How individual dogs qualify for registration.

Australian and International groups and individuals do not need to join or work through the Parent Club or any other organisation to have their dogs registered on the MDBA foundation registry. However,all registration requirements, standards, proposals for change and communications regarding breed development will need to be presented to the MDBA by the parent club.

It is necessary,without exception for all who wish to have their dogs and their progeny registered on the MDBA foundation registry to become MDBA members and agree to the MDBA code of ethics.

Foundation registry stud books are open and will remain open until such time that the parent club applies for and is granted approval to have the stud books closed.

The following defines the way in which individual dogs qualify for registration in the foundation registry

If your dog is registered with a four generation pedigree by an MDBA accepted registry which is listed for your breed and is accepted by that registry as a purebred , a copy of the registry papers, your four-generation pedigree and the completed MDBA foundation stock application with two photos of the dog should be forwarded to the MDBA with the appropriate fee for application. The dog will be entered onto the MDBA foundation registry as a purebred.

If your dog does not have a 4 generation pedigree issued by an accepted registry it will be entered as the foundation stock of future generations.This includes dogs with three generation pedigrees, two-generation pedigrees, one-generation pedigrees or names of sire and dam only.

Please fill out the necessary foundation registry forms and forward them with any supporting documentation with the appropriate fee to the MDBA.

MDBA pedigree certificates will be supplied for every dog which is registered with the necessary MDBA codes to identify it as a recognised purebred animal of the breed or how many generations it is along the way in the development. Each dog in the ancestry will be marked to identify how many generations it is from being recognised as having purebred status.

As each new breed in development will have different registries if your dog is registered with a registry which is not listed as a MDBA accepted registry please fill out the required form to apply to have your dog's registry added to the list of accepted registries.

Guidelines to consider in writing Breed descriptions.

1.The purpose of a breed description is to be a guide for breeders and judges. Not just official conformation judges but those charged with judging the temperament or personality characteristics and anyone looking at the breed. As such, it is important to keep in mind those features that make the breed unique, those qualities the breed must possess to do the job for which it was created. A description should emphasize what is important in the breed. Conversely those qualities that are of little or no importance are mentioned only in passing or not at all.

2.The text of the standard must be as clear and concise as possible leaving little or no room for individual interpretation and limited risk of breeding toward an extreme. Sentence structure should be simple and straightforward. When verbs are used they should to the extent possible indicate the present tense: "is" or "are" rather than "should be".

3.Disqualifying faults should be listed in the appropriate sections in the body of the description. Thorough consideration should be given before a specific fault is made a disqualification. A disqualification must be clearly stated, defined, or measurable with no room for interpretation.

4.Disqualifying heights, like all disqualifications, should be put in a description only when a club is completely satisfied that disqualifying a dog over or under the specific limit is the best way to deal with size.

5.In describing the bite, the description should refer to the position of the teeth rather than that of the jaws.

Suggested Breed Description Format.

1.General Appearance. This is the most important paragraph in the description, in the sense that is should spell out what the breed's most important unique qualities are. The General Appearance section should describe the breed's purpose and emphasize those qualities that are critical to fulfilling its function. The General Appearance section is not the description. It is the place to cite the breed's most important qualities. These features would then be fully described under their appropriate heading in the body of the description.

2.Size, Proportion, Substance. Height is described in centimeters and inches - measured from the ground to the highest point of the shoulder blades. In those breeds where weight is important it is given in grams and pounds. Proportion is the ratio of height to length. Length is usually expressed as the distance from the point of the shoulder to the rearmost projection of the upper thigh (or point of the buttocks). Breeds are usually either square or rectangular. Some breeds are just "off" square, while others are extremely rectangular. Some indication of what is appropriate for the breed should be included, even if the indication is that a wide range is acceptable. Substance includes the amount of bone.

3.Head

a.Expression

b.Eyes (include color and rim pigmentation)

c.Ears

d.Skull

e.Stop

f.Muzzle

g.Planes (Muzzle and Skull)

h.Nose (include pigmentation)

i.Lips

j.Flews

k.Bite

l.Teeth

4.Neck, Topline and Body

a.Neck

b.Topline

c.Body

d.Chest

e.Ribs

f.Underline

g.Tuck-up

h.Back

i.Loin

j.Croup

k.Tail

5.Forequarters

a.Angulation

b.Shoulders

c.Shoulder Blades

d.Point of Shoulder

e.Upper Arm

f.Elbow

g.Legs

h.Pasterns

i.Dewclaws

j.Feet

k.Toes

l.Pads

m.Nails

6.Hindquarters

a.Angulation

b.Legs

c.Upper Thigh

d.Stifle

e.Second Thigh

f.Hock Joint

g.Hocks (Rear Pastern)

h.Dewclaws

i.Feet

j.Toes

k.Pads

l.Nails

7.Coat. Include under this heading the description of the hair on all parts of the dog, and describe any trimming of the coat.

8.Colour. Include under this heading the color and markings of the coat (and the skin under the coat if skin color description is to be included). In breeds where multiple colors or color combinations are acceptable, but not all colors are permitted, the complete list of all acceptable colors and color combinations must be included in the description. In such cases, any color or color combination not mentioned are will be assumed to be unacceptable, Color of eyes, eye rims, mouth, lips, nose, nails, etc., are to be given under their respective headings.

9.Gait. A complete, positive description of the breed's gait should be given. Care should be taken to adequately express the importance of the breed's overall ability to move, which is usually best evaluated from the side.

10. Temperament. Such temperament description as is appropriate for the breed

A revision consists of any change, deletion, interpretation, or clarification to a breed description. Once the Board of Directors has approved a breed description there is a five year moratorium on revisions.

These processes are in place to ensure that no individual or small group has the ability to make changes without due process. 

Breed description Committee is formed to review and formulate revisions.

Notify staff of the MDBA that the club is in the process of reviewing the breed description.

Submit revisions to MDBA staff for input while being developed. Staff will present final revisions to The Board of Directors for their comment and authority for the club to proceed to ballot their membership.

Balloting of membership of breeders who are involved with the breed. The membership must also be informed of the of five year moratorium.

Submit results of balloting, copy of the ballot, cover letter, and breed description to the MDBA. If the proposed revisions do not receive the sufficient numbers of votes to be approved notify MDBA Staff.

Ballot results that support a revision to the breed description will be scheduled for inclusion on the agenda of the MDBA Board for approval. The submitted proposed breed description will be published on the MDBA website.

Upon approval by the Board of Directors, notification is sent to the Breed advisory committee for announcement  with reiteration of the five year moratorium.

The approved breed description is published on the MDBA website.