As you are reading this issue of the FCI Newsletter, the summer dog-show season is at its peak. The biggest event - a feast for all eager exhibitors – of this year was the FCI World Dog Show 2012 in Salzburg, Austria.
I would like to congratulate the Austrian kennel Club (ÖKV) and everybody who contributed to this outstanding canine event.

This issue contains a report and evaluation of this show. I would like to point out that unfortunately, abandoned dogs in closed vehicles at shows are a remaining issue. The speakers continually encouraged people to come to their vehicles and take their dogs out, even announcing particular license plate numbers of these vehicles, asking the owners to release their dogs immediately from the heat. Despite the joint effort of the police and paramedics, there was one dog who, sadly, didn‘t make it.Unfortunately, this has been a recurring scenario, even at the most prestigous shows. I am asking everybody to keep an eye on this problem and to look for ways to deal with it. Dogs hardly deserve to be treated like that.

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Stefan Stefik
FCI Treasurer
The ”dog world” met in Stockholm

The Swedish Kennel Club managed to gather 140 participants from 20 countries at the 1st International Workshop on Enhancement of Genetic Health in Purebred Dogs in Stockholm during the first week-end of June.

The attendees represented a wide variety of competences to handle key issues related to the enhancement of canine genetic health.

Almost one third of the participants (mostly researchers in the expanding field of canine genetics) also attended the 6th International Conference on Advances in Canine and Feline Genomics and Inherited Diseases during the week before, thereby bringing top science news and competence into the discussions of several issues related to canine genetic health.

The cynological “world” was well represented by the FCI Board and its Breeding, Standards and Scientific commissions and the presidents of several European kennel clubs including Professor Steve Dean as Chairman of the KC (UK). Among numerous veterinarians, the OFA foundation and the AKC Canine Health Foundation were well represented by their board. Also Swedish and international welfare organisations were there.

From left to right Sofia Malm, Steve Dean, Patricia Olson, Kari Järvinen, Peter Friedrich, Urs Giger, Ulf Uddman and Åke Hedhammar

Nils-Erik Åhmansson, president of the Swedish Kennel Club (SKK) opened the workshop by stressing how essential it is now to pay attention to the collaborative efforts and activities on issues related to breeding of dogs that have been brought to attention and raised an awareness and concern among many stakeholders (i.e. judges, breeders, veterinarians and geneticists).

After short introductory talks, the participants were divided in smaller groups working together on various key issues with relevance for an improvement of canine genetic health.

Mrs Renee Sporre Willes, president of the FCI standard commission and an all-breed judge, introduced the issue on how to manage an increasing number of requests for international recognition of breeds. A discussion on the topic was then led and summarised by Dr Astrid Indrebø, president of the FCI Breeding commission, veterinarian, breeder and judge of Newfoundlands.

Dr Göran Bodegård, board member of SKK, all-breed judge and the key person in the promotion of breed-specific instructions (BSI) for show judges on how to handle exaggerated anatomical features introduced this issue in a very illustrative presentation. Professor Zeev Trainin, president of FCI Scientific commission, veterinarian and show judge, led and summarised the discussion.

Five more issues (on Harmonisation of screening procedures and certifications, Validation and utilisation of genetic tests, Development of breed-specific breeding programmes, Selection for behavioural traits and Formation of national and international platforms for collaborative efforts) were equally well introduced and had fruitful discussions with contributions from e.g. David Sargan and Cathryn Mellersh (UK), Urs Giger and Jerold Bell (US), Richard Nap (Argentine) and Claire Wade (Australia).

At the summing up sessions, chaired by Dr Patricia Olson, Chief Veterinary Advisor for the American Humane Association and Professor Steve Dean, chairman of the Kennel Club (UK), several points worth to carry on further were indicated. For example, the need for a web-based platform for exchange of information between stakeholders on an international basis was emphasised. Dr Brenda Bonnett in her introductory talk on this issue had outlined something in that direction.

All participants were encouraged to take the responsibility for further development and implementation of the issues dealt with at the workshop. On the webpage www.doghealthworkshop.com further information and as well as the presentations will appear when edited.

Finally, Professor Peter Friedrich, President of the VDH, the German Kennel Club welcomed all to the 2nd International Workshop on Enhancement of Genetic Health in Purebred Dogs, to be arranged in Düsseldorf on May 31st and June 1st 2014.

It is our hope that this workshop will generate initiatives and activities to handle issues related to breeding of dogs that have been brought to attention and raised awareness of. It is now time for collaborative actions.

Professor Åke Hedhammar is veterinarian with focus on research and training of veterinarians in how to manage complex diseases also prevalent in humans. He has been serving as scientific and veterinary consultant for the Swedish Kennel Club since 1978 and is a long-standing member of the FCI Scientific commission. He has been breeding boxers and he is a trainer and judge for working trials. Åke Hedhammar is, together with Dr Sofia Malm, a full-time employed geneticist by the Swedish Kennel Club. Both are the initiators of and invitors to the workshop.

Åke Hedhammar