All Activity

First peer-reviewed publication of the causal variant. Østergård Jensen, S.; Christen, M.; Rondahl, V.; Holland, C.T.; Jagannathan, V.; Leeb, T.; Giger, U. EHBP1L1 Frameshift Deletion in English Springer Spaniel Dogs with Dyserythropoietic Anemia and Myopathy Syndrome (DAMS) or Neonatal Losses. Genes 2022, 13, 1533. https://doi.org/10.3390/genes13091533

Condition effecting the blood and muscular systems Clinical Comments: Dyserythropoietic anaemia myopathic syndrome (DAMS) combines dyserythropoietic anaemia (a defect in the development of red blood cells (erythrocytes) in the bone marrow) and myopathic syndrome (a defect in muscle fibres). In clinically affected dogs, multi-system sypmtoms can include: progressive muscle weakness, muscle pain, regurgitation, difficulty opening the mouth wide and chewing and swallowing, varying degrees of heart enlargement, fatigue and anemia. Early symptom onset of muscle atrophy, weakness, and decreased activity are seen in the first few weeks of life. Complications of the disease may include pneumonia, chronic diarrhea, seizures. In some cases, death may occur shortly after birth. In other cases, euthanasia is necessary due to severely poor health and welfare. While observed in the breed since the early 1990s, it is considered rare. Given the welfare impact, effective use of the DNA test is recommended by breed clubs to drastically reduce risk of producing clinically affected dogs and conribute to greater understanding of the prevalence of the disease.

Annual reports on ESS health from 2008 to present day. Series of Annual reports and Health reports on the English Springer Spaniel.

The central resource for ESS Health Matters

The IPFD Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) is a multi-stakeholder, collaborative effort to create an open access, sustainable online resource that catalogues information provided voluntarily from Genetic Test Providers (GTPs) including information on their company and services, quality measures and expertise, tests offered, and more. We are continually engaging more GTP participants. Who are the Genetic Test Providers? The collaboration of the Genetic Test Providers (GTPs) is fundamental to the effectiveness of the HGTD. Currently, GTPs can be listed on the GTP database as: Supporter, Sponsor, and Non-Participant. The main funding for HGTD comes from IPFD Contributing Partners and other major HGTD Sponsors. However, the GTPs who are active with us form the backbone of the HGTD project, and all donations are important to the continuation and expansion of this resource. Supporter – includes primarily commercial GTPs or larger non-profit research groups. This group provides a donation to HGTD, as well as data and expert advice. The significant donation not only helps with maintaining HGTD databases, but it is also a major contribution to HGTD’s resource-building and development. Sponsor – includes a spectrum of GTP types. This group’s donations help to make HGTD sustainable and dynamic, and able to continue putting transparency and therefore trust, at the core of everything we do. The sizable Sponsor donations and their vision enhance our ability to create new HGTD resources and improvements in a timely manner. Non-participant – a GTP that is not actively collaborating with HGTD. We list them for awareness, but we do not, generally, provide any further information on them. Why do Genetic Test Providers participate? HGTD catalogues Genetic Test Providers (GTPs), describing characteristics of ‘quality’ and information on tests, by breed/type. By participating, GTPs are helping to build a robust and transparent resource that will inform consumers and other stakeholders on the availability of genetic testing, the quality of those offerings, and a description of the GTPs. All collaborating GTPs recognize the importance of supporting breeders, veterinarians, and owners in accessing robust genetic testing that promotes health improvements and a sustainable future for healthy dogs. Benefits of helping to advance the HGTD initiative include: • Improving consumer confidence in DNA testing • Supporting breeding practices to reduce inherited diseases and promote healthy dogs • Furthering scientific understanding of inherited diseases • Providing a comprehensive catalogue of over 350 phenes Is HGTD funded primarily through GTP donations? No… HGTD was founded on a strict principle of transparency and impartiality. This is fundamental to us being an independent and trustworthy resource. Irrespective of an individual GTP’s ability to donate to either HGTD or IPFD, our approach has always been to work with all participants to describe their company and processes in a transparent way that allows consumers to compare and contrast quality measures, expertise, and services. That said, moving HGTD from initiation to sustainable application depends on the collaboration of the wider community in supporting the resource financially, providing leadership, and highlighting the need for this resource to advance the best practices in providing and using genetic testing. Currently, the bulk of financial support for HGTD comes from IPFD Contributing Partners and HGTD Sponsors who are not GTPs. Donations from GTPs are important for maintenance and enhancements. Support by GTPs through donations also shows that the commercial community is committed to seeing this resource expand. Participating is Easy! GTPs can start by contacting us using the information below. We will then support them through the process of adding data and information to our HGTD database. Everyone can help us further by encouraging other colleagues and labs to participate in the HGTD, or by or sending us suggestions of potential GTP contacts. Participation levels apply to new and ongoing GTPs. GTPs come in all types and sizes. While HGTD works collaboratively to include all GTPs wishing to participate, we depend on donations to contribute to the sustainability and growth of HGTD. Supporters (Donations of 1000+ EUR) Benefits include: • Data included in HGTD • Welcome message in IPFD’s Digest e-newsletter • Supporter badge on HGTD • Annual Supporter digital emblem for marketing/branding • social media feature • Listed Supporter on HGTD Sponsor (Donations of 5000+ EUR) Benefits include: All of Supporter level, plus: • listed Sponsor on HGTD • Sponsor badge on HGTD • Annual Sponsor digital emblem for marketing/branding • option for key indicators/comparison rating • option to list relationships - e.g. any breed or kennel club relationships • option to contribute branded information on Breed Database (e.g. breed-specific reports), by IPFD approval • included on data update acknowledgements, e.g. mentions in blogs, social media, etc. as appropriate Does HGTD provide accreditation? No. The International Partnership for Dogs (IFPD) is not an accreditation body. Participating in HGTD or supporting IPFD’s work is not an endorsement or accreditation of a participant. A GTP who participates in HGTD may provide data on other independent accreditation (such as International Organization for Standardization (ISO)) as part of their GTP descriptions. To participate, or for further information on the HGTD initiative, please contact Project Director, Aimee Llewellyn-Zaidi, at aimee.llewellyn-zaidi@ipfdogs.com.

