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To better support dog owners, the veterinary community, and dog health advisors, Breed Relevance Ratings (BRR) provide a simple "snapshot" of available research supporting breed/dog-specific relevance of genetic tests and clinical assessments and programs. Overview The Breed Relevance Rating (BRR) indicates the level of available evidence supporting the application of a specific genetic test, or clinical health assessment, for a specific breed/type. Currently, the relevance rating is based on a wide variety of evidence sources. This includes peer-reviewed research papers, recommendations from the original researchers/test developers, input from additional experts including veterinary specialists, and breed experts. It is hoped that, by being more informative about what we currently know or do not know about a specific test for a specific breed, that dog health advisors and owners can make more informed decisions. Remember, this Breed Relevance Rating is not everything we need to know about the disease or characteristic; it is focused on the test or assessment. Direct-to-consumer genetic tests have provided greater access to many different breed-specific and general genetic tests for dogs. This has raised concerns from owners and breeders who need more guidance and direction in making informed testing decisions. To help with this, the Health Library database includes a simplified rating, indicating the amount of available evidence supporting the relevance of a specific genetic test for a specific breed/type. Introduced in 2026, we are now expanding this to include clinical health assessments and programs. It is important when considering the ratings to understand that this effectively indicates how much we currently know or do not know about a specific test/assessment for a specific breed. This BRR rating does not necessarily indicate how “good”, or “bad” a test is. It also does not indicate the clinical importance of a test. Genetic tests and clinical programs should be used as tools within the Big Picture of health for any breed. Ratings Description Green = Some, moderate or strong breed-specific evidence from available research. The test is likely to be meaningful or recommended for this breed. As more research or other evidence supports the relevance and usefulness of the test/assessment, the rating may increase. A "some" rating indicates that there is breed-specific (or dog type) evidence supporting the use of the test/program. Yellow = Currently no evidence of relevance for the use of this test in this breed, or the test is not known in this breed. This rating should be expected to change as evidence becomes available. Orange = All current available evidence has been reviewed, but relevance is inconclusive, and/or the clinical form of the disease has never been seen in this breed. Red = All current evidence indicates that the test is not meaningful or recommended in this breed. What does it mean when there is a BRR for "ALL"? Most tests were originally developed and offered for specific breeds. With the advent of panel testing, many Genetic Test Providers (GTPs) now offer some/many tests for 'All' dogs. Understandably, relevance may not be the same across all breeds. Where a BRR is assigned for "ALL" it is taking into account the research/relevance as it refers to dogs as a whole - breeds, crosses, and mixed dogs. Where the BRR is known to vary across breeds, the BRR may be assigned a yellow "unknown..." to indicate no consensus. If there are breeds within the "All" where the BRR would indicate that the test should not be used or is irrelevant, the "All" may be assigned an orange, "warning/caution" to indicate that there is no consensus, and usage in some breeds or types may be disadvantageous. Any green, "relevant..." BRR normally indicates a test that is understood to be universal across all dogs - such as genetic identification or parentage. It is important to note that where there is research/information for the test within a specific breed, that test will generally be listed as a breed-specific test, not simply under 'additional tests for All Dogs". What is considered when estimating BRR? The BRR rating is described as being an estimation. This best reflects the possibility that BRRs may change over time, as more evidence emerges and there is better understanding of the likely relevance of the test. Currently there are 3,000+ combinations of specific breeds x specific test/clinical programs. Each of these has to be considered on a breed-by-breed (or type) basis. A yellow BRR in a breed occurs where a test is new and not yet reviewed, still in a research phase, or where all current evidence indicates that relevance is unknown. Any red, orange, or green BRRs arise from an evaluation of peer-reviewed scientific papers and consultation with experts - where possible including the original researchers behind the mutation discovery, as well as, additional geneticists, veterinary experts, and breed specialists. A test is normally considered to have achieved a green BRR when it meets some basic levels of relevance to a breed/type. If there is a peer-reviewed paper, it should make a correlation between the genetic variant/assessment tested for and the description of the clinical disease/trait in the specified breed, at a minimum. This rating should give the user some confidence that what is being evaluated should be relevant to the breed. The green ratings get "stronger" as the strength of evidence increases; e.g. for genetic disease/disorder tests the likelihood of the variant being causal increases, as there may be additional research, genetics expert information, larger dog populations tested, variant frequencies estimated, evidence that using the test reduces the disease, etc. The reverse is true as well. If a test is available and there is evidence that what is being evaluated is not causal for the disease/trait, or even that using the test may give false or inaccurate results or is simply not recommended by the original researchers for testing in the breed, then an orange or red BRR could be assigned. For example, in some breeds it is possible for a variant to exist in the breed, but it has been demonstrated repeatedly that for some reason the variant does not cause the condition being tested for, and/or the disease/condition has never been reported in the breed. How do BRRs apply to my Breed? The BRR is an estimate of the currently known research and understanding as it applies to specific breed(s)/types. If you are considering using the BRRs as a breed club, health adviser, or veterinary professional, one practical way to interpret it is as a scale of prioritization. For example, if a test has a green BRR rating of any level, it has likely been established that screening for this disease/phene is reasonable, and the results are relevant and could be used in breeding plans or strategies. A yellow BRR test may or may not be relevant, so finding out more about the test could be important in deciding if it's appropriate or should be prioritized. Orange and Red tests indicate that there is a recommendation of caution from the research community, and the test may not be applicable to the breed. Any clinical or genetic results should be considered in balance with the overall health of the dog, and in balance with many other breed-wide priorities, such as genetic diversity and conformation. How do BRRs apply to my dog? The BRR is an estimate of the currently known research and understanding of a disease/phene as it applies to specific breed(s)/types. Which tests should be prioritized for an individual dog, or how important a test result may be will vary depending on other factors - such as differences in global breed populations, individual dog risks (e.g. if a family member has a disease being tested for), and the reasons for testing (e.g. diagnostic, breeding plans, general screening...). No permanent or irreversible decision should be made about a dog based on a genetic test result alone. It is important to discuss any concerns with a veterinary professional and, if possible, a canine genetic advisor. Genetic test results in particular can apply primarily to breeding decisions and have no real impact on or meaning for the individual dog in its lifetime, such as a "carrier" result. If you are a researcher or other expert, and believe a rating is inaccurate, or if you have data or test information you would like to share, please contact aimee.llewellyn-zaidi@ipfdogs.com.

