Answer of the     
Deutscher Tierschutzbund 
(animal shelter org.)    

on request of U. Hermann and E. Steffen 
conc. the definition of
"commercial breeding vers. hobby breeding"

VdH - Breeding-Reglement

§ 1,6 says that no commercial dogdealer or
dogbreeder must be allowed to breed in a
VdH-members Club.

DCLH - Rules, § 4 Memberships

Not accepted as members
d) .....people who either deal with dogs 
or do commercial breeding

DCLH § 2 - tasks / duties / obligation of Club

c) Support of Breeding and genetic research, 
matters conc. Inheritance / Research, nutrition
and "fight/work against diseases"

In this connection the questions arises why on
request (of that Mrs. xxxx or Mr. xxxx) conc.
inherit. diseases not only "no answer" was/is
given, but order was given, to answer in no case.

Also a German University offered the DCLH 
to do the "Zuchtwertschätzung 
= Breeding Estimation"; 
this was neglected as being "too expensive".

Mrs. Maerke answered:

"Dear Mr. Hermann,

Thank you for the e-mail dated Jan. 09, 2000.
Sorry for delayed answer.

The definition of breeders in "commercial and
hobby-breeders" is settled down in the 
"Allg. Verwaltungsvorschrift zur Durchführung des 
Tierschutzgesetzes, Feb. 9, 2000 
= Rules of Animal Shelter law".

According to this commercial breeding takes place
if a person owns 3 or more breedable bitches or has
3 or more litters p.a.

Commercial breeders have to ask for an authorized
permission - usually given by the Veterinäramt = org.
for vet-matters for a certain area -, their "knowledge
and task" will be supervised too.

Due to the information given by you the conc. breeder
has  obviously  the status of a commercial breeders.

With kind regards,

etc. "

Germany is a rather small country, compared to USA and Canada.

Germany has a very good Animal Shelter law; to
control if people stick to it is a different thing.

A dog club or the VdH have less problems to control due to the limited area -
and therefore less problems than the AKC in the USA or the CKC.

Therefore we stick to our opinion

"it's not an organisation (Club or cyn. head-org.)
who works towards betterment or worsening of
a breed - but it is HUMAN responsibility".