Recorded presentations and slides, shared with the permission of our speakers. Presentations from the Online Event (16-17 April 2026)The views and opinions expressed by the speakers, theme leaders, and other participants of the 6th IDHW are theirs alone, and do not necessarily reflect the views, opinions, or positions of the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFDogs). Thursday 16 AprilTheme Updates & New Websites – Aimée Llewellyn-Zaidi, IPFDogs Presentation Slides (PDF): Theme Updates - Aimée Llewellyn-Zaidi.pdfNew Websites - Aimée Llewellyn-Zaidi.pdf Updates on Extreme Traits, and Vision Forward – Liisa Lilja-Maula, Finnish Kennel Club Presentation Slides (PDF): Updates on extreme traits and vision forward - Liisa Lilja-Maula.pdf Updates on Extreme Traits, and Vision Forward – Jan-Peter Bach, German Kennel Club (VDH) Presentation Slides (PDF): Updates on extreme traits and vision forward - Jan-Peter Bach.pdf Updates on Extreme Traits, and Vision Forward – Alison Skipper, Royal Kennel Club Aims and Activities of The International Collaborative on Extreme Conformation in Dogs (ICECDogs) – Åke Hedhammar, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences (SLU) Presentation Slides (PDF): Aims and Activities of ICECDogs - Ake Hedhammar.pdf Update on Choose Health Royal Canin Initiative and Coalition – Elodie Morel, Royal Canin Presentation Slides (PDF): Update on Choose Health Royal Canin initiative and coalition – Elodie Morel.pdf IPFDogs Loop (Played During Breaks) Presentation Slides (PDF): IPFDogs Loop - Online Event.pdf More presentations from 16 April to come Friday 17 AprilEnriching Life with Dogs Through Research and Insights – Monica Dreijer and Ann-Charlotte Möller Koivisto, Agria Djurförsäkring Presentation Slides (PDF): Enriching Life with Dogs Through Research and Insights - Agria.pdf Breeding for Health Framework – Alison Skipper, Royal Kennel Club From Biodiversity to Population Management: A Genomic Roadmap for a Modern Dog Breeding – Paola Crepaldi and Arianna Bionda, University of Milan From Population Analyses to Collaborative Pathways in Genetic Diversity Management – Joanna Ilska, Royal Kennel Club IPFDogs Loop (Played During Breaks) Presentation Slides (PDF): IPFDogs Loop - Online Event.pdf More presentations from 17 April to come Quick LinksWorkshop Overview Registration 6th IDHW Schedule Bios for Speakers, Theme Leaders, and Moderators Pre-Workshop Reading Speaker Presentations Poster Presentations Tabletop Exhibits Call for Award Nominations Our Co-Host: Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI) 4th FCI World Congress for Show Judges and 2026 World Dog Show Contact Us for Sponsorship Opportunities