Komáromy, A.M., Rowlan, J.S., Corr, A.T., Reinstein, S.L., Boye, S.L., Cooper, A.E., Gonzalez, A., Levy, B., Wen, R., Hauswirth, W.W., Beltran, W.A., Aguirre, G.D.: Transient Photoreceptor Deconstruction by CNTF Enhances rAAV-Mediated Cone Functional Rescue in Late Stage CNGB3-Achromatopsia. Mol Ther :, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23568263. DOI: 10.1038/mt.2013.50.

Yeh, C.Y., Goldstein, O., Kukekova, A.V., Holley, D., Knollinger, A.M., Huson, H.J., Pearce-Kelling, S.E., Acland, G.M., Komáromy, A.M.: Genomic deletion of CNGB3 is identical by descent in multiple canine breeds and causes achromatopsia. BMC Genet 14:27, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23601474. DOI: 10.1186/1471-2156-14-27.

Breed-specific research Freeman, A.C., Platt, S.R., Vandenberg, M., Holmes, S., Kent, M., Rech, R., Howerth, E., Mishra, S., O'Brien, D.P., Wenger, D. : GM2 gangliosidosis (B variant) in two Japanese Chins: clinical, magnetic resonance imaging and pathological characteristics. J Vet Intern Med 27:771-6, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23731274. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12118.

First published description of the causal variant Sanders, D.N., Zeng, R., Wenger, D.A., Johnson, G.S., Johnson, G.C., Decker, J.E., Katz, M.L., Platt, S.R., O'Brien, D.P. : GM2 gangliosidosis associated with a HEXA missense mutation in Japanese Chin dogs: a potential model for Tay Sachs disease. Mol Genet Metab 108:70-5, 2013. Pubmed reference: 23266199. DOI: 10.1016/j.ymgme.2012.11.008.

