Kennel Club marks five years of breathing scheme
Over 3,500 bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs have been assessed using the RFG.
The Kennel Club is celebrating five years since the launch of its Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) scheme.
A respiratory assessment, developed in collaboration with the University of Cambridge, the RFG was introduced in 2019 as the UK’s only practical and evidence-based tool for Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
The tool enables the collection of data on BOAS, to help owners of brachycephalic breeds to understand their dog’s respiratory function. It also guides breeders with identifying and breeding away the disease.
So far, over 3,500 bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs have been assessed using the RFG. This includes almost 300 dogs assessed for free at Crufts, as a drive to increase uptake.
The scheme is now licensed and used in 18 countries worldwide, with the group seeking to promote an international and collaborative approach to brachycephalic breed health.
The information is incorporated into the Kennel Club’s Breed and Health Conservation plans, which it uses to ensure the health of pedigree breeds. These plans are also the result of reviewing over 4,000 research papers.
As the scheme continues its development, the breeding guidelines have been updated for dogs which are assessed as grade 2.
The grading scheme currently categorises mating pairs as green (low risk), amber (higher risk) and red (not recommended due to high risk). Using this assessment, breeders can make better dog breeding decisions, based on the likelihood of a BOAS-affected puppy being born.
The update means that any mating pair that includes a grade 2 dog will be designated ‘amber’
This new designation is not based solely on genetics, but also considers the welfare of the dogs during the mating and whelping process.
Charlotte McNamara, head of health at the Kennel Club, said: “Health schemes should be reviewed and adapted as we continue to collect more evidence and understand more about often complex conditions and diseases,
“The RFG scheme breeding guidelines, which are based on best practice as outlined by expert geneticists, are determined by data and will change in line with the breed populations – underlining the importance of continuing big data collection.
Veterinary professionals who are wish to become an RFG assessor can sign up here, or email the health team at health@thekennelclub.org.uk to express their interest.
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A free webinar exploring the development of the Kennel Club's registration system and the evolution of closed breed registers has been announced.
