Mapping of initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs

Bruun, C. S., Fredholm, M., Proschowsky, H. F., & Sandøe, P. (2023). Mapping of initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs. Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, University of Copenhagen.

PDF Link: https://static-curis.ku.dk/portal/files/333480261/Rapport_om_avl_af_racehunde_Jan_23.pdf

(Internal: Rapport_om_avl_af_racehunde_Jan_23.pdf)

Excerpt...

"Aim
The aim of this report is to describe initiatives – and when possible also the effects of these initiatives - to prevent inherited diseases and extreme phenotypes in dogs: research-based initiatives, initiatives taken by the breeding organizations, initiatives to inform and influence dog buyers, and legislative initiatives..."

A concise Summary of the research is available.

Initiatives exist at many levels to address appropriate evidence-based management of dogs - acknowledgment of, understanding and perspectives on breed-specific inherited disease in dogs is needed in order for breeders, judges, buyers, owners and vets to realistically act consciously within the bounds of their unique roles in the larger realm of keeping and seeing to dog's best interests and welfare.

IPFD's longtime collaborator, Ian Seath, recently posted a Best of Health article - Dog Health Improvement – what’s working? – my “Best of Health” article for April 2023 | Sunsong.co.uk (wordpress.com). Ian's article offers comments on the Mapping of initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs research paper.  Ian's perspective and observations, gained as a dog breeder and a UK club-based health manager, a Royal Kennel Club Board member, lecturer and breeding strategy expert, have lead him to conclude human behavioral change and perhaps creating a roadmap for various stakeholders are important considerations to making progress.

We encourage reading of the Summary, Ian's article and the full paper.

From... Mapping of initiatives to prevent inherited diseases and exaggerated phenotypes in dogs

"Focus and methods

Following a brief introduction to the historical background of the problems that we are still seeing in some breeds, in this report we describe and examine the effect of the following types of initiative designed to curb the negative consequences of dog breeding:

• research initiatives,
• initiatives within the dog breeding community,
• initiatives to inform and influence the prospective dog owners and
• legislative initiatives. We cover a number of western countries.

This report is based on

1.  legal documents;
2.  documents from Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), and also from the Danish and other national kennel clubs, Animal Welfare organizations and other relevant stakeholders links to which are typically found on the organizations’ webpages; and
3. the scientific literature. Moreover, interviews were also conducted with stakeholders in Norway and the Netherlands."