Standards, Health and Genetics in Dogs - Chapter II - Activities by FCI and others to handle an increased risk of inherited disorders in pedigree dogs (PDGD): Past, present and future - Åke A. Hedhammar (Sweden) 1.0.0

Abstract

Over the comparably short period of kennel clubs- in the span of man’s life with dogs - several activities have been instituted in the past to influence health and well being in so called “pure bred” or “pedigree dogs” Presently many more activities are in focus. As one of the stakeholders FCI have been involved in many of these activities and is urged to take an active part in further efforts to reduce the prevalence of inherited disorders in pedigree dogs.

The term pedigree dogs (PDGD) have been used and will in the following be used for Dogs with known pedigree and resulting most commonly from mating of dogs within the same breed.

Together with other stakeholders FCI and Kennel Clubs worldwide share a responsibility not only for health and well being of the dogs they register. By setting “standards” they indirectly also have an influence on the public perception of any dog claimed to be of a certain breed.

In this paper past and present activities will be reviewed. Proposed further and future activities to handle an increased risk of inherited disorders in pedigree dogs will be suggested.