PetProov.com has announced the launch of the innate health assessment (IHA), a free, 10-point welfare framework developed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) in collaboration with Dr Dan O’Neill of the Royal Veterinary College (RVC).
As the official technology partner, the PetProov platform allows APGAW to engage the public in understanding the issues around extreme confirmation, whilst enabling emerging trends to be identified. The IHA helps breeders, vets, welfare inspectors and local councils to visually assess dogs for conformation traits linked to poor welfare, such as breathing restriction, excessive skin folds, impaired gait, and disproportionate body shape. Designed to raise standards and reward responsible breeding, the tool allows users to self-assess any dog using ten structured questions and receive an overall score indicating the dog’s innate health.
Breeders achieving a score of 8 out of 10 or higher are awarded a free digital Innate Health Certificate, which can be included in puppy packs to build buyer confidence and demonstrate a commitment to responsible breeding.
Garry Clarke, co-founder of PetProov, said “The innate health assessment represents the next stage in meaningful welfare reform. The industry has spent years identifying the problems, but progress has been limited by a lack of practical, scalable solutions. Our partnership with APGAW turns a powerful framework into a live digital tool that breeders and vets can use today, helping the entire industry raise the bar for canine health and transparency.
“The IHA gives breeders, buyers, and councils a consistent and objective way to act on known welfare concerns. We want to empower responsible breeders and this is one of several digital tools PetProov is developing to help the sector modernise responsibly.”
Vanessa Barnes, legal advisor, All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, said: “For the first time, the public are being empowered to improve animal welfare across the country. The innate health assessment platform allows APGAW to identify trends, track progress and deliver sound information to help the public get a healthier dog and support better welfare.”
Dr Dan O’Neill, Royal Veterinary College and APGAW adviser, said: “Vets are often the first to see the consequences of poor breeding choices. The innate health assessment equips them with a structured, transparent way to highlight risk traits and support breeders who want to do better. By standardising how we assess innate health, we can align welfare, policy and veterinary practice for lasting change.”
PetProov is in discussions with veterinarians, welfare organisations and insurance companies about how to encourage responsible breeding. The launch marks the latest milestone for the UK-based platform, founded to improve transparency and trust in pet ownership through identity verification and digital welfare tools.
You can access the IHA tool here.
