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Blogs

Featured Entries

Brenda's Blog

COVID-19 - a novel experience for dogs and people

Sources of accurate and relevant COVID-19 information for your dog, your puppies and you. In the face of the great uncertainty surrounding COVID-19 and its impact on pets and pet owners, many veterinary and regulatory organizations have been providing excellent information and advice, as have kennel and breed organizations.  It is important to remember that recommendations and restrictions vary depending on location and owners need to access and follow local recommendations, especially as t
Brenda's Blog

Pandemic Puppies - Research Confirms the Challenges

Pandemic Puppies - Research Confirms the Challenges   The first phase of the Pandemic Puppies 2020 project has led to one publication already, with another two under review. PACKER, R. M. A., BRAND, C. L., BELSHAW, Z., PEGRAM, C. L., STEVENS, K. B. & O'NEILL, D. G. 2021. Pandemic Puppies: Characterising Motivations and Behaviours of UK Owners Who Purchased Puppies during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic. Animals, 11, 2500. https://www.mdpi.com/2076-2615/11/9/2500   As we h
Brenda's Blog

Our Dogs Newspaper: IPFD and our Call for Collective Actions for Dog Health and Welfare

Our Dogs Newspaper: IPFD and our Call for Collective Actions for Dog Health and Welfare Our Dogs Newsletter is a respected and highly subscribed information source, especially for the dog show community, in the UK and around the world.  Our Dogs is a subscription-only site, however, articles can be purchased.     We are pleased and grateful that they have not only shared our Reframing Current Challenges Around Pedigree Dogs A Call for Respectful Dialogue, Collaboration,
Brenda's Blog

Genetic Diversity: The Big Picture and Challenging Issues

What a great weekend of education - with the Canadian Kennel Club and about 170 participants, including breeders with a range of experience from over 40 years to novices.   Speakers Dr. Kari Ekenstedt, a geneticist from Purdue University in Indiana and IPFD CEO Dr. Brenda Bonnett covered 'everything you need to know to understand genetic testing' in a clear, concise and entertaining series of talks. Interactive discussions with the many knowledgeable, committed attendees were interesting and tho
HGTD & Genetic Testing

HGTD This Week: NEW for the Phenes database - linkage vs direct mutation information

An outcome from the International Dog Health Workshop - Virtual, on Standardizing Genetic Testing, is to improve transparency on how genetic tests are performed - e.g. information on assays or other technical details. The primary focus of this was increasing transparency on where a linkage vs direct variant (mutation) test is being offered.    New HGTD Phenes resource: The phenes searchable database in HGTD has always provided genetic test provider (GTP)-specific information on ho
HGTD & Genetic Testing

This week in HGTD: direct variant/mutation, linkage, and risk tests – what are they?

This blog describes common types of individual disease/trait genetic tests. Understanding the principles behind these tests can improve confidence in applying test results to breeding strategies and other decision-making, in conjunction with health experts.    The development of direct to consumer genetic testing means that many veterinarians, canine health advisors, breed and kennel clubs, and individual owners are basing breeding and other health considerations on testing information
New Research

Regulating Companion Dog Welfare: A Comparative Study of Legal Frameworks in Western Countries

Andersen SS, Meyer I, Forkman B, Nielsen SS, Sandøe P. Regulating Companion Dog Welfare: A Comparative Study of Legal Frameworks in Western Countries. Animals (Basel). 2021 Jun 2;11(6):1660. doi: 10.3390/ani11061660. PMID: 34199669; PMCID: PMC8228344. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8228344/ Commentary: A hobby breeder's point of view Of late the role of legislation in maintaining the welfare of companion animals has been receiving a good deal of attention within
New Research

Parameters in Canines After Cesarean Sections - Research Germany

Front. Vet. Sci., 16 June 2022 Sec.Animal Reproduction - Theriogenology https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2022.886691   News from science In a recently published study by the University of Giessen, the fertility of bitches after a caesarean section was compared with that after a natural birth. Parameters such as the time of the next heat after the first birth or the caesarean section, which of the following heats was used for another mating attempt, whether this was success
Breeding and Genetics

