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SAVE THE DATE! IPFD Virtual Dog Health Forum: 3rd – 4th June 2025 ×

Breed-Specific Questions, Answers, Tools and Resources

    This article highlights DogWellNet content and resources that can assist puppy buyers, new or existing owners, dog breeders, breed managers and veterinarians to answer basic questions that pertain to health, welfare, management and breeding of dogs. And to find link to international resources.

    Do you have a question about a breed - about a breed-specific health condition - about health screening or genetic tests? Are you looking for guidelines or example programs that can enhance practices that improve the quality of human and dog interactions?

    Through collaboration and working with our partners and breed experts we are continually compiling and collating information that may be helpful to you.  Check into DogWellNet.com often... bookmark this page for a list of resources.

     

    dogwellnetlogo.pngDogWellNet.com - so much better than a Google search or social media post: 

    • Impartial, accurate, evidence-based data, information, and commentary from IPFD consultants and global experts  collage.png
    • In collaboration with our partners - kennel and breed clubs, academics, specialists and veterinarians; international resources 
    • The Big Picture - how the complexities of health, welfare, and human-animal interactions come together.  For all dogs. 

       

    By typical questions:

    What are the breed's typical characteristics?

    See the Pedigree Dogs Database (180 breeds). Puppy Buyers can look to the curated videos, breed descriptions and articles and breed club links - use the resources to become better informed BEFORE bringing a dog into your life and family.

    In the database breeders, judges, veterinarians and researchers will find links to breed standards from AKC, the UK, and FCI; and illustrated study guides. Links to pedigree and international health databases, health screening and DNA testing information that can help breeders and owners develop a greater understanding of breed characteristics and the heritability of valued desirable qualities.

    What are the important health issues in the breed?

    Club Health Committee members can see examples of breeding strategies, get a sense of the international 'picture' of work being done for a given breed, by checking out the Nordic country's RAS & JTO documents, accessing links to US club's use of OFA CHIC testing information for breed, the UK's Breed Conservation Plans, and an array of impactful health & welfare tools, programsdogwellnet Pedigreed Dogs Database and initiatives.

     

    Which DNA tests are applicable to the breed?

    Canine health specialists, as well as dog owners, can use the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) database to identify genetic tests that may be important to consider in health and breeding decisions and to locate genetic test providers based on location/country.

    The HGTD's Breed Relevance Ratings (BRR) support evidence-based usage and application of genetic tests. BRRs capture current research, and expert opinion on breed-specific tests, as well as many crossbreeds. Complimentary to BRR, the information gathered in producing BRRs has added significantly to our test/disease (phene) database, providing more breed-specific research links, contributions from Breed Clubs, researcher commentary, and test application recommendations.  

    Dog breeders can use the HGTD's Genetic Counseling section resources to improve understanding of genetic concepts and principles to make informed breeding choices.

    The HGTD & Genetic Testing blog provides regular updates on our rapidly expanding genetic testing resources.

    Links to Evidence-based Resources

    There is a breed-specific component to the frequency of disorders in particular dog breeds or in 'groups' of dogs; for example large sized dogs, working breeds, herding breeds, short-muzzled or short-legged breeds... 'groups' can have similar health disorders or shared welfare management concerns.  Using a breed-specific approach to identify which health issues occur in a breed and how many dogs are impacted by a given condition(s) guides any breed manager's focus and efforts to address and improve the situation for individual dogs and the breeds at large. 

     

    agria800x800transparent.pngskklogo800x800transparent.pngThe Swedish Kennel Club, working with Agria Animal Insurance, Sweden (Agria Djurförsäkring, Stockholm, Sweden) has produced information on both health care and life insurance claims in a format requested by and developed in consultation with breed clubs.  Evidence based data on breeds is available in the Swedish Agria Breed Profiles.

     

     

    vetcompassrectangular.pngIPFD Collaborator, VetCompass (UK) has produced breed and health condition studies (veterinary practice based data).

    For Breed Managers -- Breeding Programs

    "In some countries, kennel and breed clubs have created breed-specific, comprehensive strategies to determine the current situation for the breed, including disease and population statistics, and describe actions for a sustainable future... 1

    1 Breed-specific Breeding Strategies - 2017 IDHW 135.08 kB · 0 downloads

     

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Recommended Comments

Jane Burrows

Has Neuronal Ceroid Lipofuscinosis been detected in the English Setter population outside of a laboratory colony since the test for NCL8 was developed in 2014?  I'm well aware of the history of the disease which was first discovered in Norway in the 1950's, but after more than 40 years of having English Setters in the USA, I've never heard of a case in my breed here.  The test for NCL8 is available from a few American labs, but I think I'm one of the few who has used it (with Normal results from a dog with an imported sire having several Norwegian ancestors). In contrast, a number of European clubs either require or recommend the NCL8 test.  What is the current status of this disease?

Jane Burrows

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Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi

The prevelance of NCL8 mutations in English Setter populations globally, is unknown. In part, this is due to there not being a centralised database collecting this information, or depending on the country, any collation of genetic or health test results. With panel testing being a common form of genetic testing, having all the possible (e.g. rare) variants included mean we might in future have a bit more information on the frequency of mutation and any impacts breeding strategies may have. As for why some countries include this test, it is typically down to input from the national breed clubs, researchers/veterinary advisors, test availability, and disease risk/severity. The breed relevance ratings IPFD uses is based on the availability of breed-specific research that indicates the variant being tested for is causal for the disease, not on it being "recommended" as that can vary depending on a number of population-specific factors. 

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