Health condition research Abstract Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) is known to occur as a common condition in short-skulled (brachycephalic) dogs, but has been intensively studied only in three breeds: the Bulldog, French Bulldog and Pug. This study investigates the frequency and severity of BOAS in a further 14 breeds in the UK pet population: Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dogue de Bordeaux, Griffon Bruxellois, Japanese Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Maltese, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu and Staffordshire Bull Terrier. The respiratory functional grading (RFG) assessment was adapted for use in these breeds, noting respiratory characteristics for 898 dogs in this study. Conformational parameters were measured to analyse the association with BOAS risk. Statistical analysis was performed both comparatively across the 14 breeds and within each breed. Almost every breed in this study had some detectable level of breathing abnormality. Only the Maltese and Pomeranian had no dogs with clinically significant disease. The Pekingese and Japanese Chin, had the highest rates of BOAS with only 10.9% and 17.4% being Grade 0 respectively. Across the whole study population, three factors were significantly correlated with BOAS: higher body condition score, nostril stenosis, and lower craniofacial ratio (more extreme facial hypoplasia). These parameters accounted for 20% of the variation in BOAS status when modelled in multiple logistic regression. It was noted that some extremely flat-faced breeds, for example the King Charles Spaniel, had lower rates of BOAS than expected based on their conformation. Overall, the frequency of BOAS varies considerably by breed. Broadly speaking, more extreme brachycephaly, nostril stenosis and high body condition score are associated with increased BOAS risk. However, with variation of phenotype between the breeds, the findings of this study advocate for a breed-specific approach when tackling the reduction of the disease on a population level. Citation: Tomlinson F, Liu N-C, Sargan DR, Ladlow JF (2026) A cross-sectional study into the prevalence and conformational risk factors of BOAS across fourteen brachycephalic dog breeds. PLoS One 21(2): e0340604. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0340604

International Scheme evaluating the observable risk/severity of Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) using RFG methodology. The Respiratory Function Grading Scheme assesses a number of breeds and dog types, generally those with a brachycephalic face structure, for a breathing problem known as BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome).The program advises owners if their dog is affected by BOAS and gives guidance to breeders on how to lower the risk of producing affected puppies. A selection of regionally approved assessors (vets trained especially in BOAS) have been appointed to carry out respiratory function grading on dogs of these breeds.

Eckardt J, Kluth S, Dierks C, Philipp U, Distl O. Population screening for the mutation associated with osteogenesis imperfecta in dachshunds. Vet Rec. 2013 Apr 6;172(14):364. doi: 10.1136/vr.101122. Epub 2013 Jan 12. PMID: 23315765.

First published description of the causal variant Drogemuller, C., Becker, D., Brunner, A., Haase, B., Kircher, P., Seeliger, F., Fehr, M., Baumann, U., Lindblad-Toh, K., Leeb, T.: A missense mutation in the SERPINH1 gene in Dachshunds with osteogenesis imperfecta. PLoS Genet 5:e1000579, 2009. Pubmed reference: 19629171. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgen.1000579

Waldo, J.T., Diaz, K.S. : Development and validation of a diagnostic test for Ridge allele copy number in Rhodesian Ridgeback dogs. Canine Genet Epidemiol 2:2, 2015. Pubmed reference: 26401330. DOI: 10.1186/s40575-015-0013-x.

Karlsson, E.K., Baranowska, I., Wade, C.M., Salmon Hillbertz, N.H., Zody, M.C., Anderson, N., Biagi, T.M., Patterson, N., Pielberg, G.R., Kulbokas, E.J., Comstock, K.E., Keller, E.T., Mesirov, J.P., von Euler, H., Kämpe, O., Hedhammar, A., Lander, E.S., Andersson, G., Andersson, L., Lindblad-Toh, K. : Efficient mapping of mendelian traits in dogs through genome-wide association. Nat Genet 39:1321-8, 2007. Pubmed reference: 17906626. DOI: 10.1038/ng.2007.10.

First publication describing the causal variant. Salmon Hillbertz, N.H., Isaksson, M., Karlsson, E.K., Hellmén, E., Pielberg, G.R., Savolainen, P., Wade, C.M., von Euler, H., Gustafson, U., Hedhammar, A., Nilsson, M., Lindblad-Toh, K., Andersson, L., Andersson, G. : Duplication of FGF3, FGF4, FGF19 and ORAOV1 causes hair ridge and predisposition to dermoid sinus in Ridgeback dogs. Nat Genet 39:1318-20, 2007. Pubmed reference: 17906623. DOI: 10.1038/ng.2007.4.

This article on German Shepherds 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 various breeds. This is a 'living document' - so if anyone has more material to share or point us to - please let us know! The German Shepherd at a GlanceThe German Shepherd is the most known and popular breed in the world. The breed has been bred with the ultimate objective of creating a working dog inclined to high achievements. The German Shepherd Dog must be well-balanced (with strong nerves) in terms of character, self-assured, absolutely natural and (except for a stimulated situation) good-natured as well as attentive and willing to please. He must possess instinctive behavior, resilience and self-assurance in order to be suitable as a companion, guard, protection, service and herding dog. (source: FCI breed standard) German Shepherds are widely used in police, military, and search and rescue work. They are also kept as family pets and used in competitive protection and other hobbies. The breed is divided into two genetically different lines: a working line focusing on competition and working dogs, and a show line focusing on appearance and dog shows. The division of the lines started in the former West Germany in the 1960s, and since the 1980s, there has been little mixing of the lines in Germany. In other countries, mixed-line dogs also exist, having both show and working dogs in the pedigrees. The German Shepherd comes with two coat variants: the short-haired and the long-haired. The long-haired variant was approved in 2009 and is therefore still new to the breed, although long hair has existed within the breed throughout the ages. What Do Caretakers Need to Know?As very strong and active dogs, German Shepherds need good training and handling. Key Hereditary Health ConditionsThe major hereditary problems in the German Shepherd are immunological diseases and various skeletal diseases. The most common immunological diseases are atopy and allergies, pancreatic insufficiency, various tumours, pannus (pannus keratitis), and perianal fistula. The most common skeletal diseases are hip and elbow dysplasia. Also worth mentioning are spinal problems, growth disorders of the stifle and shoulder, gastric torsion, and heart disease. (Source: breeding strategy of the Finnish breed club) Disorder prevalence in UK German Shepherd Dogs by VetCompass Interactive Resources: Hip and elbow dysplasia Immunological eye diseases; plasmoma and keratitis Spinal and skeletal issues; lumbosacral transitional vertebrae, spondylosis and narrowing of the posterior spinal canal Orthopedic; osteochondrosis in shoulders Degenerative myelopathy (DNA test available) Allergies and atopies Exocrine Pancreatic Insufficiency (EPI) Perianal fistulas (anal furunculosis) Physical Exaggerations – Instructions for Conformation JudgesBreed-Specific Instructions of the Nordic Kennel UnionFCI GROUP 1 – Sheepdogs and Cattledogs Areas of risk are: Hindquarters: Over-angulated and cow hocked hindquarters with instability in hocks. Top line: Arched and cut away in loin and croup. Exaggeration in presentation with extreme handling precludes assessment of the demands of the standard: “the position of hind legs is slightly backwards whereby the hind limbs are parallel to each other when seen from the rear”. Evaluation of the movement should be made at both trot and walk. Read more here >> Breed Watch UKPoints of concern for special attention by judges: Cow hocks Excessive turn of stifle Nervous temperament Sickle hock Weak hindquarters Read more here >> Statistics (Morbidity and Mortality)Agria - Swedish Breed ProfilesWe recommend that you download the Agria Breed Profiles for the breed from the breed page (access is free, but sign-in to DogWellNet is required), and study them for full available information. Some excerpts are shown below. The great benefits of the Swedish Insurance Data are that they include almost 40% of the national population of dogs, and so are very representative. Note that animals at very old ages are likely under-represented. Most importantly, information is available on all insured dogs, not simply those who get sick or die. Extracts from Veterinary Care Events – MORBIDITYRelative risk of morbidity in German Shepherds compared to all breeds (Chart 1): 1.2 (The risk in the breed is larger than for All Breeds) Most frequent general causes (Chart 3): locomotor, digestive, skin, injury, neoplasia Most frequent specific causes (Chart 5): vomiting/diarrea/gastroenteritis, pain/symptom locomotor, dermatitis/pyoderma/folliculitis, otitis, itching, skin trauma, teeth, skin tumour, allergy/atopy Largest relative risks (specific causes) compared to All Breeds (Chart 6 – not included here): exocrine pancreatic insufficiency >11 x, panosteitis >9 x, intestinal accident spleen >4 x, and upper urinary tumour >4 x the risk in All Breeds. Locomotor compared to All Breeds (Chart 10): skeletal 4 x, elbow 3 x, hip/femur/pelvis 2,5 x, and carpal/metacarpal >2 x the risk in All Breeds. UK VetCompass: Most frequent disorders Extracts from Agria Breed Profile (Life) – MORTALITYMedian Age (years) at death: 6.7, which is a little lower than in All Breeds (6.9). Relative Risk Mortality compared to All Breeds (Chart 1): 1.93. (The risk in the breed is almost twice the risk in All Breeds). Most frequent general causes of death (Chart 3): locomotor, neoplasia, digestive, dead/euthanized, neurological, skin. All are more common than in All Breeds. Most frequent specific causes of death (Chart 5): dead/euthanized, disc/vertebral, hip dysplasia, intest accident, ataxia/paresis/paralysis/collapse, locomotor pain/symptom, neoplasia. All are more common than in All Breeds. UK - VetCompass: Causes of death Source: VetCompass Interactive Resources - Disorder prevalence in UK German Shepherd Dogs Finland – Finnish Kennel Club Mortality Data 2014->The average life expectancy according to the Finnish statistics is 8 years 2 months. The most common specified causes of death are old age (at 11 years 10 months), tumor/cancer (9 y 2 mo), skeletal or articular disease (5 y and 8 mo), and spinal disease (7 y 10 mo). Source: Finnish Kennel Club breeding database Life ExpectancyThe Netherlands: 12 years and over – See Raad van Beheer UK: 10.2 – 10.3 years (Teng et al. 2022; O’Neill et al. 2017) US: 12 - 14 years - See American Kennel Club Health ScreeningDNA Tests – Harmonization of Genetic Testing for DogsThe Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) is a large collaboration project run by the IPFD. The HGTD includes 82 academic and commercial genetic test providers (GTPs) in 26 countries. See the HGTD – DNA tests for the German Shepherd on the breed's page (section: Connections). The colours of the tests mark fr Breed Relevance Ratings (BRR). BRR indicates the level of available evidence supporting the application of a specific genetic test for a specific breed/type: Some, moderate or strong evidence from available research. The test may be meaningful or recommended for this breed. Currently no evidence of relevance for the use of this test in this breed, or the test is not known in this breed. This rating should be expected to change as evidence becomes available. All current available evidence has been reviewed, but relevance is inconclusive, and/or the clinical form of the disease has never been seen in this breed. All current evidence indicates that the test is not meaningful or recommended in this breed. Click here for more information on the HGTD project Summary: German Shepherds have long been a popular breed, in turn making them one of the breeds with a larger selection of available genetic tests. There are two different recognised varieties: Double-coated, and Long and harsh coat. In some countries these populations have effectively not interbred for a long enough time that there are differences in recommended genetic tests. However, it may be prudent in pre-breeding applications to review the results for genetic tests offered to both varieties. Testing for Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1) is recommended for all german shepherd dogs, regarless of if they are being considered for breeding, due to the potential welfare/veterinary importance implications. The lists below reflect some of the breed-specific genetic tests with available research, divided by breed/variety. Please refer to the full information on HGTD for all available genetic tests, including those that may be relevant but do not currently have breed-specific research, as well as non-breed specific tests, or trait tests such as coat colour. German Shepherd, Double coated Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1) 2,8-Dihydroxyadenine Urinary Stones Achromatopsia 2 Degenerative Myelopathy Dwarfism, Pituitary Factor VIII Deficiency Hyperuricosuria and Hyperuricemia (HUU) Ichthyosis, ASPRV1-related (specifically identified in the German Shepherd) Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency III (LAD3) Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII Renal Cystadenocarcinoma and Nodular Dermatofibrosis Scott Syndrome Von Willebrand Disease I X-linked Ectodermal Dysplasia Achromatopsia (cone degeneration, hemeralopia), GSPT (might be important) German Shepherd, Long and Harsh coat Multidrug Resistance 1 (MDR1) 2,8-Dihydroxyadenine Urinary Stones Dwarfism, Pituitary Factor VIII Deficiency Hyperuricosuria and Hyperuricemia (HUU) Mucopolysaccharidosis Type VII Renal Cystadenocarcinoma and Nodular Dermatofibrosis Von Willebrand Disease I X-linked Ectodermal Dysplasia Leukocyte Adhesion Deficiency III (LAD3) ♦ BIG PICTURE THINKING ♦ Please take into consideration - Most of the conditions with genetic tests are rare in the general population, but valuable for breeders to use to efficiently reduce risks while supporting good genetic diversity in the breed as a whole. Also be aware that there are many DNA tests that are available for ALL breeds, and that while the test itself is valid, the condition may not be a major health concern or included in health strategies for every breed. See the HGTD for a full list of DNA tests including "Trait" and "Parentage" tests. There are a number of tests available, particularly tests for traits such as coat color, or health issues that are applicable to all dogs and may be important to specific breeding lines or breeding goals. We welcome contributions from breed experts and researchers to help us keep our information up to date. Email us at info@ipdfogs.com Health Screening Summary – By Country(Source: Breeding Strategies, see below) R1-Mandatory for registration R2-Recommended R3-Recognized Note: Please let us know if there have been changes to the health screening requirements in your country, so we can update our data. Condition/ Trait GE FI FR IT NL NO SWE UK US Correct dentition R2 R2 R2 R2 Hip dysplasia R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R1 R2 R2 R1 Elbow dysplasia R1 R1 R2 R2 R2 R2 R1 R2 R1 Eye disease/keratitis & plasmoma R2 R2 R2 Spine R1** R2 R2 R2 Character/ mental test R1* R1 R2 R2 R2 R2 R1 DNA profile R2 R2 Allergy, atopy R2 R3 R2 Cardiac disease R2 Thyroid test R2 Megaesophagus R3 R3 Exocrine pancreatic insufficiency R3 R3 Bloat R3 Epilepsy R2 R3 Hemangiosarcoma R3 Degerative myelopathy R3 R2 R2 R2 Haemophilia R2*** Max N of offspring R2 Dwarfism R2 *Evaluated in Talentsichtung, trials and Körung; **Screening for lumbosacral transitional vertebrae (LTV) is mandatory, for spondylosis recommended; ***Only for males Note: The table above provides some of the most common health screening information from clubs in the countries listed. See the individual club websites for the most recent and accurate information on health management in the breed. Breeding Strategies and Health Screening Statistics Photo: Freepik GermanyHealth information/requirements by the breed clubs: Verein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V. – Zuchtordnung The German Shepherd Association RSV2000 eV – Zuchtordnung ”The German Shepherd Association RSV2000 eV sees itself as the heir to the idea of its founder Max von Stephanitz: The German Shepherd Dog should be bred as a versatile working dog.” (Source: https://www.rsv2000.de/ueber-den-rsv2000/) Breeding plan: UKHealth scheme in The Kennel Club British Association for German Shepherd Dogs Ltd Scandinavian countriesFinland: Jalostuksen tavoiteohjelma (JTO) in Finnish Sweden: Rasspecifik avelsstrategi (RAS) in Swedish Norway: Rasespesifikk avlsstrategi (RAS) in Norwegian Percent healthy of the examined dogs (2013-2023): Hip dysplasia: Finland 65 %, Norway 67 %, Sweden 74 %. Elbow dysplasia: Finland 81 %, Norway 86 %, Sweden 83 %. Eye diseases: Finland 78 %, Norway 58 %, Sweden 70 %. Clinical findings listed in the Norwegian Kennel Club database (in Norwegian): FranceGRILLE DE SELECTION / La Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club) Health page of the breed club Club Officiel du Chien de Berger Allemand La Centrale Canine health statistics 2011-2020 document: During 2011-2020 the proportion of screened German Shepherds free of hip dysplasia has been 70-74%. However, there has been an increase in moderate and severe dysplasia (D and E) and a decrease of mild dysplasia (C). Proportion of screened dogs has been 10 %. 11 % of the screened dogs had elbow arthrosis (grades 1-3 elbow dysplasia) during 2011-2020: The NetherlandsBreeding rules of the breed clubs: Vereniging van Fokkers en Liefhebbers van Duitse Herdershonden Duitse Herder Rasclub Nederland ItalyStatistics and health requirements by Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana (Italian Kennel Club, ENCI) USThe German Shepherd Dogs of America webpage of the Health and Genetics Committee About the OFA-CHIC program in the German Shepherd OFA - Recommended health screening tests for the breed (CHIC) OFA Statistics - % healthy of the examined dogs since 2021: Hip dysplasia: 79% Elbow dysplasia: 81% Eye diseases: 95% Cardiac (Advanced): 92% Thyroid: 90 % Degenerative myelopathy: 69% ResearchOngoing research:Royal Veterinary College: Understanding the genetics of Canine inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in GSDs Published research:O’Neill, D.G., Coulson, N.R., Church, D.B. et al. Demography and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs under primary veterinary care in the UK. Canine Genet Epidemiol 4, 7 (2017). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-017-0046-4 The most frequent disorders in GSDs were otitis externa, osteoarthritis, diarrhoea, overweight/obesity and aggression, whilst the most common causes of death were musculoskeletal disorders and inability to stand. Aggression was more prevalent in males than in females. Teng, K.Ty., Brodbelt, D.C., Pegram, C. et al. Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Sci Rep 12, 6415 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10341-6 Life tables varied widely between breeds. Life tables generated by the current study allow a deeper understanding of the varied life trajectory across many types of dogs and offer novel insights and applications to improve canine health and welfare. The current study helps promote further understanding of life expectancy, which will benefit pet owners and the veterinary profession, along with many other sectors. Vilson Å, Bonnett B, Hansson-Hamlin H, Hedhammar Å. Disease patterns in 32,486 insured German shepherd dogs in Sweden: 1995-2006. Vet Rec. 2013 Aug 3;173(5):116. doi: 10.1136/vr.101577. https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23812178/ For veterinary care events (morbidity) GSDs were most over-represented for immunological disease, with a relative risk (RR) of 2.7, compared with the risk in all other breeds combined. The most common disease category (morbidity) in GSDs was skin disorders with an incidence rate of 346.8 cases per 10,000 dog years at risk. The highest RR for cause of death in GSDs compared with all other breeds was for skin conditions (RR=7.8). Locomotor disorders were the most common cause of death in GSDs. The GSD is predisposed to immune-related disorders, such as allergies, circumanal fistulae and exocrine pancreatic atrophy, with significantly increased risk compared with all other breeds. Vilson 2016. Immunity, Microbiota & Immune-related Disorders in German Shepherd dogs. Doctoral Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala. https://pub.epsilon.slu.se/13768/1/vilson_a_161028.pdf In an epidemiological study based on insurance data we described a breed-specific pattern of diseases in German Shepherd dogs (GSD) and confirmed that this breed is predisposed to immune-related disorders. A prospective study was performed in order to further investigate immunological changes in the GSD using a large number of dogs, 30 bitches and their litters, from the same kennel under well controlled natural conditions. Bergevi 2022. Mapping of allergic dermatitis in the Swedish Armed Forces’ German Shepherd dogs – Analysis of early skin assessments from a breeding perspective (In Swedish, with an English abstract). Master’s Thesis, Swedish University of Agricultural Sciences, Uppsala. https://stud.epsilon.slu.se/17774/1/Bergevi_F_20220523.pdf The results indicate that genetic progress in decreasing allergic dermatitis is possible by including the early skin assessments at FM’s [The Swedish Armed Forces] selection, preferably as breeding values for skin status, which is important since breeding females are selected at the age of 15 months. References and ResourcesBreed ClubsGermanyVerein für Deutsche Schäferhunde (SV) e.V. Database (for members only) Schäferhundverein RSV2000 e.V. Both clubs have open studbook, ie. breed-typical dogs without pedigrees can get an appendix pedigree. FinlandSaksanpaimenkoiraliitto ry Database FranceClub Officiel du Chien de Berger Allemand ItalySocietà Amatori Schaferhunde The NetherlandsVereniging van fokkers en liefhebbers van Duitse herdershonden Duitse Herder Rasclub Nederland NorwayNorsk Schäferhund Klub SwedenSvenska Schäferhundklubben USThe German Shepherd Dog Club of America UKBritish Association for German Shepherd Dogs Ltd

Report from the 4th International Dog Health Workshop Abstract Dogs are the most popular mammal kept as a companion animal globally. Positive human-dog relationships can benefit both the human owners as well as the dogs. However, popularity as a companion animal species does not universally benefit dogs in reverse. Breed-related health problems in dogs have received increasing attention over the last decade, sparking increased concerns for dog welfare across many stakeholders. Progress towards improved welfare requires meaningful collaboration between all those working in dog health, science and welfare. The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD), together with an alternating host organisation, holds biennial meetings called the International Dog Health Workshops (IDHW). The IPFD 4th IDHW was hosted by the UK Kennel Club in Windsor, UK in May 2019. With the aim of encouraging international and multi-stakeholder collaborations that are effective and ongoing, the 4th IDHW 2019 provided a forum to identify specific needs and actions that could improve health, well-being and welfare in dogs, building on outcomes and evaluating actions of previous IDHWs. Results The workshop included 126 decision-leaders from 16 countries and was structured around five key themes identified as needing international, multi-stakeholder attention. These included the concept of “breed”, supply and demand, breed-specific strategies for health and breeding, genetic testing and extreme conformations. The review of progress made since the 3rd IDHW 2017 and the comprehensive lists of actions agreed upon during the current meeting suggest that movement from information and collaboration to action has been achieved. Working groups with specific tasks were identified and many plan to continue to communicate through forum communities on DogWellNet.com . Conclusions The IDHW provides a forum for formal and informal discussion between relevant groups so that key dog health and welfare issues can be identified and defined, and plans can be agreed for effective actions to address them. The 3rd IDHW 2017 resulted in a number of significant outcomes. New and continuing actions were laid down at the 4th IDHW 2019, which will be re-evaluated at the 5th IDHW facilitating continual progress. Citation: Pegram, C.L., Bonnett, B.N., Skarp, H. et al. Moving from information and collaboration to action: report from the 4th international dog health workshop, Windsor in May 2019. Canine Genet Epidemiol 7, 4 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1186/s40575-020-00083-x

