As a responsible German Shepherd Dog breeder,
we pledge to:   Health:      

• Maintain the best possible standards of health, cleanliness, and care in the kennel, contact with people and exposure to the outside world to achieve proper socialization with dogs.      
• Encourage buyers to have a puppy/adult dog (purchased from us) to have an examination performed by a licensed veterinarian within 72 hours of purchase. It is the buyer’s duty to pay for the examination.      
• Deliver or ship puppies/adult dogs of good health and temperament.

• Encourage bitch owners to breed only if they have the facilities, time and resources that are necessary to care for a litter.      
• Refuse stud service to any bitch I consider in poor health, physically/mentally unsound, or lacking the necessary breed characteristics set forth in the German Shepherd Dog Standard. Before or at breeding, an exchange of pedigrees, hip and elbow X-ray information must be completed.      
• Allow at least one repeat service to a bitch that has failed to conceive after being bred to one of my studs (if the stud continues to be in good health)      
• Breed my own bitches only when I have a definite goal for improvement of  the breed in mind. I am completely aware that I am responsible for keeping and/or finding suitable homes for the puppies.

• Use a sales contract/written agreement in the sale or purchase of any dog, such as the sales contract offered by the German Shepherd Dog Club of America. This covers guarantees and agreements that must be signed by all parties involved.      
• Refuse to sell/recommend breeders who don’t conform to the ideals noted in this Code and refuse all sales to dog wholesalers and retailers.      
• Provide buyers of my German Shepherd Dogs with complete health records, accurate breeding, and registration records (with the exception being that the papers will be withheld in the case of a dog where the party, when in writing, does not intend to breed until it has been spayed/neutered).      
• Provide a copy of the German Shepherd Dog Standard to accompany any puppy/adult dog that is sold by me.      
• Encourage new owners of dogs sold by me to join a training class and to join in becoming guardians of the Breed by participating in local dog club activities.      
• Assure puppy buyers that if at any time the buyer has to place the dog, the breeder will be notified and given the opportunity to assist the buyer in placing the dog.

Bentrem Farms is a member, in good standing with the American Kennel Club (AKC), and the Western Pennsylvania Kennel Association (WPKA).