Promoting Breed Health: Parent Clubs' Initiatives for Canine Well-being

Parent clubs play a crucial role in monitoring breed health by gathering information from dog breeders and owners. Understanding the evolving patterns of disease incidence is vital for breed improvement and, in some cases, breed survival. In this article, we explore how three parent clubs collaborate with their breed health foundations to conduct breed health surveys, collecting valuable data on the health status of their respective breeds.

With a commitment to promoting the well-being of all dogs, parent clubs prioritize the goal of ensuring long and healthy lives.

Improving Quality of Life for Berners

Since its establishment in 1968, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) has been dedicated to promoting breed health. The club's commitment to improving the well-being and quality of life for Berners is reinforced through the implementation of health surveys. By gathering valuable information, the BMDCA is equipped to identify and support relevant research initiatives.

During the development of the 2016-2017 breed health survey, the Bernese Mountain Dog Club of America (BMDCA) aimed to gather follow-up information from previous retrospective surveys. These surveys highlighted health concerns and an average lifespan of 7 to 8 years, which influenced the questions in the latest survey. Initial findings from the 2016-2017 survey indicate a slight increase in longevity, with dogs now living an average of 8.4 years compared to earlier reports. Cancer remains the leading cause of death, but dogs diagnosed with lymphoma are often surviving up to a year post-diagnosis.

Identifying Research to Fund in Golden Retrievers

Since its establishment in 1938, the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) has been dedicated to promoting and safeguarding the interests of the breed. Through education, research, and breed rescue initiatives, the GRCA strives to advance the well-being of Golden Retrievers. In 1997, the GRCA founded the Golden Retriever Foundation (GRF), a nonprofit organization with a mission to enhance knowledge about diseases and genetic disorders in dogs, with a particular focus on Golden Retrievers.Recognizing the value of a breed health survey, the Golden Retriever Club of America (GRCA) embarked on the endeavor to gain insights into current health concerns and establish a benchmark for future progress. The 1998-1999 GRCA National Health Survey, considered the largest survey of its kind at the time, revealed significant findings. Among them, the mean age of death for Golden Retrievers diagnosed with hemangiosarcoma was 10.3 years, while for those diagnosed with lymphoma, it was 8.5 years. Cancer emerged as the leading cause of death, accounting for 61.4 percent of Golden Retrievers that passed away between 1993 and 1998.

Collie Health Survey Promotes DNA Collection

Staying on top of health conditions affecting the breed and promoting breed education were the goals when the Collie Club of America established the nonprofit Collie Health Foundation (CHF) in 1986. The oldest breed-specific health foundation in the U.S., CHF has provided more than $1.2 million in research funding to support Collie and canine health-related grants.

In 2016, the Collie Health Foundation (CHF) initiated a comprehensive breed-specific health survey to evaluate the well-being of Collies. This survey combines the general health survey provided by the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) with specific questions developed by CHF. Additionally, CHF introduced the CHIC (Canine Health Information Center) DNA Banking Project, utilizing the breed health survey to encourage Collie owners and breeders to submit their dogs' DNA for research purposes. As an incentive, CHF covers the $20 fee for storing the blood sample at CHIC, an all-breed DNA repository managed by OFA, and reimburses owners up to $125 for the collection and shipping of the sample.

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