Too many dogs have been destroyed by irresponsible breeding practices, and too many puppy mills are focused more on profit than on the health of their dogs.  The CMDA hopes to prevent many of the undesirable health and temperament issues widely seen in other dogs, particularly purebreds.  The Colorado Mountain Dog Association has established a list of minimal terms that we encourage breeders to follow, in order to ensure you are passing on desirable genetics in the offspring of your breeding dogs.  Please read through these terms, and carefully consider how you can implement them into your breeding program.  If you have purchased a puppy or dog from a breeder on our Approved Breeder listing, and you feel the breeder is NOT meeting the terms set forth in this policy, please notify the CMDA.  While we cannot control the actions of individual breeders, we can investigate failure to abide by our terms and remove them from our listing if it is deemed appropriate.  

Responsible Breeder Terms of Agreement

• I agree to strive to breed dogs that will serve to improve the health, vigor, and friendly disposition of the Colorado Mountain Dog breed, and that I will work towards meeting the breed standards set by the CMDA.
• I agree NEVER to falsify any litter registration documents or information, and understand that doing so will result in automatic cancellation of my CMDA membership and removal from the CMDA Approved Breeder Listing.
• I agree to never breed a dog as part of the CMD program, that has been denied approval by the CMDA due to defects or temperamental characteristics. 
• When selling puppies or dogs, I agree to notify buyers of my individual breeding dogs' CMDA approval status.  I will never claim a dog is approved or can be approved as a breeder, until it has gone through the breeder approval process, and I have an "Approved Breeder" or "Purebred" certificate to provide as proof. 
• I agree that I will never intentionally breed my CMD bitch prior to one year of age.  In the event this happens accidentally, I understand that the CMDA reserves the right to refuse registration to the resulting litter, and may remove my information from the Approved Breeder Listing. 
• I agree to maintain records, and be willing to show buyers the current registration status of my breeding dogs, should they request this information. To ensure my records are as accurate as possible, I further agree to follow up with puppy buyers whenever possible.
• I agree that my approved breeding dogs are active livestock guardian dogs, and as such, will never be housed away from livestock for an unreasonable amount of time. Their first duty is to protect my livestock, and breeding is secondary to that. 
• I agree that my breeding dogs and puppies will only be housed in an environment that is safe, well-maintained, spacious, and healthy for the dog or puppy.
• I agree to ensure my breeding dogs and puppies are fed a healthy, balanced diet, and maintained at a healthy weight, as suggested by my veterinarian.
• I agree to speak with all potential buyers personally, either by phone or in person, regarding the expectations, needs, and personal situation as it pertains to their new puppy, prior to committing to a sale.  
• I agree to allow buyers or potential buyers to view the puppies and breeding dogs, and their housing area prior to the sale, if requested. 
• I agree to ensure the puppy buyer is provided with the paperwork and records necessary to register their CMD puppy, unless the buyer is notified otherwise prior to the sale. 
• I will offer buyers follow-up mentorship services, or refer them to the CMDA Mentor list, to help ensure success with their new pup.
• I agree to stand behind any litters of puppies.  If a puppy dies due to a genetic defect, or is found to have a genetic defect within a minimum of 60 days of purchase, as certified by a veterinarian, I agree to buy the puppy back for its original selling price, if requested by the buyer.
• In the event one or more puppies are denied approval as Breeder Dogs, due to genetic defects found during the Breeder Dog Approval process, I agree to either return my "Approved Breeder" dog's certificate or change my breeding program, dependent on what the CMDA requests. Refusal to do so may result in suspension or cancellation of my membership and/or denial of future litter registrations.  
• I agree to re-evaluate and make necessary changes to my breeding program if a puppy is ever found to have a genetic defect, in an attempt to improve the CMD genetics.  
• In the event a buyer desires to re-home a dog purchased from me, I agree to either take the dog back, or to personally assist in the re-homing effort.