My First IDHW – Well Worth the Wait!
As the CEO of the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD), I had the privilege of attending my first International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW), co-hosted by the Finnish Kennel Club in Helsinki, this past June. Having been with IPFD for just over 18 months, I consider this workshop a significant milestone – for me personally and for our organization – as it showcased our accomplishments and growth since the previous IDHW in 2019 (co-hosted by The Kennel Club in Windsor, UK), despite the challenges of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The workshop was an incredible opportunity to meet many key contributors to IPFD's success over the past decade. Putting faces to names and engaging with these dedicated individuals in person was profoundly inspiring.

Honouring Prominent Contributors

The Friday night Gala Dinner gave us an opportunity to acknowledge several individuals who have made exceptional contributions to IPFD and the global dog community.

It was exciting to witness the introduction of the Brenda N. Bonnett Canine Excellence Award and presentations for our first two recipients: Brenda (who was unable to attend due to health issues) and Åke Hedhammar, a long-time champion of canine health and international collaboration (and who was instrumental in the development of the IDHWs a decade ago!).

I was also delighted to see our very own IPFD Chair, Pekka Olson, recognized as one of the distinguished recipients of the Pro Cane Sano Medal of Merit, presented by the Finnish Kennel Club – a well-deserved honour!

For many of us in attendance, the awards ceremony served as a wonderful symbolic conclusion to the first 10 years of IPFD’s journey and an emotional call to action for all of us working to improve canine health, welfare, and well-being into the decade ahead.

Breakout Sessions: My Observations and Impressions
It was very encouraging to feel the amazing energy and hear such positive and forward-looking discussions in the breakout sessions rooms! Below, I share some of my notes from the breakout sessions and summary sessions that followed.

Supply and Demand
Attendees suggested the need for regular virtual meetings, with IPFD playing a key role in hosting these sessions. This will ensure continuous collaboration and sharing of ideas among stakeholders.

Breeding for Health and Well-Being
The attendees in the room were aligned with the following thoughts. Despite the world's diverse legislation, cultures, and societies, dogs remain consistent and universal in their nature and needs. It's imperative to prioritize the well-being and lives of dogs, embodying the essence of being "KOIRAIHMISIÄ" or "dog people", as written on the wall of the library in Helsinki.

The proposed solutions focus on better education and understanding within the community, leveraging facts and scientific studies. Compliance with existing laws is crucial, especially considering breeds that currently cannot be bred under present conditions.

Necessary changes should be made to breeds in need or at risk, which requires consensus on the necessity and approach to these changes. Action points include engaging in ongoing discussions to identify and agree on solutions for the challenges faced, promoting scientific knowledge to enhance community awareness and education, evaluating and adapting breeding practices, and fostering agreement on the need for and methods of making necessary changes to certain breeds.

Big Data
Participants discussed maintaining a dedicated webpage on DogWellNet.com to collect and annotate scientific papers on specific topics. This resource would include lay summary paragraphs, providing accessible scientific proof that supports various breeding tools, such as Estimated Breeding Values (EBVs). This page would serve as a valuable resource for breeders, offering them scientific backing for their decisions.

Additionally, participants suggested the creation of an online resource, resembling IPFD’s Genetic Testing Providers (GTP) database, that would list the major datasets held by various stakeholders. For example, the UK Kennel Club's phenotype information on hips, eyes, and elbows, as well as genome-wide data from genetic testing, could be included. This information would be of great interest to owners, breeders, researchers, and others in the Big Data field.

There was also a proposal to create an EBV Working Group, like the brachycephalic working group formed after the Windsor workshop. This group would investigate the current use of EBVs in dogs, how they could be more effectively utilized, and how to educate breeders on EBVs through short videos.

Does the Color Matter?
Attendees suggested a series of webinars to be made available worldwide through DogWellNet.com, covering the history of breeding and experiences with crossbreeding, including best practices and common pitfalls. Moving towards the harmonization of crossbreeding rules was a key topic.

Barbara Thiel (IPFD Board Member, Germany) will send out a questionnaire to representatives from various countries to gather information on their crossbreeding rules, which will then be summarized and published on DogWellNet.com.

The UK Kennel Club was encouraged to explore the possibility of an International Cross Breed Project display at Crufts and consider an International Canine Health Award for crossbreeding projects.

Workshop Outcomes and Future Directions
The discussions and suggestions from the workshop will set the stage for IPFD's second decade. We’re now taking the initial steps to turn these excellent ideas into tangible international actions. Stay tuned for updates!

The enthusiasm and collaborative spirit displayed at the workshop underscore the importance of our mission and the impact we can achieve together. I’m excited about the future of IPFD and look forward to working with all our partners and stakeholders to advance dog health and well-being. Let's take the momentum from this workshop and move forward with renewed energy and commitment to our shared goals.

So Many to Thank…
Thank you to our sponsors, Mars Petcare, Royal Canin, and Agria; our exhibitors, CombiBreed, Wisdom Panel, and Royal Canin; and all the poster presenters, discussion leaders, note takers, and the IPFD consulting team. And thank you to our Board of Directors for their leadership and commitment to ensuring IPFD’s signature events – the IDHWs – continue. Also, thank you to the Finnish Kennel Club and everyone who attended and contributed to the success of the International Dog Health Workshop 2024.

I know that together, we’ll continue to affect positive change in the world of dogs. Watch for announcements on our plans for 2025 and 2026 this fall. Enjoy your summer!

Warm regards,

Marc Ralsky
CEO, International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD)