Dogs help us to belong

Dear friends,

Most of us are, hopefully, preparing for a summer break! Why not take some time to read about the dog world in dogdotcom and to count our blessings?

In a little more than one month, many will gather in Helsinki for what could be the biggest FCI World Dog Show ever: the registration are more than promising and, Finland being a doggy country, we can expect a high participation!

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Marie Luna Durán
FCI Marketing and Public Relations Manager
Decisions and measures to improve the breeding of pedigree dogs in the Netherlands

The last few years the Raad van Beheer (Dutch Kennelclub) has been working hard to improve the breeding of pedigree dogs in the Netherlands. We would like to update the FCI members and bring the following to the attention of the FCI.

Outcross
The Raad van Beheer is the responsible kennel club for the 9 original Dutch breeds. Some of those breeds are coping with inbreeding and kinship. This affects their health and well-being.

As a solution we decided to use a different breed to expand the gene pool, through outcross. For two Dutch breeds this means the following:

  • The Saarlooswolfhond will be crossed with a Swiss White Shepherd. In the future they might also look at other breeds.
  • The Wetterhoun could be crossed with Barbet, Labrador Retriever, Cao de Agua Portugues (Portuguese Water Dog) or the Standard Poodle.

For both breeds, it will mean that the next generation will be registered in the Appendix of the studbook. Only when there are again three generations, registration in the main studbook is possible.

This is a Dutch national plan; the execution will only take place in the Netherlands. When a puppy (or older dog) is exported abroad, the kennel club in question can register the dog in its own Appendix (not the main studbook). However these dogs will have a breeding ban.

Dew Claws
The Dutch government has recently decided that the removal of dew claws is forbidden. This means that dogs, which are born after July 1st, 2014, cannot have a dew claw removal if there is no direct medical necessity.
This national rule exceeds the cynological rules. Therefore, show judges who judge dogs from the Netherlands need to be aware of this. They should not disadvantage the Dutch dogs with dew claws.

English Bulldog
The English Bulldog is one of the breeds that have health issues. Therefore, the Raad van Beheer has, together with the breedings clubs, come with a plan to improve the health and well-being of the breed. We have set conditions for potential sires and bitches regarding their health and fitness. If a dog fails the requirements, the offspring will not be registered in the studbook.

Foreign studs also need to comply with these conditions. For further information, see the attached document.

DNA testing
Since the Raad van Beheer is working hard to improve the breeding in the Netherlands, it is essential to make sure the descent is verified. Therefore, as of June 1st, 2014 an ancestry research is obligatory. The DNA profiles we work with need to be ISAG2006 from a laboratory with 17025 accreditation.

Puppies that are born out of sires and bitches mated on or after June 1st need to meet these requirements. Otherwise there will not be a registration in our studbook.
To meet the requirements for the Dutch offspring, foreign studs need to have an ISAG2006 DNA profile as well. Otherwise we will not be able to register the litter in our studbook.

Ingeborg de Wolf
Managing Director of the Dutch Kennel Club 'Raad van Beheer op Kynologisch Gebied in Nederland'