~ IPFD International Dog Health Workshops & Virtual Meetings: At A Glance ~

2012: 1st International Dog Health Workshop, hosted by the Swedish Kennel Club, Stockholm, Sweden

2015: 2nd International Dog Health Workshop, co-hosted by the German Kennel Club (VDH), in Dortmund, Germany

2017: 3rd International Dog Health Workshop, co-hosted by the French Kennel Club (SCC), Paris, France

2019: 4th International Dog Health Workshop, co-hosted by the Kennel Club, Windsor, UK

2024: 5th International Dog Health Workshop, co-hosted by the Finnish Kennel Club, Helsinki, Finland.

IPFD is hosting its first-ever Virtual Dog Health Forum in June 2025 – the midway point between the 5^th and 6^th IDHWs – to continue discussions on key issues in dog health and well-being and identify new opportunities for international collaboration.

IPFD Virtual Meetings

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted IPFD to host Virtual Meetings in 2022 and 2023, and due to the success of the webinars held to-date, we will continue to offer online events.

• Virtual International Dog Health Meeting 1 - Theme: Standardizing Genetic Testing
  The aim of the meeting was to discuss and share relevant information around these challenges, and others, relevant to standardizing genetic reports.
   
• Virtual International Dog Health Meeting 2 - Theme: Genetic Diversity
  The focus of this free webinar was on genetic diversity (primarily from a genetic tests/tools view), and discussions aimed to identify genetic diversity tools and resources, and discuss priorities and actions for the benefit of dogs.
   
• Virtual International Dog Health Meeting 3 - Theme: Parentage Profiling for Kennel Clubs
  The aim for this meeting was to provide information and support to Kennel Clubs at all stages of integrating genetic parentage profiling and other genetic testing into registration systems or health plans, or those who are considering this for their club in the future.
   
• Virtual International Dog Health Meeting 4 (Oceana Region) - Theme: Breeding for Health and Purpose
  This meeting aimed to help dog breeders to develop holistic breeding plans that improve health and welfare, as well as meet the goals of the breeder using evidence-based tools balancing the art and science of dog breeding.
   
• Virtual International Dog Health Meeting 5 - Theme: Breeding for Health – Supporting “Whole Dog” Health from Planning to Pregnancy
  This session aimed to help dog breeders consider options for supporting reproductive health and breeding healthy puppies for the future. Talks included information on pre-breeding testing, breeding/mate selection considerations, and reproduction for purpose-bred dogs of all types.
   
• Virtual International Dog Health Meeting 6 - Theme: Breeding Healthy, Quality Dogs: The Veterinarian, Breeder, and Public Roles
  What are reasonable and responsible guidelines to produce healthy dogs and healthy breeds? How should our knowledge of dog populations and gene dynamics influence how breeding dogs are selected and the selection of their mates? What are the roles of various stakeholders, including breeders, kennel clubs & breeding societies, veterinarians, legislative & governing bodies, and the public? This session highlighted useful tools and outline logical steps and corresponding roles regarding breeding quality, healthy dogs.