Pfahler, S., Bachmann, N., Fechler, C., Lempp, C., Baumgärtner, W., Distl, O. : Degenerative myelopathy in a SOD1 compound heterozygous Bernese mountain dog. Anim Genet 45:309-10, 2014. Pubmed reference: 24450472. DOI: 10.1111/age.12118.

Ivansson, E.L., Megquier, K., Kozyrev, S.V., Murén, E., Körberg, I.B., Swofford, R., Koltookian, M., Tonomura, N., Zeng, R., Kolicheski, A.L., Hansen, L., Katz, M.L., Johnson, G.C., Johnson, G.S., Coates, J.R., Lindblad-Toh, K. : Variants within the SP110 nuclear body protein modify risk of canine degenerative myelopathy. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 113:E3091-100, 2016. Pubmed reference: 27185954. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1600084113.

First published description of the causal variant Awano, T., Johnson, GS., Wade, CM., Katz, ML., Johnson, GC., Taylor, JF., Perloski, M., Biagi, T., Baranowska, I., Long, S., March, PA., Olby, NJ., Shelton, GD., Khan, S., O'Brien, DP., Lindblad-Toh, K., Coates, JR. : Genome-wide association analysis reveals a SOD1 mutation in canine degenerative myelopathy that resembles amyotrophic lateral sclerosis. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A 106:2794-9, 2009. Pubmed reference: 19188595. DOI: 10.1073/pnas.0812297106.

Brons, A.K., Henthorn, P.S., Raj, K., Fitzgerald, C.A., Liu, J., Sewell, A.C., Giger, U. : SLC3A1 and SLC7A9 mutations in autosomal recessive or dominant canine cystinuria: a new classification system. J Vet Intern Med 27:1400-8, 2013. Pubmed reference: 24001348. DOI: 10.1111/jvim.12176.

First published description of the causal variant. Henthorn, P.S., Liu, J.L., Gidalevich, T., Fang, J.K., Casal, M.L., Patterson, D.F., Giger, U. : Canine cystinuria: polymorphism in the canine SLC3A1 gene and identification of a nonsense mutation in cystinuric Newfoundland dogs Human Genetics 107:295-303, 2000. Pubmed reference: 11129328.

First published description of the causal variant. Meng, R., Bridgman, R., Toivio-Kinnucan, M., Niemeyer, GP., Vernau, W., Hock, T., Lothrop, CD. : Neutrophil elastase-processing defect in cyclic hematopoietic dogs. Exp Hematol 38:104-15, 2010. Pubmed reference: 19941936. DOI: 10.1016/j.exphem.2009.09.010.

First published description of the causal variant. Cadieu, E., Neff, M.W., Quignon, P., Walsh, K., Chase, K., Parker, H.G., Vonholdt, B.M., Rhue, A., Boyko, A., Byers, A., Wong, A., Mosher, D.S., Elkahloun, A.G., Spady, T.C., André, C., Lark, K.G., Cargill, M., Bustamante, C.D., Wayne, R.K., Ostrander, E.A. : Coat variation in the domestic dog is governed by variants in three genes. Science 326:150-3, 2009. Pubmed reference: 19713490. DOI: 10.1126/science.1177808.

First published description of the causal variant. Ding, Q., Bramble, L., Yuzbasiyan-Gurkan, V., Bell, T., Meek, K. : DNA-PKcs mutations in dogs and horses: allele frequency and association with neoplasia Gene 283:263-269, 2002. Pubmed reference: 11867233.

Linkage reporting Lowe, JK., Kukekova, AV., Kirkness, EF., Langlois, MC., Aguirre, GD., Acland, GM., Ostrander, EA. : Linkage mapping of the primary disease locus for collie eye anomaly. Genomics 82:86-95, 2003. Pubmed reference: 12809679.

Breed-specific variant research Brown, E.A., Thomasy, S.M., Murphy, C.J., Bannasch, D.L. :Genetic analysis of optic nerve head coloboma in the Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever identifies discordance with the NHEJ1 intronic deletion (collie eye anomaly mutation). Vet Ophthalmol :, 2017. Pubmed reference: 28702949. DOI: 10.1111/vop.12488.

Breed-specific variant research Fredholm, M., Larsen, R.C., Jönsson, M., Söderlund, M.A., Hardon, T., Proschowsky, H.F. : Discrepancy in compliance between the clinical and genetic diagnosis of choroidal hypoplasia in Danish Rough Collies and Shetland Sheepdogs. Anim Genet 47:250-2, 2016. Pubmed reference: 26732749. DOI: 10.1111/age.12405.