Charlotte McNamara, Head of Health and Breeder Development at The Kennel Club is joined by Dr Alison Skipper, Veterinary and Research Advisor, who explains her research on the history and development of closed breed registers within The Kennel Club.

Crossbreeding Bryson, G.T.; O'Neill, D.G.; Belshaw, Z.; Brand, C.L.; Packer, R.M.A. (In Press) Comparing undesirable behaviours between ‘designer’ Poodle-cross dogs and their purebred progenitor breeds. PLOS ONE.

Crossbreeding New data indicate that popular ‘Doodle’ breeds have equivalent health to their purebred parent breeds, but have significantly worse behaviour, particularly Cockapoos. Bryson, G.T., O'Neill, D.G., Brand, C.L., Belshaw, Z. and Packer, R.M.A. (2024) 'The doodle dilemma: How the physical health of ‘Designer-crossbreed’ Cockapoo, Labradoodle and Cavapoo dogs’ compares to their purebred progenitor breeds', PLoS One, 19(8), e0306350

Youens, E.; O'Neill, D.G.; Tivers, M.S.; Belshaw, Z.; Neufuss, J. and Packer, R.M.A. (Submitted) A solution right under our nose? Exploring the effects of crossbreeding on the health, behaviour and dog-owner relationships of extreme brachycephalic dogs. Animal Welfare.

Conformation; Brachycephaly Youens, E., O'Neill, D.G., Belshaw, Z., Mochizuki, S., Neufuss, J., Tivers, M.S. and Packer, R.M.A. (2025) 'Beauty versus the beast: The UK public prefers less-extreme body shapes in brachycephalic dog breeds', Veterinary Record, n/a(n/a), e5671

Public perceptions of crossbreeds Crossbreeding brachycephalics: "New data indicate substantial health gains of crossbreeding Pugs with other purebred breeds (Beagles/JRTs), and that the public are attracted to less extreme brachycephalic conformations that can be achieved by crossbreeding. However, attitudes to crossbreeding are mixed, with concerns about introducing new health problems, lack of formal recognition of these breeds, and loss of ‘purity’." [Packer, R.M.A.] Youens, E., O’Neill, D.G., Belshaw, Z., Neufuss, J., Tivers, M.S. and Packer, R.M.A. (2026) '“You could get the best of both breeds or the worst of both”: UK public attitudes towards crossbreeding in dogs - with a specific focus on brachycephalic dogs', PLoS One, 21(1), e0336661, available: http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336661.

Supply and Demand Dale FC; O'Neill DG; Brand CL; Belshaw Z; Merritt BL; Pegram C; Packer RMA (In Press) Sold a Pup? Impact of purchasing practices, owner and dog demographics, and puppy early life experiences on later canine health outcomes in the UK. Animal Welfare.

Supply and Demand Belshaw Z; Packer RMA (2025) Knowledge of UK Residents About Importing Puppies from EU Countries. Animals. 15 (15), 2193; https://doi.org/10.3390/ani15152193

Supply and Demand Puppy smuggling bill (Animal Welfare (Import of Dogs, Cats and Ferrets) Bill) receives Royal Assent.

Supply and Demand Belshaw, Z., Youens, E., Lord, M. and Packer, R.M.A. (2025) '“A Dog Brings Benefits No Matter Where It’s from”: UK Residents’ Understanding of the Benefits and Risks of Importing Puppies from Romania to the UK', Animals, 15(15), 2192.

Bianchi, M., Dahlgren, S., Massey, J., Dietschi, E., Kierczak, M., Lund-Ziener, M., Sundberg, K., Thoresen, S.I., Kämpe, O., Andersson, G., Ollier, W.E., Hedhammar, Å., Leeb, T., Lindblad-Toh, K., Kennedy, L.J., Lingaas, F., Rosengren Pielberg, G. : A Multi-Breed Genome-Wide Association Analysis for Canine Hypothyroidism Identifies a Shared Major Risk Locus on CFA12. PLoS One 10:e0134720, 2015. Pubmed reference: 26261983. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0134720.

