DogWellNet Digest: Issue #37 - 25 March 2021

News & Highlights

IPFD News

• IPFD CEO Dr. Brenda Bonnett will be presenting (virtually) to the Russia Forum Companion 2021 on April 3. Her talk, Integrating Genetic Testing into Breeding for Healthy Dogs & Breed Populations: Challenges & Solutions, will cover key & emerging issues in breeding dogs, including use of genetic testing with specific examples of tools available to help breeders & support communication with veterinarians. Event link (in Russian)

• Recordings of sessions from the Embark Canine Health Summit (including IPFD's Dr. Brenda Bonnett & Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi) are now available to watch on demand.

• Please join us in congratulating IPFD Board Member Alexandre Balzer on being elected president of Société Centrale Canine.
  
  French Announcement:
  Communiqué du 05 mars 2020 - Election Président de la SCC.pdf
  
  
  English Announcement:
  PRESS RELEASE 5 MARCH 2021 ELECTION OF THE PRESIDENT OF THE SCC.pdf

Blogs

• In her latest blog entry, Is it "tough talk" or "open dialogue" - and why is it a challenge in the dog world?, Brenda Bonnett addresses how straight-talk, clear, fact- and evidence-based discussion can startle some in the dog world, while others may find it refreshing and welcome it.

Breeds Resources

★ This Month We Feature Golden Retrievers ★

See more about Goldens:

Get a GRIHP! on Golden Retrievers - more below...
and in our breeds database

Golden Retrievers

IPFD Partners in Action

• IPFD Collaborating Partner, The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), has recently published the latest edition of Dog Breeds: What You Need to Know, a regular feature in their online news section (and in the WSAVA Bulletin) that highlights IPFD resources on a particular breed with a focus on breed-specific diseases.
  
  
  
  
  
  In the latest edition:
  Dog Breeds: What you need to know about the Golden Retriever

You can also view previous editions of Dog Breeds: What You Need to Know in
our archive article here on DogWellNet.com.

• IPFD Contributing Partner la Société Centrale Canine has created an IPFD profile page (in French) to help promote the important work we're doing together to enhance dog health, well-being, and welfare.

Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD)

What's New in HGTD

• Breed Relevance Ratings (BRR) have been added or updated for 4 additional phenes across multiple breeds. Estimating the BRR can be challenging, especially for those tests and breeds where little peer-reviewed research exists. It is always appreciated when assistance comes from breed specialists and researchers - to help fill in the unknowns. Thanks to some fantastic input on Exercise-Induced Collapse (EIC) from one of the original researchers, Dr. Ekenstedt, and the Breed Health Coordinator in the UK for the Hungarian Wirehaired Vizsla, it was possible to improve both the breed-specific information on the test and report some real-world, practical experience. If you are a breed specialist or researcher and would like to contribute data or information to BRRs, please do get in touch (contact info provided below) - together we make it better!
   
• The GRIHP on Golden Retrievers highlighted in this issue references genetic testing information found on HGTD, including genetic diversity testing. There are a number of accessible tools and resources related to assessing, measuring, and monitoring inbreeding and genetic diversity - ranging from pedigree-based COI to whole genome screening. You can search for information on genetic testing for diversity within HGTD to find out more about the genetic tests that are available, and the test providers.
  
  The Golden Retriever is overall a relatively healthy breed, and especially interesting in terms of genetic diversity. Research supports what many breeders have observed, that over time, two populations have developed - show and field. This means that there is potentially more unique pockets of "Golden DNA" that could be utilized to improve genetic diversity. However, research is also warning that complacency in a numerically large breed, and overuse of popular sires could quickly impact the breed - leading to risks of inbreeding depression and making it more difficult to breed away from undesirable traits and diseases. See more information and references in the GRIHP. IPFD is working on articles to highlight breed-specific studies on diversity as they emerge and also gathering information on who (kennel clubs, genetic test providers) are calculating COIs and how this can help manage breeds and breeding. Look out for more resource and information on genetic diversity within HGTD and across IPFD. 

Ask Aimee

Our HGTD Project Manager, Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi, provides answers to your questions on canine genetic testing in Ask Aimee.

If you’d like to submit a question to Aimee, please email her at aimee.llewellyn-zaidi@ipfdogs.com.

HGTD & Genetic Testing Blog
The HGTD & Genetic Testing blog provides regular updates on our rapidly expanding genetic testing resources. It currently features regular input from Brenda Bonnett and Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi, but be sure to look out for future posts from special guests

Get Involved in HGTD!
We welcome additional participant GTPs, more collaborators from any stakeholders concerned with dog health and welfare, the advice of experts, the participation of breed clubs and other consumer groups. We stand ready to provide more information to ongoing discussions.

Please feel free to contact us as we work together for healthy dogs and to support those who breed and own them: IPFD CEO, Dr. Brenda Bonnett and/or HGTD Project Manager, Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi.