Collaborative work to develop and use the Agria Pet Insurance Database (Agria) to provide breed-specific statistics on disease and death in dogs
Partnership with Swedish Kennel Club (SKK); material used by all Swedish breed clubs to develop breed-specific breeding strategy document (RAS), also used to support Breed Specific Instructions for judges program. Breed Updates also used in Denmark and Norway
Many international presentations and workshops to various stakeholder groups: breeders, breed clubs and health committees; international veterinary and scientific congresses; human-animal interaction meetings; dog judges; government welfare committees, in addition to numerous publications in refereed scientific journals
Leading national kennel clubs (KCs) and other stakeholders, including Agria Animal Insurance, Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI), the Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA), and many professional, welfare, academic and other organizations own work on issues of health, well-being, and welfare of dogs; increasingly apparent that many important issues are truly international in nature, and many of these groups increase collaborations with others
Kennel clubs (KCs) everywhere under pressure to improve and expand activities under almost all areas of their mandate (e.g., breeding, legislation, information technology, etc.); Two global examples: Media and societal pressure about health, well-being, and welfare in dogs and the need to be more proactive in addressing issues and highlighting positives of dogs, in general, purebred dogs and shows/performance and breeding
Regulatory issues, governments, etc., e.g., dangerous dog legislation, restrictions, guidelines for dog breeders (especially commercial)
Similar efforts in many countries; poor synthesis of existing information, decisions not always evidence-based
Many stakeholders/KCs have much to share; many resources difficult to locate, language may pose difficulties
Once information is found or assembled, a need for synthesis and expert evaluation to promote guidance- and evidence-based decision making
Issues affecting the health and welfare of dogs global in scope; international collaboration and co-operation needed
Dr. Brenda Bonnett makes a proposal to develop a canine health and welfare information network, which is funded by Agria-SKK Research Foundation, to capitalize on the strengths of the international cynological community through enhanced sharing of information and expertise and facilitation of on-going collaboration. A network that would present a ‘united front’ (all KCs/stakeholders together for the good of dogs) and build a sustainable model to accomplish goals/address needs. Specifically:
Create an Organization – i.e., The International Partnership for Dogs
(originally ‘Sharing and Caring for Dogs) – that will oversee development of the internet resource (DogWellNet.com) to facilitate partnerships and sharing of costs for long term functionalityInitially to be organized under the direction of the SKK due to its extensive experience with Information Technology (IT) development and a willingness to commit further resources to this development; other partners will be a key part of the development.
Enhance distribution of information to underpin decision-making
Develop and support international partnerships
Provide a forum for informed discussion by stakeholder experts
Present this initiative as part of the Dog Health Workshop in Stockholm in June 2012, underpinning development of international platforms
Agria-SKK Research Foundations directs project team to first meet with FCI, as a globally recognized leader in cynology, to determine if they are willing and able to take a leadership role in the development of this resource
Work with/support from FCI:
• Presentation of background and proposed structure for the information
network, at that time called Sharing and Caring for Dogs, to the FCI General Committee (GC) in Vienna• GC decides the initiative is relevant and refers the project to the Working Group 2012 (originally called Back to the Standards)
• Working Group presents a proposal to the GC in October 2012 (no decision from the FCI at that time)
• At the end of March 2013, the GC allocates funds for a contract with an IT company to help further define the platform for the Information Network and to engage Dr. Bonnett to organize, support, and summarize that work; work overseen by Ulf Uddman of the SKK; presentation on the initiative to the General Assembly in Budapest in May
• Summer 2013: FCI allocates further funds to continue development and authorizes Project Team to engage other potential partners
• Fall 2013: Formal proposal submitted to the GC and presentation made
In parallel with the FCI work:
• June 2012: Dog Health Workshop takes place in Sweden (organized by SKK with other partners, funded by SKK and other sponsors)
• Over 20 countries represented by 120 geneticists, researchers, veterinarians, dog breeders, cynologists (many from FCI), judges, welfare organizations, government/regulatory representatives, and others; Sharing and Caring initiative and design seen as an appropriate platform to facilitate the international collaboration and distribution of knowledge, expertise and experience that all agreed was crucial to addressing issues related to health and well-being of dogs at a global level
• In final summary session, participants collectively agreed on need for a collaborative structure, i.e., a foundation/organization that would bring together stakeholders in dog health and well-being; representatives of FCI, The Kennel Club (i.e., Steve Dean, Chairman), and various FCI member KCs (e.g., all Nordic clubs and Germany) indicated support and willingness to spearhead development of this organization; as needs/desired initiatives identified by stakeholders were similar to work started with Agria-SKK and FCI, it was decided to await developments on that front rather than possibly duplicating efforts
FCI and SKK/Agria-SKK Research Fund supports ongoing development
Many experts volunteer time and expertise
Discussions ongoing with other potential partners (other KCs, etc.) who self-fund to attend meetings and support experts and staff to provide information and expertise, including The Kennel Club (UK), and the national KCs of Sweden, Norway, France, Germany, and Finland, among others
Funding provided by Founding Partners to support basic web development by Dr. Brenda Bonnett, together with Topshare (IT company in The Netherlands)
Continued meetings and communication with other national KCs to refine possible structure and function of the IPFD
Confirmation of Commitment by the Founding Partners: The national KCs of Sweden, Finland, France, Germany, Norway, The UK, The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (USA), and the Agria-SKK Research Fund
The first meeting of the Board of the International Partnership for Dogs was held 28 August at the Kennel Club in London. The Board is comprised of Pekka Olson (Chair, Sweden), Caroline Kisko (Vice Chair, UK ), Eddie Dziuk (USA), Peter Friedrich (Germany), Jean-Pierre Genevois (France), Patricia Olson (USA), Kirsi Sainio (Finland). Brenda Bonnett (Canada) is Chief Executive Officer and Ulf Uddman (Sweden) is Chief Financial Officer.
Launch of DogWellNet.com at the 2nd International Dog Health Workshop in Dortmund, Germany
American Kennel Club joins as an Initiating Partner; Société Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club) agrees to host 3rd IDHW
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2015: A Community Takes Shape
Launch of the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs initiative
First issue of DogWellNet Digest e-newsletter
Launch of IPFD Summer Student projects with an outstanding veterinary student from Colorado State University
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2016: A Community Growing Strong
IPFD Co-hosts the 3rd International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW) with the French Kennel Club (SCC) in Paris
Engagement of first 17 Leadership Sponsor Genetic Test Providers/Labs for the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) initiative; HGTD online resource enters Beta Testing phase
Collaborating Partner, Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, publishes IPFD paper: Moving from information and collaboration to action: report from the 3rd International Dog Health Workshop, Paris in April 2017
Second IPFD Summer Student project grows out of the 3rd IDHW, addressing issues of antibiotic resistance
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2017: Building for the Future
Launch of Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) Quality Testing Database
Engagement of additional HGTD initiative Leadership Sponsor Genetic Test Providers/Labs
Planning continues for the 4th International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW) in the UK in 2019, co-hosted by the UK Kennel Club
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2018: Hitting Our Stride
The Canadian Kennel Club (CKC) joins IPFD as Contributing Partner
Raad van Beheer (The Dutch Kennel Club) joins IPFD as Contributing Partner
The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA) changes status to IPFD Collaborating Partner
IPFD and The Kennel Club co-host the 4th International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW) in Windsor, UK
IPFD welcomes five new Board members: Bill Lambert, IPFD Vice-Chair, (UK); Dave Eikelberg (USA); Marty Greer (USA); Grégoire Leroy (France); and Barbara Thiel (Germany). Board Members transitioning out at the end of 2019 include: Caroline Kisko (UK), Jean-Pierre Genevois (France), and Patricia N. Olson (USA)
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2019: A Growing Voice
Report on the 4th IDHW is published in the online journal Canine Medicine and Genetics
New International Working Group on Extreme Conformation in Dogs (IWGECD), (prioritized in the Extremes theme at the 4th IDHW) is enacted
IPFD launches Get a GRIHP! on Breed Health Initiative, a series of articles on the Big Picture of health and welfare for specific breeds
Collaborating Partner, The World Small Animal Veterinary Association (WSAVA), begins publishing Dog Breeds: What You Need to Know, a new regular feature in their online news sectionIPFD welcomes new Collaborating Partner, The Black Russian Terrier Club of America (BRTCA), the AKC Parent Club for the Black Russian Terrier
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2020: A Year Like No Other
New Key Comment feature for the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD) highlights tests with important information related to the relevance of the test for searched breed
Updates improve the look and feel of HGTD searches by displaying simplified paw print Breed Relevance Ratings (BRRs), as well as beautiful illustrations of the breeds and links to more breed resources.
IPFD hosts its first virtual workshop on 28 September, with more than 35 Genetic Test Providers, kennel club and IPFD representatives, and other experts from across the globe discussing and sharing information around challenges relating to standardizing genetic reports
Dr. Brenda Bonnett steps down as CEO on 31 October and continues as IPFD’s Veterinary Science Officer
Katariina Mäki joins IPFD as Business and Project Coordinator in August, 2021 and assumes the role of Acting CEO as of 1 November, 2021IPFD publishes new Globally Relevant Integrated Health Profiles (GRIHPs) for 7 breeds including: Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs, Black Russian Terriers, Pugs, Finnish Spitz, Rhodesian Ridgebacks, and Rottweilers
Supported initiative out of the 4th International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW): the creation of the International Collaborative on Extreme Conformation in Dogs (ICECDogs), an independent group supporting national multi-stakeholder organizations.
IPFD contributes information for eight breeds in the WSAVA Bulletin in 2021
Jenni Uski (Finland) joins IPFD as a Content Assistant to assist in the creation of new GRIHPs, development of the Health Strategy Database for Dogs, and updates to our Pedigree Breeds database
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2021: A World of Change
IPFD hosts second virtual workshop on Genetic Diversity
Founding CEO Dr. Brenda Bonnett retires from IPFD
IPFD publishes new Globally Relevant Integrated Health Profiles (GRIHPs) for breeds including: Whippets, Belgian Shepherds, English Bulldogs, Irish Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers, and Dalmatians, with more to follow.
Marc Ralsky joins IPFD as new CEO on 3 October
IPFD publishes IPFD Annual Report 2022: A New Chapter
IPFD hosts third virtual workshop on Parentage Profiling for Kennel Clubs
IPFD welcomes Italy’s national kennel club, ENCI – Ente Nazionale della Cinofilia Italiana, as Contributing Partner
IPFD launches Health Strategies Database for Dogs (HSDD)
Ongoing creation of Get a GRIHP! articles for breeds
IPFD and Orivet host virtual workshop, Breeding for Health and Purpose (Oceana Region)
IPFD and Finnish Kennel Club announce details of 5th International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW): Helsinki, 13-15 June 2024
IPFD and Embark host virtual workshop, Breeding for Health – Supporting “Whole Dog” Health from Planning to Pregnancy
Dino Muto (President, ENCI) is elected to the IPFD Board