and may result in membership being withdrawn. This rule may be rescinded should a test for carrier animals become available.
5. No member should breed a litter unless they have the time and facilities to devote proper care and attention to the rearing of the puppies and to the well being of the dam, and no member should provide stud services unless they are fully satisfied that the owner of the bitch has such time and facilities.
6. No member should breed a litter unless they are reasonably sure of finding good homes for the puppies.  No puppies should leave the breeder before the age of seven weeks (preferably eight).
7. No puppies should be exported before they are fully inoculated or before the age of three months unless they are travelling in the personal care of the purchaser or his known representatives.  Puppies should never be sold to countries where they are not protected by anti-cruelty laws.  (If in doubt consult DEFRA or the Kennel Club).
8. Prospective buyers of puppies should be carefully screened for suitability and should be fully advised of the characteristics of the Welsh Springer Spaniel as a breed, stressing the necessity for care, grooming and ample exercise. Puppies should not be sold to homes where they will be left on their own all day.
9. No puppy which has any known physical defect should be sold without the buyer being made fully aware of such defect and its possible consequences. Members should only sell puppies which, to the best of their knowledge and belief, are in good health at the time of sale.
10. Each purchaser of a Welsh Springer Spaniel puppy should be provided at the time of sale with a pedigree, information about training, worming, inoculations and details of the Welsh Springer Spaniel Clubs.  No puppy that is of unregistered or partly unregistered parentage should be sold without the buyer being made aware that they will be unable to register it on the Kennel Club register.
11. Breeders should also be prepared, if the home proves unsuitable and the buyer wishes to return the dog, that they must share the responsibility for this occurrence, albeit an infrequent one, and allow such an animal to be returned or provide assistance with rehoming if necessary.
12. Offices and Committee Members of the Club are always ready and willing to do their best to help members with any queries or problems.
13. From time to time it may become necessary for the Club Committees or the Joint Health Group, supported by professional advice, to seek the assistance and co-operation of breeders in eradicating hereditary complaints/illnesses. It is expected that in such an event breeders will co-operate fully with the Committees/Joint Health Group by providing such support and/or information as may be requested.

Breach of these provisions may result in expulsion from Club membership, and/or disciplinary action by the Kennel Club and/or reporting to the relevant authorities for legal action, as appropriate.