DogWellNet Digest: Issue #51 - 19 December 2022

Awesome dogs!

The photo featured here is from the Norsk Lundehund Klubb's Facebook page and was posted in September - Töfra Erik I1 og Tinka's Frøken Fryd. Foto: Bård Mathias Andersen

The NLK database is a fabulous resource available in multiple languages. The Norwegian Lundehund Club keeps an excellent website and maintains a Facebook page to keep us informed of all the work being done for this unique breed. 

Research has been ongoing to assist breeders in management of this small population of dogs. A breed once vital to everyday life in Norway serving as puffin hunters, the modern day Norwegian Lundehund is known as friendly and curious; the puffin dog makes for an excellent family dog and walking companion.

Melis C, Pertoldi C, Ludington WB, Beuchat C, Qvigstad G, Stronen AV. Genetic Rescue of the Highly Inbred Norwegian Lundehund. Genes. 2022; 13(1):163. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13010163  - see our Blog for more information on this research. The NKK has graciously shared content with us over the years on the management of the Norwegian Lundehund. See: The Norwegian Lundehund Outcross Project.

Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD)

The month of December is a great time to reflect on what has happened in the previous year and to get ready for fresh new beginnings and positive changes for the next. When it comes to the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs project, there is much that is done behind the scenes to keep the resources and tools up and running, and it can be uplifting to reflect on how much hard work has gone into this unique resource. 

Just in numbers, HGTD strives to maintain the most accurate international information on:

• 90 genetic test providers, across 24 countries
• 349 different trait and disease tests
• 497 unique breeds
• 557 instances where a breed has specific recommendations on a test's usage
• 872 examples where a genetic test is considered relevant to a breed
• 2000+ breed-specific relevance ratings
• 24706 - the number of GTP-offered tests, by breed, that Aimee has to manage just to keep the basic test information accurate!

These numbers don't reflect the work required to maintain old, and build new relationships with genetic test providers. They can only give some idea of the hours Aimee and the rest of the IPFD team spend keeping up to date with emerging research, new genetic tests, changes to the industry, and the wants and needs of the canine community. But, we hope the numbers demonstrate that the HGTD project isn't just a great resource for the dog world, but that it is also one supported by people truly dedicated to improving canine health. 

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.

Get Involved in HGTD!
We welcome additional participant Genetic Test Providers (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: HGTD Project Manager, Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi.