The Kennel Club announced on 28 July 2021 that it will be hosting its first Health and Welfare Conference, bringing together dog health experts, breed community representatives, owners, breeders and dog show judges.
Following the renewed interest in dog ownership during the pandemic, the inaugural event, taking place on September 25 and 26 2021 at Chesford Grange in Kenilworth, aims to drive collaboration and discussion on pertinent canine topics and to ultimately improve the health, well-being and welfare of dogs now, and in the future.
The two-day conference spans workshops, seminars and talks from an impressive array of experts in canine health and welfare – including Dan O’Neill of the Royal Veterinary College, Alison Wills, Senior Lecturer at Hartpury University and animal scientist Jaqueline Boyd – asking questions such as “is DNA really the answer to improving dog health?” and “how do we breed healthier dogs?”
The outline programme for each day is as follows:
Saturday – Canine Health and Breeding Seminar
- Four talk and workshop sessions
- Topics including: Breeding for health, DNA testing and estimated breeding values, breed standards and heart health
Saturday – Canine Sports Science Seminar
- Three talk and workshop sessions
- Topics including: Canine biomechanics and performance, nutrition, and eye health
Sunday – Breed Watch Education Seminar
- Covering judging brachycephalic breeds for health – a specialist look at some of the breed-related conformational concerns
Open to anyone interested in discussing and collaborating to improve dog health and welfare, tickets for The Kennel Club’s Health and Welfare Conference 2021 are available online. The cost per delegate per day is £45.00, with discounted tickets for Breed Health Co-ordinators.
Bill Lambert, Health, Welfare and Breeder Services Executive at The Kennel Club said of the event: “We’re delighted to be hosting this important conference and introducing a new event to the calendar for all those who care about and want to work together to improve dog health and welfare.
“After a year like no other, we hope the conference will bring together a range of experts and communities to re-align priorities around dog health, well-being and welfare, and inspire collaboration across a broad spectrum of topics which will make a difference for dogs both now and in the future.”
For further information about the conference, including details about the speakers, talks, accommodation and travel, please visit the website or email The Kennel Club’s health team: health@thekennelclub.org.uk
More information about what The Kennel Club does for dog health and welfare can be found online.