Genetic diversity tools in the Finnish Kennel Club's breeding database

The idea for this post came during the discussions around our virtual International Dog Health Workshop on genetic diversity in May (see Ian Seath's great article about the workshop). We were discussing what kind of population statistics would breeders and breed clubs need, in order to take care of their breed population in a best possible way. I spoke to the group about the tools in the Finnish Kennel Club's breeding database, which elicited enthusiastic reactions. The Finnish Kennel Club
Breeding and Genetics

Kennel Clubs and Responsible Breeding: Examples from Finland

A new Animal Welfare Act will be in force in Finland next year. The Act is intended to define harmful animal breeding more precisely and clearly than the current Act. The aim is to steer animal breeding in a direction that takes greater account of animal health. According to the draft law, animal breeding should aim at the production of viable, functional and healthy animals. The Finnish Kennel Club (FKC) is committed to promote the health and well-being of dogs. Therefore, the FKC consider
Brenda's Blog

The KC (UK) New Registration Stats for 2021

The KC (UK) New Registration Stats for 2021   We recently published an article "How many are there? French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs and Pugs in Kennel Club Registries from 10 Countries" comparing registration statistics inlcuding numbers and relative percentages of the newly registered populations, and then popularity ranking.  These are simply for kennel club registrations, and the degree to which they reflect country wide numbers of pedigree and look-at-like dogs is unknown.  
Brenda's Blog

Breeding healthy puppies and sustaining your breed: the goal and how do you get there?

The Embark Canine Health Summit, was a free, virtual conference held April 27-28, 2022 for breeders, veterinarians, scientists, or anyone with an interest in the intersection of canine health, genetics, dog breeding, and veterinary medicine. Registration was free. All sessions will be recorded and available to registrants after the event.   Among the speakers at this Virtual Summit was IPFD's own Veterinary Science Officer, Dr. Brenda Bonnett. Her presentation is available as a
Brenda's Blog

Q&A from Embark Summit

I will answer questions here Follow numbers below:     #3- As I understand it, part of the reluctance to using panel tests is the law in Sweden - e.g. if a dog tests positive (e.g. a false positive) for a condition known NOT to occur in the breed it can render the animal 'un-breedable'.  IF that is the reasoning,... I can't help. In general, use of panel tests is okay, as long as results are interpretted as appropriate for the breed - i.e. using our IPFD Breed Rele
Ask Aimee

Ask Aimee: I'm concerned about DM (degenerative myelopathy) in my dog, what new information should I share with my vet?

After the recent publication of Degenerative Myelopathy - Diagnosis and Inheritance, we received an excellent query from an experience breeder of French Bulldogs, who was concerned that her middle-aged dog was showing "classic" signs of Degenerative Myelopathy (DM). The dog had a clear genetic test for the SOD 1 mutation, but was experiencing clinical signs associated with DM: awkward and uncoordinated hind gait, loss of balance and falling when turning and also when stressed. The breeder h
Brenda's Blog

"The Downside of Inbreeding"

The Downside of Inbreeding - It’s Time For a New Approach by C.A. Sharp First published in Double Helix Network News, Winter 1999   I am pulling together a presentation for the Embrark Canine Health Summit and came across an article I have cited before... an oldie but a goldie!  This article is by the very knowledgeable C.A. Sharp, expert and person behind ASGHI (Australian Shepherd Genetics and Health Institute) and one of our collaborating partners. Good news - she giv
New Research

Infographic - Quick Facts on Degenerative Myelopathy and Genetic Testing

In general: Despite the devastating nature of this condition, it is rarely or infrequently diagnosed in all breeds; and the sod1 test is not – on its own – predictive of DM in any breed. Most occurrences of dogs presenting with typical signs have other degenerative conditions, not DM. Breeders:  Sod1 testing should not form the basis of breed-wide strategies. Eliminating dogs from breeding based on the sod tests is detrimental to breed diversity and will not achieve desired results, even in
New Research

Correcting the confusion around Degenerative Myelopathy

Correcting the Confusion around Degenerative Myelopathy Brenda Bonnett, BSc, DVM, PhD, Veterinary Science Officer, International Partnership for Dogs Jerold Bell, DVM, Adjunct Professor of Genetics Department of Clinical Sciences Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine Tufts University, USA, Chairman, Hereditary Disease Committee, World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), and IPFD friend and collaborator has written the definitive paper on Degenerative Myelopathy (DM), DEGENERA
Brenda's Blog

How do Veterinarians Navigate the Complexities of Health, Welfare, and Owner Attachment?

International Challenges for Dog Breeding: How do Veterinarians Navigate the Complexities of Health, Welfare, and Owner Attachment?                                     And make sure to check out the upcoming webinars:  https://awc.upei.ca/webinars/ By Prof. Candace Croney and Rowena Packer!   Here is the pdf:  Bonnett_International Challenges for Dog Breeding Webinar 15Mar20
Breeding and Genetics

WSAVA Calls for ‘Health-focused’ Breeding

IPFD's Collaborating Partner, The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), has published a position paper where it confirms its support for the recent efforts of Animal Protection Norway and the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act. WSAVA shares the concerns expressed by the Norwegian court regarding the breeding of English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels. It calls for a much greater focus on health screening of breeding animals and educating the public and urges that the sel
Breeding and Genetics

Norway dog breeding bans – what can you do to save your own breed?

Oslo district court in Norway ruled that breeding of English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels is against the Norwegian Animal Welfare Act. However, breeding is allowed to be continued in a form of planned, organized breed crosses bringing new genetic variation and healthy alleles into these populations. We have seen this coming. We have talked about this for a few decades. “If we don’t improve the situation, someone from outside is going to intervene.” The English Bulldog, t
Brenda's Blog

Norwegian Lawsuit on Dog Breeding - A Step Back or Can it be a Step Forward?

Norwegian Lawsuit on Dog Breeding - A Step Back or Can it be a Step Forward?   We wrote an artilce last year - Norwegian Lawsuit on Dog Breeds and Breeding - The "First" But Not the Last? .  In that article we describe that "The Norwegian Society for Protection of Animals (NSPA) is suing selected breeders, clubs, and the Norwegian Kennel Club for not following the country's animal welfare law; the Norwegian court has agreed to hear the case. " The NSPA  issued an update to this is
Brenda's Blog

Veterinary Cancer Glossary - Help for Tough Discussions

Veterinary Cancer Glossary - Help for Tough Discussions   Veterinary-client communication is key to good care for our pets, and a new resource to support owners and vets is now available from IPFD partner World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA).  Let's face it - cancer/neoplasia can be a complex subject to discuss and even harder to comprehend when one is faced with the emotional aspects of a challenging diagnosis. The Veterinary Oncology Glossary provides an understand
Brenda's Blog

Animals are Sentient Beings - But Still Property - Spain

Animals are Sentient Beings - But Still Property - Spain   Yesterday I published a blog entitled: Why do legislators address the supply side and not demand? where I discussed the supply:demand cycle for dogs (as commodities).  Today I received this paper on Animal Sentience: Moving Forward from WellBeing International.  Both of these make me ponder the actual outcome of legislation on animal welfare - including - can they it be effectively enforced, is there any real intention to do so
New Research

"Genetic Rescue of the Highly Inbred Norwegian Lundehund" - New Research

Genetic Rescue of the Highly Inbred Norwegian Lundehund   ... is a new paper about attempts to 'save' the Lundehund breed and is a good reference for anyone working with a rare breed.  This Lundehund was reduced from a relatively rare one to one with such low genetic diversity that its survival was doubtful.  Under these conditions, outcrossing to other breeds offered the one possibility.  This paper shows some success, but, not surprisingly, researchers found that crossing the fi

Blogs Disclaimer
The contents of these blogs are for informational purposes only and represent the opinion of the author(s), and not that of the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD). This is not intended to be a substitute for professional, expert or veterinarian advice, diagnosis, or treatment. We do not recommend or endorse any specific tests, providers, products, procedures, opinions, or other information that may be mentioned on, or linked to from these blogs.

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