The Kennel Club has announced the most recent updates to the breed-specific health testing and screening schedule for the Assured Breeders scheme, aimed to further improve dog health and responsible breeding.
The range of breed-specific health testing and screening requirements and recommendations under the scheme is regularly reviewed following consultations with breed clubs and councils and with the agreement and advice from The Kennel Club Dog Health Group, in a collaborative effort to ensure that health and welfare issues are kept at the forefront of what the scheme sets out to achieve: the encouragement of responsible breeding.
The list of breed-specific scheme requirements and recommendations is generally updated twice a year to ensure that they remain relevant and of maximum health benefit to all dogs bred by The Kennel Club Assured Breeders. Further tests can be expected to be announced as they are developed.
The most recent updates come into effect immediately. However, existing Assured Breeders have a period of grace of six months to comply with any new requirements and recommendations, to allow them to take account of any existing breeding plans.
The scheme guidelines emphasise the importance of conducting not only the required health tests but the recommended ones also. Results provide data which allow researchers to help develop a picture of how each breed is affected by particular diseases, and how best to improve the health of affected breeds and develop cheaper and faster testing methods.
Breed clubs and breed councils wishing to make changes to the breed-specific requirements and recommendations for their breed should contact their Breed health co-ordinator who can then liaise with
Health (The Kennel Club) and review available data to support the change.
Breed specific updates are as follows:
ABS Breed Specific Developments
Basset Griffon Vendeen (Petit) – Eye testing
It has been agreed to downgrade eye testing for this breed to a recommendation, as the data from BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme tested dogs suggest that the known inherited ocular disease in this breed, primary open angle glaucoma (POAG), has not been identified through routine eye examination for some time. Furthermore, the breed has a relevant DNA test for the mutation associated with POAG, which is listed as a requirement for breeders under the scheme.
Similarly, the breed has a small breeding population and in order to allow breeders to source suitable mates, and to prevent genetic bottlenecks from occurring, it has been agreed that this test should be moved to a recommendation. Breeders are still encouraged to have their dogs tested within 12 months of breeding, to prevent new or emerging conditions from emerging within the breed.
Briard – Eye testing
It has been agreed to downgrade eye testing for this breed to a recommendation, as the data from BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme tested dogs suggest that the known inherited ocular disease in this breed, retinal pigment endothelial dystrophy (RPED), is not circulating within the tested population at notable levels.
Similarly, the breed has a small breeding population and in order to allow breeders to source suitable mates, and to prevent genetic bottlenecks from occurring, it has been agreed that this test should be moved to a recommendation. Breeders are still encouraged to have their dogs tested within 12 months of breeding.
Finnish Lapphund - DNA test for prcd-PRA & GSD11
Two DNA tests for the Finnish Lapphund have been altered on the scheme, prcd-PRA will be upgraded to a requirement for the breed, as data suggest that whilst the breed has been successfully selecting against the mutation responsible for this over time, the mutation is still circulating within the population at moderate frequencies. Glycogen storage disease (GSDII) has also been introduced to the scheme, due to the severity of the condition and possibility of producing affected puppies. To date, no carriers or affected dogs have been tested for in the population, and therefore due to the lack of data to support this mutation is circulating at concerning levels this has been added as a recommendation.
German Shepherd Dog – Elbow Grading
Following a proposal from the breed council, the recommendation for elbow grading prior to breeding has been upgraded to a requirement. Whilst the breed has been grading for some time and made discernible improvement in the genetic health of elbows in the breeding population (calculated through estimated breeding values, or EBVs), there is a plateau in improvement in more recent years, and therefore breeders should continue to make efforts to select against this condition.
Keeshond – DNA Test (PHPT)
The Kennel Club has recently announced (May 2023) that following consultation with the Keeshond Breed Health Coordinator on behalf of the breed clubs, the regulation that all imported Keeshonds, or overseas dogs being imported into the UK breeding programme, must be DNA tested for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT) before registration of progeny, has been placed on-hold. The reasoning behind this is that there is no peer-reviewed scientific literature providing the details of the mutation tested for, or details of the association between the mutation and the phenotype, and so the validity of the DNA test with clinical disease is not fully understood. As such, this test has been removed from the Assured Breeders Scheme for the breed.
Leonberger - DNA tests
Leonberger polyneuropathy is a known condition in the breed and several mutations can be tested for using DNA tests. The existing and recognised tests for the breed, LPN1, LPN2 and LEMP have been upgraded to requirements for the breed, and the most recently added, LPPN3, added as a new recommendation for the breed.
Miniature Pinscher – Patella testing
Following a proposal from the breed it has been agreed that patella testing be added as a recommendation for the breed, as it is noted in the literature and breed health surveys that patella luxation exists within the breed. Unfortunately, no formal scheme is available to test for this condition, but breeders can reach out to the breed clubs for more information on how and where to test for this.
Norwegian Buhund - DNA test for CA HCA
One DNA test has been introduced to the scheme, hereditary cerebellar ataxia (HCA), due to the severity of the condition and possibility of producing affected puppies. To date, no carriers have been born since 2015 within the tested population, and therefore this has been added as a recommendation.
Lhasa Apso - Eye testing
It has been agreed to downgrade eye testing for this breed to a recommendation, as the data from BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme tested dogs suggest that the known inherited ocular disease in this breed, progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), is not circulating within the tested population at notable levels. Further, the breed have a relevant DNA test for the mutation associated with PRA, which is listed as a requirement for breeders under the scheme.
Similarly, the breed has a small breeding population and in order to allow breeders to source suitable mates, and to prevent genetic bottle necks from occurring, it has been agreed that this test should be moved to a recommendation. Breeders are still encouraged to have their dogs tested within 12 months of breeding.
Papillon - DNA Test – NAD
The DNA test for neuroaxonal degeneration (NAD), has been added to the scheme as a recommendation for the Papillon. This condition has a severe welfare impact in affected puppies, but to date the mutation responsible has not been found to be circulating at high levels within the breed.
Poodle (Standard) – DNA test PRA (rcd4) & prcd-PRA
Two recommended tests are being added for two types of progressive retinal atrophy (rcd4 and prcd-PRA). The mutation frequencies for both of these mutations are currently low within the tested population, and are therefore not currently high priority conditions within the breed. However, by recommending breeders test for these mutations, the rise in mutation frequency can be avoided.
Portuguese Water Dog - DNA Test for prcd-PRA & GM1
Two DNA tests for the breed have been altered on the scheme, prcd-PRA will be added as a requirement for the breed, as data suggest that whilst the breed have been successfully selecting against the mutation responsible for this overtime, the mutation is still circulating within the population at moderate frequencies. Gangliosidosis (GM1) DNA testing has also been introduced to the scheme, due to the severity of the condition and possibility of producing affected puppies. To date, no carriers or affected dogs have been tested for in the population, however breeders are recommended to test prior to breeding to prevent the creep of the mutation into the breed.
Labrador (Retriever) - DNA tests
A number of DNA tests are being added as recommendations for the Labrador Retriever. These include tests for progressive retinal atrophy (prcd-PRA), centronuclear myopathy (CNM), exercise induced collapse (EIC), hereditary nasal parakeratosis (HNPK), skeletal dysplasia (SD2), macular corneal dystrophy (MCD), and Stargadt disease (STGD). The mutation frequencies for these are all estimated to be at low levels within the tested population, but breeders are still recommended to complete these prior to breeding.
Spaniel (Welsh Springer) – Eye testing
It has been agreed to downgrade eye testing for this breed to a recommendation, as the data from BVA/KC/ISDS Eye Scheme tested dogs suggest that the known inherited ocular disease in this breed, hereditary cataract (HC), is not circulating within the tested population at notable levels.
Similarly, the breed has a small breeding population and in order to allow breeders to source suitable mates, and to prevent genetic bottle necks from occurring, it has been agreed that this test should be moved to a recommendation. Breeders are still encouraged to have their dogs tested within 12 months of breeding, or have them routinely screened at the time of gonioscopy.
Tibetan Spaniel – DNA test PRA3
A DNA test for a form of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA3) has been added as a recommendation for the breed. To date, no affected dogs have been tested for in the population, however breeders are recommended to test prior to breeding to prevent the creep of the mutation into the breed.
Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare & Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club, said: “The last few years in particular have seen a strong demand for puppies, reinforcing the importance of signposting puppy buyers to breeders who do all they can to produce healthy puppies.
“The Assured Breeders scheme offers a way to source these breeders, and regular review of the scheme ensures we can continue to maintain maximum progress for dog health improvements and encourage good breeding practices, in order to protect the future of the UK’s much-loved pedigree dogs.”
More information on the Assured Breeders scheme, including the latest list of health testing requirements and recommendations, can be found at The Kennel Club website.