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The Kennel Club urges competitors to sign up for health testing offerings at Crufts, including discounted DNA testing and eye testing for all breeds, and free BOAS assessments and eye testing for brachycephalic breeds

The Kennel Club is pleased to offer eye testing to all exhibitors, and free Respiratory Function Grading scheme assessments for Bulldog, French Bulldog and Pug exhibitors, at Crufts this year.

There will be 60 eye testing appointments per day, giving a total of 240 appointments across the four days of the show from Thursday 9 to Sunday 12 March, for all breeds. There is morning session (from 10am to 1pm) and an afternoon session (from 2pm to 5pm).   

The eye testing sessions will be booked on a first come, first served basis and allocated in the order they are received. Appointments can be booked directly through The Kennel Club website here. The BVA/KC/ISDS Eye scheme examination at Crufts 2023 costs £30.00 per dog, reduced from the £45 rate of a normal group session.

Exhibitors must bring their dog’s Kennel Club registration certificate to the appointment, along with any previous eye test certificates, and exhibitors must have a dog pass to book an eye test appointment.

The Kennel Club is also pleased to confirm that it will be offering free Respiratory Function Grading scheme (RFG) assessments for Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs at Crufts, and free BVA/KC/ISDS Eye scheme examinations for Bulldogs, French Bulldogs, Pekingese, Pugs, and Shih Tzus.

The free RFG scheme assessments and eye testing for these breeds will be available on Sunday 12 March only and bookings will not be taken in advance. Interested exhibitors should arrange appointments with The Kennel Club team next to the vet check area in Hall 4 at Crufts. Appointments will be booked on the day on a first come, first served basis.

Exhibitors who secure an appointment are asked to bring their dog’s Kennel Club registration certificate with them. 

Once the appointments are filled, please contact The Kennel Club health team for information on how to get your dog health tested by emailing health@thekennelclub.org.uk or speaking directly to the team at Crufts.

Vanessa McAlpine, Crufts Show Manager, said: “Crufts celebrates healthy and happy dogs, and we hope that by making health testing accessible and easily available at Crufts, that these offers will be taken up and the information provided will be used to reduce the frequency of eye disease or breathing issues being passed on to puppies. The Kennel Club health team will be on hand throughout the event to speak to owners and breeders interested in improving canine health and the schemes and initiatives we offer.”

More information on eye testing can be found on The Kennel Club website at thekennelclub.org.uk/eyescheme and the BVA website at bva.co.uk/canine-health-schemes. More about The Kennel Club/University of Cambridge Respiratory Function Grading scheme for Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs is available at: thekennelclub.org.uk/rfgs. 

The Kennel Club is also offering £20 off selected DNA testing packages at Crufts 2023. Those interested in purchasing a discounted test kit can visit the health team on The Kennel Club stand in Hall 3. More information about The Kennel Club DNA Testing Services is available at thekennelclub.org.uk/dnatesting.

For information on how to get to Crufts at the National Exhibition Centre (NEC), visit crufts.org.uk/show-information. The BVA/KC/ISDS Eye scheme examinations will be held in the vet centre, which is located in Hall 2.

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October 2023 Championship Show – Replacement Judge

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The following areas have been updated:

In the definitions “Elbow Breaks” has replaced IOHC

The following results are now updated to results available to Feb 2023:

• Exercise Induced Collapse (EIC)
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Eye Test Results
• Pyruvate Dehydrogenase Phosphatase 1 Deficiency (PDP1)
• Hip Scores
• Elbow Scores

PRA Study

Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA) has been noted in Clumber Spaniels and the mutation has been identified as the RPGRIP1 (cord 1) variant; in 2021 the Club launched a study to find out more about PRA in Clumber Spaniels.

The study aims to investigate the prevalence of the condition within the UK population using DNA testing. It will also use the BVA Eye Test scheme to see if any of the dogs found to be “Genetically Affected” are also clinically affected for the condition. The Club has engaged the help of Laboklin for this project; they will issue test forms specifically for this project and the results will be shared with the Club as well as the owner. Laboklin has validated a DNA test for Clumber Spaniels and a sample for the test is gathered by a simple mouth swab.

It is hoped that using this investigation it will help to identify how many Clumbers carry the gene for PRA and also how many are actually clinically affected by the condition.

The Club aims to initially test 50 Clumber Spaniels aged 8 years and above and any Clumber that is found to be “Genetically Affected” will be offered a free BVA Eye Test.

Applications are invited from all owners of Clumber Spaniels.

The test is free to members of the Clumber Spaniel Club and there is a nominal charge of £15 for non-members. (£15.00 is the cost of a new Club single membership so by taking out a membership the test becomes free and all the other benefits of membership will be gained.)

As yet we have not reached the target of 50 dogs and would like to hear from anyone with a dog aged 8 and above that would be willing to support this important project. Further details can be found on the Club’s website or are available from the BHC, Carol Page.

The Club also has ongoing surveys recording data on the lifespans of Clumbers and breeding; if you have lost a Clumber or bred a litter then please submit a survey form. Both forms are available on the website or from Carol Page.