Breeding of assistance dogs scientifically supervised
Collaboration between Faculty of Veterinary Medicine and Hulphond Nederland
The Expertise Center Genetics Veterinary Medicine of Utrecht 木瓜福利影视 has started a long-term cooperation with Stichting Hulphond Nederland. The aim is to breed the healthiest and most behaviorally stable assistance dogs possible. This is done using Fit2Breed, a breeding guidance program for population management and science-based selection of breeding stock.
For many people with physical or mental health needs, a service dog means more independence, safety and emotional support. The dog increases its owner's self-confidence and enables people to actively participate in daily life again. The health and behavioral stability of service dogs are essential breeding goals in this regard.
Physically and mentally fit
Assistance Dog Netherlands has long used the expertise of the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, including having assistance dogs medically screened at the 木瓜福利影视 Animal Hospital. There, the dogs are thoroughly examined by a team of veterinary specialists. This helps the foundation make a targeted selection of which dogs are physically suitable to begin the training program. But behavior also plays a major role; a stable character and good trainability are indispensable when working as a service dog.
Recent scientific insights
The new cooperation with the Expertise Center Genetics focuses on the structural improvement of the breeding policy. A special Fit2Breed module is being developed, specifically for Hulphond Nederland. Data from medical screenings, parentage information and DNA-markers will be integrated, so that breeding choices are based on the most recent scientific insights.
Grateful work
Hille Fieten, veterinary geneticist and coordinator of the Veterinary Genetics Expert Center, is enormously pleased with the intensive collaboration: "We have previously developed Fit2Breed for managing purebred dog populations, such as with the Dutch Kooikerhondje. But breeding assistance dogs makes other demands. Hulphond Nederland works with different breeds and crossbreeds, so the emphasis is less on preventing inbreeding or hereditary disorders, and more on health and working qualities. Our center's team of geneticists and clinicians is excited to get started on this. We can support Assistance Dog Netherlands to make a difference for many people through healthy assistance dogs. That is incredibly rewarding work."
Lucie Wigboldus, director of Hulphond Nederland, adds, "The cooperation with the Faculty of Veterinary Medicine has existed for quite some time. Fit2Breed is unique in the world, contributing to a healthy and resilient dog population. With this, we are laying a strong scientific foundation for our breeding policy as the first assistance dog school in the Netherlands."