Presentation at FCI Centennial November 2011 Breed Specific Instructions (BSI) regarding exaggerations in pedigree dogs. A health protective project from the Swedish Kennel Club Dr Göran Bodegård MD 2011-10-28
BSI Presentation at FCI Centennial November 2011 Exaggerations are a problem Dog shows have a responsibility Demands for repair are dictated by concern for the breeds and the socio political situation 2011-10-28
Charmigt eller tragiskt?
The Brachycephalic syndrome The Brachycephalic dogs are trapped in a man-made misery? Prof G Oechtering, Universität Leipzig 2011-10-28 Photos from Prof G Oesterings publications
The Brachycephalic syndrome The bracycephalic defect gene causes the desired flat face and Impired Breathing ( malformations in the airways causing pinched nostril, elongated thickened palate, hypertrophic collapsing walls of the trachea and bronchi) Defect Thermoregulation!! 2011-10-28
The vocal cords Photo from Prof G Oesterings publications
The Trachea from a French Bulldog photo from prof G Oechterings publ
Photo from Prof G Oesterings publications
Photo from Prof G Oesterings publications
The short nose reduces the temperature adjustment capacity Photo from Prof G Oechterings publications
Charmigt eller tragiskt?
Reparation is called for! The Standard! Breeders and judges must cooperate The judges must select for type and function How does this dog cope with its brachycephalic genetic legacy?
A magnificent Best of Breed dog! But??!! The standard asks for: Eyes shall be dark, oval in shape and middle sized and sound.
BIS at a breed speciality
No standard describes an unsound dog! Skin supple and elastic without any exaggerations Is this a matter of interpretation??
2011-10-28 Aims of the FCI are to promote the breeding and use of purebred dogs whoose functional health and physical features meet the standard for each respective breed Do the standards meet the functional demands??
not excessively coated coat not obscuring the shapelines of body..
Do we need another award to support sound judging and breeding? Very Good Excellent Good Sufficient Hypertyped
The reparatory idea of the Swedish project (BSI) To increase judges awareness of the areas of risk in high profile breeds and to encourage positive selection Also to identify trends! The goal is to prevent not to condemn! 2011-10-28
Does nature always apply sound breeding principles?
Sometimes exaggerations are preferred
The evident exaggerations of the giraffe create functional problems Drinking from the river Lying down to sleep Keeping up the blood circulation. Could we repare this??
This computer-bred giraffe has no exaggerations and thus no functional disturbances BUT! It is of inferior type.
CC BoB and Best in show
The attempts to combine excellent type and soundness are creating conflicts in some breeds! The wording and interpretation of the standards are essential. Show judges have a key position in the reparation called for. 2011-10-28
The Swedish attempt: BSI Breed Specific Instructions BSI aims at increasing the show judges awareness of the risk areas in high profile breeds and encourage positive selection, Prevent not condemn Recommendations not regulations! 2011-10-28
The Breed Specific Instructions have been worked out by the SKK and are applied at all shows in Sweden since 2009 It lists 46 breeds considered to be at health risks due to type exaggerations and gives instructions what to observe. 2011-10-28
2011-10-28 The BSI is based on five sources of information for continous updating 1. The initial selection 2006 of (50) high risk breeds by 10 allrounders 2. Countinous dialogue with the pertinent breed clubs 3. Updating dialogue with veterinary expertise and insurance statistics. 4. General judges conference 2007 5. The written evaluations done by judges since 2009 ( more than 4000)
The BSI Routines All judges for the 46 breeds are informed in letters before the show about the BSI and briefed at the show. They are asked to note the BSI issues in the individual critiques and account for their observations in a written form. These forms are the basis for the updating of the list and are also sent to the breed clubs. 2011-10-28
The shrinking length of the muzzle. Only a matter of looks? 1/3 1/4 <1/4 The standard asks for the muzzle being 1/3 of the length of head. These four dogs are all champions 1/5
A practical illustration: BSI evaluations of Boxers The BSI issues mentioned for Boxers: Areas of risk are Breathing problems ( short muzzle etc) Skin irritation Under developed incisive teeth 2011-10-28
BSI evaluations of Boxers 42 judges considered the breed should be listed and 4 suggested removal 27 judges observed BSI issues among the entered dogs and 19 judges found none. The breed club is anxious to keep the breed on the list the main problem: the short muzzle Insurance statistics support the listing. 2011-10-28
The shrinking length of the muzzle. Only a matter of looks? 1/3 1/4 <1/4 The standard asks for the muzzle being 1/3 of the length of head. These four dogs are all champions 1/5
Some results from the judges evaluations 2009 and 2010 In 80% (of 3848 evaluations) the judges verified the high risk breeds listed in 20% judges suggested some (5-10) breeds to be removed. 2011-10-28 In 55% evaluations no BSI issues were found! In 20% a diminishing of BSI issues in the entered dogs was seen (from 2009 to 2010) In 11% the evaluations were poorly answered (80% from foreign judges)
BSI practical aspects and positive gains The routines were quickly established due to high motivation of judges, breed clubs, show arranging clubs and staff Many judges wittnessed that the project made it easier to deal with exaggerations. The number of dogs with BSI issues entered diminished reflecting awareness in breeders. 2011-10-28
BSI Negative experiences Some judges misused the BSI as motivation for disqualifying dogs Some judges have prefered dogs with weak type to excellent ones only because of health and soundness aspects. Some judges have simply disregarded the whole thing. The routines have increased the work for judges and staff 2011-10-28
Is the BSI of any value?? Time is to short to evaluate effects on breeding - theoretically possible in 10 years ( 3-4 generations) The breeders have obviously stopped showing dogs with BSI issues ( hopefully also stopped using them for breeding?) The number of CK:s seems to have dropped in some breeds 2011-10-28
Skin supple and elastic without any exaggerations
Best of breed at a European breed speciality show 2010
BSI and the future 2011-10-28 BSI is now an integrated part of the Swedish show system and is a substantial contribution and realisation of the FCI Show judges code of Commitment to the wellfare of pure bred dogs. - Judges are contracted to comply to these routines if accepting to judge in Sweden. The project has a socio political importance The scientific importance as an inventory is limited however.
Do we need another type-grade? Very good Excellent Hypertyped
Only a flaw or a step towards unsoundness? The muzzle shall be one third of the length of the head Perfekt
A judge can only take full responsibility if he/she is aware of what is excellent type. It is not sufficient to be a judge able to find faults! A judge must also have good knowledge about veterinary aspects of conformation variations and the weak and sensitive zones of the animal Dog.
The compilation of the five sources does not prove that a breed shall be considered a high profile risk breed but it gives a very good motivation that these breeds shall benefit from being surveyed by the BSI
Three risk categories The 7 breeds considerad to be at serious risk are: Bulldog, Neapolitan Mastiff, Shar-pei, Chow Chow, Basset Hound, French Bulldog and Pekingese The 12 breeds considered to be at high risk are: Dogue de Bordeaux,Mastiff, Bullterrier, Yorkshire terrier, Bloodhound, Clumber Spaniel, Boston Terrier, Chihuahua, Japanese Chin,King Charles Spaniel, Pug Dog. 28 other breeds are consider to be at risk for developing health problems
The judges are asked to evaluate the issues mentioned in the BSI in the same way as all other faults are assessed The BSI issues are not be considered as disqualifying faults unless they have developed into defects and anomalies