Who We Are
The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) is a non-profit organization leading a global, multi-stakeholder effort to address issues affecting dog health, well-being, and welfare. Our main platform is DogWellNet.com.
Our people include a Board comprised of individuals with respected international reputations, and a small but committed team of consultants in several countries. Volunteers from our Partners and Collaborator organizations and a network of experts are integral to what we do.
Our Contributors, Partners, and Sponsors include national kennel clubs, international cynological organizations, groups with breed specific interests, educational/academic and professional organizations, and key players in the pet industry.
Together with other participating organizations, companies, and individuals, we foster collaborative action to achieve our shared goals, support human-animal interactions, and benefit all dogs worldwide.
What We Do
Coordination: Together with our collaborating experts we provide a balanced, impartial, evidence-based approach. The issues of dog health, well-being, and welfare are extremely complex and extend across international borders to include organizations and individuals from numerous jurisdictions, sectors, and disciplines. IPFD is an essential coordinating mechanism bringing these stakeholders together, harnessing their strengths, and facilitating collaborative efforts. Without IPFD, we would continue to see duplication of effort (i.e. parallel, but isolated initiatives); weakened or unfocused international/multi-stakeholder projects; and many other missed opportunities – all to the detriment of dogs (and humans) around the world.
Information: We collect, collate, clarify, and create resources to provide evidence-based information and expert opinion on a broad range of issues affecting dog health, well-being, and welfare and share them on DogWellNet.com. As curators, we ensure that key resources needed to inform actions are accessible to all stakeholders, from owners to experts, individuals to organizations, and local to global efforts for individual dogs and populations.
Collaboration: We encourage, initiate, and facilitate collaboration among our Contributors, Partners, and Sponsors – and other stakeholders in the dog world.
Action: We provide a global platform for all stakeholders in dog health and welfare. We share information – most of it free to all – through our online channels - DogWellNet.com and social media; and provide a framework for collaboration, including the IPFD International Dog Health Workshops (IDHWs), key initiatives - including the Harmonization of Genetic Testing for Dogs (HGTD), working groups, expert panels, event presentations and other outreach activities.
How We Work
IPFD is a truly "people driven" service organization. Our structure and resources (a modest budget and small group of consultants, volunteers, and Board Members) facilitate the activities of our stakeholders to achieve our individual and collective priorities for the health and welfare of dogs.
As a growing, independent voice within the global dog community, we aim to provide the best possible information and advice to assist our stakeholders in making optimal decisions for their members, customers, and breed(s) of interest. IPFD provides and supports a ‘big picture’, balanced, transparent and integrated approach to the complex challenges for dogs and the people who care about them.
Our key audiences are, first and foremost, committed and health-conscious breeders, as well as those who support and advise them (kennel and breed club health committees, breeding advisors, veterinarians, researchers etc.), but also include essentially all those involved in the world of dogs including, kennel/breed clubs; dog owners; the pet industry; and more. Our consultants work tirelessly to engage others who embrace our vision and are willing to share their information, expertise, and passion for dogs.
We connect with these stakeholders through our online platform, DogWellNet.com; social media; and direct correspondence; in addition to hosting/attending face-to-face and virtual meetings, conferences (e.g. the IPFD IDHWs), seminars, and other educational/networking events.
Where We Work
As a “virtual” organization, we have no physical headquarters/offices and, therefore, minimal fixed costs; over 95% of our budget goes to programs. Essentially, we work wherever we are and with those who share our mission and goals. IPFD is registered in Sweden and legally overseen by the Swedish Kennel Club. Our consultants work from their homes (Canada, USA, Finland, etc.) or wherever they are traveling in the world advancing the mission of IPFD. We have collaborating experts, partners and collaborators, from Europe and North America, Australia and Asia, but we are continuing to expand our reach, with members of and visitors to DogWellNet.com from all continents and dozens of countries.
IPFD At-a-Glance:
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Non-profit, registered in Sweden
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Independent, international, multi-stakeholder, multi-disciplinary
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Facilitates collaboration and sharing of information and bringing the dog world together for action to enhance dog health, well-being, and welfare.
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Our Partners and Collaborators are organizations that share our interest in dog health, well-being, and welfare. Our Founding Partners were national kennel clubs, international cynological organizations, and from pet industries; our collaborating partners include groups from academic institutions, breed specific interests, educational and professional organizations (include both for profit and non-profit organizations).
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The target audiences for our online platform DogWellNet.com are first and foremost committed and health-conscious breeders, as well as those who support and advise them (kennel and breed club health committees, breeding advisors, etc.), but also include essentially all those involved in the world of dogs including, veterinarians; researchers; kennel/breed clubs and their members; dog owners; and more.
Contact us:
General Inquiries: info@ipfdogs.com
CEO: marc.ralsky@ipfdogs.com Chair: Pekka.Olson@skk.se
