IPFD - non-political and evidence-based

The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) is a not-for-profit organisation leading a global, multi-stakeholder effort to improve the health, well-being, and welfare of dogs.

We are an evidence-based, non-political, independent organisation that gathers, presents, and promotes issues on dog health and welfare.

Sharing and exchange

We are a large, diverse community whose members benefit from shared discussions and the exchange of information and experience.

For example, there has been a wave of legislative action in many European countries regarding pedigree dog breeding. Together, we are helping ensure that decision makers are working with the best available information and support our mutual commitment to responsible dog breeding.

And we believe that responsible dog breeding means taking full responsibility for canine health and welfare – ensuring breed-specific and more broad issues are all recognized and effectively addressed. IPFD is uniquely positioned to facilitate this process.  IPFD has been steadily compiling breed-specific management strategies and breed expert recommendations for owners and breeders as well as, resources to support veterinary-client communication.

Practical tools

Members of our community have developed various tools and practices to promote dog health. By sharing these practices, they can benefit from and support each other's work. For example:

• Svenska Kennelklubben (Swedish Kennel Club): Dog health and breeding – information about the breed specific instructions regarding exaggerations, behavior and personality assessment in dogs as well as links - for example to Code of Ethics. There’s also a pamphlet ‘Breeding dogs in Sweden’.
• The Kennel Club, UK: Breeding resources and health schemes include for example health screening schemes for hip and elbow dysplasia, syringomyelia, eye disease, BOAS, heart disease and intervertebral disc disease.
• Société Centrale Canine (French Kennel Club, SCC): Genodog – a distinct website, gathering all information about genetic diseases in dogs, with diagnosis, treatment, and identification of the predisposed breeds (in French). English information on SCC activities exists here.
• Suomen Kennelliitto (Finnish Kennel Club): a general breeding strategy that can be applied to all breeds. Finns have also compiled instructions for planning and monitoring crossbreeding projects.
• Norsk Kennelklub (Norwegian Kennel Club): Breeding Strategies, Ethical Rules, Breeding Regulations

Our Partner kennel clubs have also breeding databases with various population statistics. For example Avelsdata (Sweden), Koiranet (Finland), LOF Select (France).

On DogWellNet, we have:

• Established an open-access, sustainable online resource for genetic testing (Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs), where you can search for relevant tests by breed, condition and genetic test provider (GTP),
• Collected information on breed-specific health strategies in different countries (some highlights are available in our article,  National Programs for Breed Health, and in several articles under the  Additional Breed Resources category - we have recently added an open database (the Health Strategy Database for Dogs), and
• Compiled breed-specific health articles that describe the big picture of health in the breed.

These resources, and others on DogWellNet.com, can be used by kennel and breed clubs to develop national health strategies.

We also offer advice to our members on health screening, genetic testing, and breeding strategies. And we frequently profile the good work that our Partner kennel clubs are doing.

Join us!

We stand ready to lead, support, and promote healthy pedigree dogs together with any kennel club that is committed to doing the work needed. By joining us, you will demonstrate your commitment to maintaining and improving the health of dogs. You will show that you are a forward-thinking organisation working for the benefit of dogs.

We welcome you to join us!

Contact Us

Marc Ralsky CEO - marc.ralsky@ipfdogs.com
Aimée Llewellyn-Zaidi, HGTD Project Director - aimee.llewellyn-zaidi@ipfdogs.com
General inquiries - info@ipfdogs.com

IPFD Contributing Partners: