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Blogs

Featured Entries

Guest Posts

Healthier Conversations for Healthier Dogs at the 6th International Dog Health Workshop - By Lauren Bennett

Lauren Bennett Clip 6th IDHW.mp4 Editor's Note: Lauren Bennett was among our panel of distinguished speakers at the 6th International Dog Health Workshop in Bologna, Italy (30 May - 1 June 2026). Her presentation was entitled, 'Influencing Choice: Marketing's Impact on Pet Welfare and Breeding Practices'. View a brief clip from Lauren's presentation here > Working in animal welfare can sometimes feel like fighting an uphill battle. But coming together with other professionals, all with o
From the CEO: Marc's Blog

Marc’s 6th IDHW Reflections, Part Two

Previous Entry: Part One of 6th IDHW Reflections...continued Genetic Diversity Is Not a Side Conversation At the International Dog Health Workshop in Bologna, one message came through clearly in almost every discussion: We cannot improve dog health without talking about genetic diversity. For too long, genetic diversity has been treated as something technical. Something for geneticists, population scientists, or people who enjoy complicated charts and long discussions about allele frequencies.
New Research

Review on ocular surface disorders in brachycephalic dogs

A review on ocular surface disorders in brachycephalic dogs has been published in December 2022. This review by Lionel Sebbag and Rick F. Sanchez "offers a summary of the physiological and anatomical features of brachycephalic ocular syndrome (BOS) that predispose brachycephalic dogs to develop ocular surface disease, followed by a concise description of common ocular diseases associated with BOS. It ends with an overview of evidence-based guidelines and animal welfare legislation that some in t
IPFD People Out and About

Coefficient of Inbreeding vs. Genetic Diversity Level in Greyhounds

Coefficient of Inbreeding vs. Genetic Diversity Level in Greyhounds Coefficient of Inbreeding vs. Genetic Diversity Level in Greyhounds-update_2019.pdf IPFD Board member and veterinarian Barbara Thiel shared an English translation of this article which appeared in The Greyhound Show blog. The article includes a discussion of data available from the MyDogDNA on genetic diversity measurements in greyhounds - greyhound breeders are encouraged to read this document to gain perspective.
Ask Aimee

Ask Aimee: International collaborations - North American launch of the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme

Working together: dog breeders, researchers, veterinarians, and kennel clubs have developed a truly international screening scheme for respiratory function.  UPDATE: 5/25/2023 The OFA - just published info on participating in the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme  - see their Overview at https://ofa.org/diseases/rfgs/ - includes an event planning guide and instructions/rfgs forms.   On 20 January 2023, I had the privilege of attending the Rose City Classic Dog Show, which
Breeding and Genetics

Working for Breed Health: Activities of the Norwegian Lundehund Club

The Norwegian Lundehund is an endangered breed, and the Norwegian breed club, Norsk Lundehund Klubb, works for responsible breeding to preserve the breed and increase the number of Lundehunds in Norway. The club has several activities and resources to help dog owners and breeders so that they can participate in this work. All these are worth checking for everyone who wants to work for breed health! Surveys: Breeder survey about dogs that have been used for breeding, as well as litters born.
New Research

Canine Medicine and Genetics - Breed-Specific Reports and Other References 2014-2021

This article provides a list of references to articles published in the Canine Medicine and Genetics Journal. Read more about IPFD's collaborator, Canine Medicine and Genetics which is a peer-reviewed, open access journal addressing genetic, genomic and epidemiological research in both domestic and wild canids, relating to breed and species diversity, and canine evolution. The articles, published from 2014 - 2021, are open access; many have been shared throughout the years on Dog
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

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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