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I breed EPAGNEUL NAIN CONTINENTAL/ Papillons & Phalènes in Australia. I also maintain a significant Archive of the breed from both in & outside Australia. We are beginning to see new findings in our breed as new DNA tests arrive & breeders need support with understanding the relevance & importance of these findings in & for our breed. e.g. IVDD, ACDD,Black Hair Follicular Dysplasia, double coats fi d in our single coated breed etc. Another concern is the issue of Type 1 von Willebrands, with breeders continuing to breed a dog with a single copy of vWB 1, on the basis of it having been Autosomnal Recessive. When we now look at UC DAVIS information we are looking at it being Autosomnal Dominant with incomplete penetrance. Here in Australia Gribbles Pathology offers a blood test to evaluate the dogs levels of vWB factor. https://vgl.ucdavis.edu/test/vwd-type-1 Working with IPFD & DOGWELLNET is an invaluable resource for all breeders & Aimee is so very helpful. No questions are silly....

Closed populations and the pursuit of exaggerated traits predispose dog breeds to health and behavioural problems. What should be done in this situation to ensure that pedigree dog breeding can continue in the future and that the reputation of pedigree dogs is enhanced? Some countries have gone the way of breed bans, but in Finland the solutions are different. The Finnish Kennel Club's (FKC) webinar on 21 November 2024 explored what these solutions might mean in practice. The webinar was open to everyone, and the panel included Kirsi Sainio (PhD, Associate Professor of Developmental Biology, Chair of the FKC Breeding Committee), Vilma Reunanen (Licentiate in Veterinary Medicine, Veterinary Specialist), and Liisa Lilja-Maula (DVM, Associate Professor of Veterinary Medicine). Kirsi Sainio hoped legislation would help, but too much regulation is not good The webinar started with a presentation by Kirsi Sainio (also a member of IPFD's distinguished Board), who shared some statistics about the number of dogs and dog breeds in different parts of the world. Most dogs in the world are not pedigree dogs. The FCI, the umbrella organisation of the FKC and other member countries' national clubs, has published statistics on the percentage of FCI registered dogs in different countries, and Finland has the highest percentage in Europe (64% in 2022). Sainio also went through the dog-related legislation in Finland and gave an overview of the upcoming EU legislation. Finland's current Animal Welfare Act came into force on 1.1.2023. The content of the Act reflects the desire of Finnish society to take preventive care of the welfare of dogs and other animals, rather than just protecting them from suffering. Members of the FKC have also called for the FKC to take more action to improve the welfare of dogs and reduce the incidence of hereditary diseases. A Contributing Partner of the International Partnership for Dogs, The Finnish Kennel Club (Finnish site) (English site) has approximately 130,000 members, and its breeding database, which is open to all, contains information on approximately 1.5 million dogs. The FKC has a large number of disease tests for breeding purposes, perhaps the most in the world. The number of disease tests carried out each year is increasing, and the FKC, with the help of vets, has recently developed many new tests, the most recent being a screening test for shoulder osteochondrosis and a test for elbow incongruency in short-legged dogs. The new Animal Welfare Act in Finland has also introduced an obligation for veterinarians to notify the authorities of hereditary defects and diseases that exclude dogs from breeding. The information will be collected in an official dog register and will be made public. This raises a number of questions, according to Sainio. For example: Which diseases are covered by the obligation to report? Are all diseases and defects equal? Can the information on dogs be transferred to the FKC's breeding database? Will the obligation to report result in dogs being left untreated or treated abroad? The FKC fears that dog breeding could spiral out of control if regulation is perceived as too restrictive. There is already evidence of an increase in unregulated breeding and puppy mills of small companion dogs. Swedish Customs has reported a record number of smuggled dogs. The phenomenon can be seen throughout Europe. Sainio asked what to do next. Can unhealthy breeds be changed? "Yes, they can," she replied. Do we need to change these breeds? "Yes, we do.". The health and welfare of the dogs really needs to be a priority in breeding. Change requires cooperation and a positive attitude from all parties. Blaming will not help anyone. Vilma Reunanen went through the exaggerated characteristics of dogs and the health problems they cause The next part of the webinar was a presentation by Vilma Reunanen on exaggerated traits in dogs. Reunanen began by saying that every dog deserves a normal physical structure and a healthy mind. A dog should be able to live a species-typical, effortless, and painless life. Reunanen went through several exaggerated features of dogs and asked if we are perhaps used to unhealthy structures. The many exaggerations of canine anatomy and their consequences for the welfare of dogs can be seen in veterinary practices. Exaggerated, unhealthy structures can be seen in the dog's spine, limbs, head shape, and size. According to Reunanen, one of the things that can be considered excessive is the overuse of popular males in breeding, which leads to inbreeding and the spread of disease genes. Too much is also too much when it comes to the temperament of the dogs," says Reunanen. Some dogs have been bred to be too lively and restless, while others have been bred to be too soft and sensitive. Many breeds have a lot of dogs that cannot cope with everyday life, dogs that are very fearful. Reunanen herself prefers pedigree dogs because of their predictability. However, breeders and show judges have to admit that some breeds have unhealthy traits, and most breeds have hereditary diseases that need to be tackled more vigorously. Only by recognising this can we breed healthier dogs. Final debate called for more effective action to promote dog health At the end of the webinar, Sainio, Reunanen and Lilja-Maula answered questions from the audience and discussed dog health and ways to make health a priority in breeding. They pointed out that many breeds have changed a lot since the breed standards were written. Breeding should aim at the original type and structure of the breed, from which there has been a sometimes very unhealthy divergence over the years. Furthermore, the panelists pointed out that each country can influence the breeding and development of its own breeds, whereas breeds "owned" by other countries are more difficult to influence. Finland is responsible for guiding the breeding of its national breeds and setting their breed standards. Its national breeds, the Finnish Spitz, Karelian Beard, Finnish Hound, Finnish Lapponian Dog, and Lapponian Herder have fortunately remained original in their structure and working qualities, and have not developed any extreme traits. According to Sainio, Finland is on the right track, but some things are stagnating. She stated there should be more action, and health should really be the number one priority in breeding. She hopes that legislation will provide the impetus for action. Fortunately, the Finnish legislature has its feet on the ground, and it seems that no breeding bans, for example, are on the way. A breeding regulation under the Animal Welfare Act is currently awaited to deal with hereditary diseases and extreme traits. Finland is perhaps the country with the highest number of screened dogs in the world The Finnish Animal Welfare Act stipulates that a breeding dog must be healthy and well. Kirsi Sainio pointed out that disease screening is an important tool for breeding healthier dogs. As scientific research provides more information about breed-specific hereditary diseases, the veterinary profession will also develop new screening tests. In Finland, dog owners and breed clubs have been very active in participating in various research studies. Many breeds have been involved in studies of hereditary diseases, which has led to the development of tests for these diseases. Liisa Lilja-Maula pointed out that the results of screening tests must be used effectively. X-rays alone will not improve hip health in dogs, but the results must be used systematically in the selection of breeding dogs. Making health and well-being a priority in breeding The panelists agreed that the health and well-being of dogs should be a priority in dog ownership and breeding, and that this should not be a source of confrontation among stakeholders. All stakeholders must play their part in maintaining and promoting this. It is in the dog's interest to perform well in the task for which it has been bred. A physically and mentally healthy dog is best able to do this.

Border Collies Please! Thank you for such wonderful resources.

Wisdom Panel and Embark have new features in their tests that may be of interest to dog breeders and owners: Wisdom Panel’s new Behaviors feature Wisdom Panel Premium test has a new feature called Behaviors. The feature includes these 15 analyses related to dog behavior: Nesting Crossing paws General fear and anxiety Splooting Propensity to gain weight Pointing Avoids getting wet Friendly towards strangers Hesitant toward strangers Anal sacs need expression Reverse sneezing Motion sickness Panting Sleeps on back Separation anxiety Behavioral traits are complex, with hundreds of gene variants at play, as well as the environment that further shapes the traits. That is why Wisdom Health's Behaviors feature uses complex statistical models to analyse hundreds of genetic variants, rather than just one, as most disease tests do. With this new feature, dog owners will be able to better understand their dogs and help them grow and develop into the most balanced adults possible. For example, if a dog has a genetic likelihood of developing separation anxiety, the owner can take proactive steps to help the dog feel calm and confident when left home alone. Or if a dog has a genetic likelihood of being anxious, the owner can focus on socialising the puppy carefully so that the puppy grows up to be as confident and fearless as possible. Read more about the Behaviors feature here >>. New Embark for Breeders Pair Predictor Tool Embark has a new, automated Punnett Square calculator called Pair Predictor that helps breeders understand the potential health risks for puppies produced by a particular sire and dam. Using Pair Predictor, breeders can compare the genetic health results of a potential sire and dam, which have Embark test results. After choosing the mating, Pair Predictor will show the probabilities of producing at-risk, carrier, and/or clear puppies for each genetic condition. In addition to the potential genetic health risks for each litter, Pair Predictor includes the genetic eCOI for a planned litter, and the coat colour predictions for litters. Pair Predictor works with all breeds and all breed mixes. Read more about the Pair Predictor here >>. Additional Genetic Testing Resources IPFD's Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) resources include a searchable database of Genetic Test Providers (labs); genetic tests, and tests by breed, along with Genetic Counselling resources.

https://ofa.org/chic-programs/browse-by-breed/?breed=AMB

IPFD Partner, The Raad van Beheer (RvB), has published the first five ‘foknormen’ (breeding norms) for breeding. The first breeds to have breeding norms are the Borzoi, the Beagle, the Manchester Terrier and the Staffordshire Bull Terrier. Breeding norms are mandatory pre-mating tests and/or screening results for a dog and bitch. These may include eye examinations or screening for hip or elbow dysplasia, or a minimum breeding age or a (positive) result of a behavioural test. The RvB consults with breed clubs about which requirements should apply to their breed(s). All published breeding norms can be found on this page >>. The link will take you to the breed information page where the breeding norms for the breed are published. You can find more information and resources for several of these breeds in IPFD's Pedigree Breeds Database here on DogWellNet: Borzoi | Beagle | Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Breeding for health in pedigreed dogs Wageningen University in the Netherlands has completed an interesting project ‘Breeding for health in pedigreed dogs’. An excerpt from the project page: The “Science shop” of Wageningen University has set up this project in response to questions from three breeding organisations, with the aim to provide knowledge on how to better breed for healthy dogs and use the latest insights from scientific developments. Next to dealing with health problems, genetic management to preserve genetic diversity and prevent high inbreeding rates is essential. A high inbreeding rate caused by using too few and too related dogs in breeding will harm the health of the dogs. Consequently, excluding too many dogs for health reasons will restrict the genetic pool and may cause a too high rate of inbreeding with subsequent health problems. A balance between breeding for health and restricting inbreeding must be found. This has led to the central question of this research: How to set up breeding for healthy pedigreed dogs? A healthy dog is the aim both of dog owners, breeding organisations and society in general. In this report 4 questions are treated: How to deal with a multitude of hereditary health problems in a breed? Can breeding value estimation help to reduce health problems in dogs and how to design it? What is the value of DNA genotyping for estimation of kinships and inbreeding and thereby improving the health of dogs? When and how to set up an outcross, and what does it contribute to the health of the dogs? Tackling health problems is not easy, because the problems are complex and knowledge of genetics is often scarce. Although the task ahead is considerable, there are clear starting points. To manage inbreeding rates the use of mean kinships is most effective and recommended. Additional to that, this report provides specific recommendations on how to deal with the four subjects mentioned above. The project has produced four publications: a full report on the project (in Dutch) by Rita Hoving and Jack Windig, downloadable from the project page (link below) an e-book ‘Het fokken van rashonden - Omgaan met verwantschap en inteelt’ (Breeding of pedigree dogs: dealing with kinship and inbreeding) by Kor Oldenbroek and Jack Windig. The book was developed as part of the Kinship Project, which is an initiative of the IPFD partner Raad van Beheer, together with the Dutch Ministry of Economic Affairs, Agriculture and Innovation. The Kinship Project is part of the Raad van Beheer's sustainable breeding policy: Towards the healthy purebred dog. a paper in the proceedings of the 12th World Congress on Genetics Applied to Livestock Production (WCGALP) 2023 by Windig, Margarita and Doekes: Inbreeding and litter size in Dutch pedigreed dogs a poster at the 7th International Conference of Quantitative Genetics (2024) by Jack Windig and Rita Hoving: 'How to genetically manage inbred populations with a multitude of genetic diseases?’ A pdf of the poster can be downloaded from the project page at the link below. Read more about the project here >> Breeding wisely - Infographics on inbreeding To facilitate all levels of the animal breeding sector, the Centre for Genetic resources, the Netherlands (CGN) at the Wageningen University & Research has developed three infographics to explain the concept of inbreeding, its consequences and how to deal with it. The infographics are aimed specifically at owners and breeding organisations. The infographics have been translated into English in cooperation with the European Regional Focal Point for Animal Genetic Resources (ERFP) network. In 2024, in collaboration with the European Reference Centre for Endangered Animal Breeds (EURC-EAB), the infographics have been translated into French. Futher translations into other languages will follow. You can read more and download the infographics here >>

Schipperke, White Shepherd and Havanese added now to the list. There are only three breeds on the list before them. Please send us if you have any information to share with us!

Any possibilities on getting Havanese on the list?

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)

Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), observed in many flat-faced dog breeds, is one of the most urgent welfare problems in pedigree dogs. A Finnish study evaluated the results gained from the Finnish Kennel Club's (FKC) BOAS test and estimated the heritability for clinically graded BOAS signs. The BOAS test used by the FKC includes: an exercise component with a recovery assessment, BOAS grading by a veterinarian that evaluates upper respiratory signs before and after exercise, and a nostril stenosis assessment. The analysed test results were from the years 2017–2022. Results and conclusions: The majority (80%) of dogs (n = 957) participating in FKC BOAS testing were English Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, and Pugs. In 2022, 89–100% of the litters from these three breeds registered with the FKC had at least one parent tested for BOAS. The proportion of dogs failing the exercise test was highest in English Bulldogs (11%), followed by French Bulldogs (4%), and Pugs (3%). In these three breeds, moderate to severe BOAS signs were reported in 28%, 22%, and 30% of dogs, respectively. The proportion of moderate to severe nostril stenosis was highest (71%) in Pugs, followed by French Bulldogs (55%), and English Bulldogs (40%). Estimates of heritability for BOAS grade were separately calculated for these three breeds and for all dogs, and the estimates were moderate to high, ranging from 0.39 to 0.58. The exercise test alone did not sufficiently identify dogs with moderate to severe BOAS signs. To better consider the complex nature of BOAS and breed differences, exercise tolerance, the severity of upper respiratory signs (BOAS grade) and nostril stenosis should all be assessed together in breeding animals. The heritability estimates for veterinary-assessed BOAS grade indicated that BOAS grade could be used in selective breeding to obtain less-affected offspring. The study is open access and can be read in the link below: Lilja-Maula, L.I.O., Mäki, K.H., Aromaa, M.K. et al. Evaluation of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome breeding test results in Finland from 2017 to 2022. Acta Vet Scand 66, 35 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1186/s13028-024-00755-9