First published description of the causal variant. Pettigrew, R., Fyfe, J.C., Gregory, B.L., Lipsitz, D., Delahunta, A., Summers, B.A., Shelton, G.D. : CNS hypomyelination in Rat Terrier dogs with congenital goiter and a mutation in the thyroid peroxidase gene. Vet Pathol 44:50-6, 2007. Pubmed reference: 17197623. DOI: 10.1354/vp.44-1-50.

First published description of the causal variant. Fyfe, J.C., Kampschmidt, K., Dang, V., Poteet, B.A., He, Q., Lowrie, C., Graham, P.A., Fetro, V.M. : Congenital hypothyroidism with goiter in toy fox terriers Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 17:50-7, 2003. Pubmed reference: 12564727./

First published description of the causal variant. Boretti, F.S., Breyer-Haube, I., Kaspers, B., Reusch, C.E. : [Clinical, hematological, biochemical and endocrinological aspects of 32 dogs with hypothyroidism] Schweizer Archiv fur Tierheilkunde 145:149-56, 158-9, 2003. Pubmed reference: 12741092.

First published description of the causal variant. Barker, E.N., Dawson, L.J., Rose, J.H., Van Meervenne, S., Frykman, O., Rohdin, C., Leijon, A., Soerensen, K.E., Järnegren, J., Johnson, G.C., O'Brien, D.P., Granger, N. : Degenerative Encephalopathy in Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retrievers Presenting with a Rapid Eye Movement Sleep Behavior Disorder. J Vet Intern Med 30:1681-1689, 2016. Pubmed reference: 27717189. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.14575.

Recommended pre-workshop reading for each Breakout Theme and other 6th IDHW sessions Recommended pre-meeting reading materials (if applicable) will be posted on the corresponding Theme pages (click a Theme Tile below). All participants are welcome (and encouraged) to read the pre-meeting materials for all four themes. Scroll down this page for additional reading materials provided by our Speakers, Theme Leaders, and the IPFDogs team. Additional Pre-Workshop Activities/Reading Reports from the 5th IDHW in Helsinki and June 2025 Virtual Dog Health Forum: 5th IDHW Report.pdf Virtual Dog Health Forum 2025 Report.pdf Recorded presentations and speaker slides from the 6th IDHW Online Event (16-17 April 2026) More information to follow. Quick LinksWorkshop Overview Registration 6th IDHW Schedule Bios for Speakers, Theme Leaders, and Moderators Pre-Workshop Reading Speaker Presentations Poster Presentations Tabletop Exhibits Call for Award Nominations Our Co-Host: Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (ENCI) 4th FCI World Congress for Show Judges and 2026 World Dog Show Contact Us for Sponsorship Opportunities

First published description of the causal variant. Baranowska, I., Jäderlund, K.H., Nennesmo, I., Holmqvist, E., Heidrich, N., Larsson, N.G., Andersson, G., Wagner, E.G., Hedhammar, A., Wibom, R., Andersson, L. : Sensory ataxic neuropathy in golden retriever dogs is caused by a deletion in the mitochondrial tRNATyr gene. PLoS Genet 5:e1000499, 2009. Pubmed reference: 19492087. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000499.

First published description of the causal variant. Bannasch, D., Safra, N., Young, A., Karmi, N., Schaible, RS., Ling, GV. : Mutations in the SLC2A9 gene cause hyperuricosuria and hyperuricemia in the dog. PLoS Genet 4:e1000246, 2008. Pubmed reference: 18989453. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000246.

First published description of the causal variant. Bader, HL., Ruhe, AL., Wang, LW., Wong, AK., Walsh, KF., Packer, RA., Mitelman, J., Robertson, KR., O'Brien, DP., Broman, KW., Shelton, GD., Apte, SS., Neff, MW. :An ADAMTSL2 founder mutation causes Musladin-Lueke Syndrome, a heritable disorder of beagle dogs, featuring stiff skin and joint contractures. PLoS One 5:, 2010. Pubmed reference: 20862248. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0012817.