DogWellNet Digest: Issue #42 - 14 October 2021

News & Highlights

IPFD News

• Please see this month's Spotlight feature below for a special announcement regarding our CEO.

• Since early in the COVID-19 pandemic, Michael Edwards (Coding Jungle - PHP Programmer), a Developer for DogWellNet.com, has been collecting and refurbishing old computers and donating them to public school students who didn't have access to the internet - enabling them to participate in online classes. And now at least one group of students has shown its appreciation:
  
  Miss Juanita Gomez's former 2nd grade (now 3rd grade) class voted Michael as the most positive influence in their life for 2020. When speaking to the class via a Zoom online meeting, Michael offered additional inspiration to the students: "Even though I didn't do this for money, i do expect to be paid back one day, and the way you can do that is to never stop learning, and to always pay it forward. go on to be doctors, lawyers, presidents, whatever, just remember you live in a country where you can be anything, be kind."

Way to go, Michael!!!

IPFD in the News

• IPFD CEO, Dr. Brenda Bonnett discusses the need for a multi-pronged approach in addressing the complex issues around brachycephalic dog breeds in a recent commentary published via VIN News Service.

Blogs

• In her latest entry, Good Breeders follow ALL their puppies! And share the data, Brenda Bonnett addresses the importance of tracking and sharing accurate and complete data as part of defining "good breeders". The article includes a link to her recent talk to the Rhodesian Ridgeback Club of Canada.

Breeds Resources

Breed of the Month

★ This Month We Feature the  Rhodesian Ridgeback ★

Brief Description: 

The Rhodesian Ridgeback is a dog breed developed in Southern Africa. Its European forebears can be traced to the early pioneers of the Cape Colony of southern Africa, who crossed their dogs with the semi-domesticated, ridged hunting dogs of the Khoikhoi.

Source: Wikipedia
 

Get a GRIHP! on Rhodesian Ridgebacks: This article is part of a series to highlight the Big Picture of health, welfare, and breeding and to help develop Globally Relevant Integrated Health Profiles (GRIHPs) for many breeds.

Learn more about the Rhodesian Ridgeback in our Pedigree Breeds database.

Pedigree Breeds Database Updates

We routinely update breed pages in our Pedigree Breeds Database. Looking for a breed of dog that will fit with your lifestyle? Our breed pages contain valuable information on breed history, characteristics, and health information available from breed clubs, along with a curated collection of resources that celebrate the unique and endearing qualities of companionship purebred dog breeds bring to people's lives.

Check out Russia’s premiere Toy Dog & one of the smallest dogs in the world - Russkiy Toy.

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:     Meet the Rhodesian Ridgeback – Update Your Knowledge!

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

• In case you missed it, IPFD Contributing Partner The Kennel Club profiled IPFD and the important work we're doing together in their 2020 Annual Report (PDF).

Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD)

IPFD Virtual International Dog Health Workshops 2021: 
Workshop #1: Standardizing Genetic Testing
 

We hosted our first virtual workshop on 28 September, with more than 35 Genetic Test Providers, kennel club and IPFD representatives, and other experts from across the globe joining us for the 3.5 hour webinar. The aim of the workshop was to discuss and share relevant information around challenges relating to standardizing genetic reports. Our initial feedback suggests the event was successful in laying the foundation for further discussions and actions on this issue.

We plan to share a more detailed report on the workshop in the near future, but in the meantime, we invite you to read IPFD contributor (and workshop participant) Ian Seath's recap of the workshop in his “Best of Health" article for October 2021.

Ask Aimee

Our HGTD Project Manager, Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi, provides answers to your questions on canine genetic testing in Ask Aimee. In her latest entry, What's the difference between pedigree COI and genomic COI?, Aimee describes Coefficients of Inbreeding (COIs), note some advantages and disadvantages, and provides thoughts on usage.

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

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.