Each dog may have his date, thanks to an online “dating website for canines” aimed at improving the health of pedigree animals.
The Mate Select service, now available through the Kennel Club website in Britain, enables owners to assess how a proposed mating of two registered pedigree dogs will affect the genetic diversity of the whole breed. It will also allow breeders and prospective buyers to check official health test results of all Kennel Club registered dogs, to see whether the puppies from two adults are likely to be healthy.
The service is another step by the Kennel Club to tackle concerns over genetic diseases in pedigree dogs, sparked by a BBC documentary which claimed animals bred for shows such as Crufts were suffering a high degree of genetic illness, as reported by The Daily Telegraph. The controversy prompted the Kennel Club and the Dogs Trust to jointly fund an independent inquiry, which last year made a number of recommendations to tackle inbreeding in pedigrees, puppy farming and other welfare issues for dogs.
The Mate Select service’s attempt to ensure genetic diversity within pedigree breeds, prevent the concentration of harmful genes which can cause illness and debilitating conditions, is in addition to moves such as banning mating between close relatives. Professor Jeff Sampson, Kennel Club chief scientific adviser, said: “Mate Select is a groundbreaking service that will enable breeders to match the compatibility of two dogs based on the contribution that they will make to the long-term health and genetic diversity of the breed. The service will also enable puppy buyers to easily find the health test results of parent dogs, so that they can predict the likely health of their puppies.
