Bearded Collie Club Health Declaration
The Bearded Collie Club promotes the health and welfare of the breed through the following measures:
Hip Dysplasia – Through the Club Code of Ethics, Members are encouraged to have their dogs hip scored. All Dogs mentioned
in Club publications must have their status indicated with regard to x-raying for signs of hip dysplasia and all those listed on
the Stud Book Register in the Annual Yearbook must display the actual result. A draw is held at the Club Show and the Club
pays towards the cost for the winner to have one of their dogs hip scored under the BVA scheme.
Eye testing - The Club continues to encourage members to eye test and will be offering a clinic at our Championship Show in
2016.
Auto-immune Disease – There is a substantial amount of research and investment being put into the study of Auto-Immune
Diseases by a number of organisations and the Club aims to support all of these projects by encouraging members to
participate. The Club promotes to it's members CIMDA (Canine Immune Mediated Disease Awareness) in its work and has
arranged for samples to be taken for DNA testing; BEACON - an ongoing project into the health of the Bearded Collie, and the
new Animal Health Trust DNA Database for Bearded Collies. We continue to support the work of Dr Andrea Short, a research
scientist at the University of Manchester, working on the genetic basis of autoimmune disease with a particular interest in
Addisons. She is collecting saliva samples from affected and non affected dogs, with the aim of identifying genes associated
with Addisons.
CEA (Collie Eye Anomaly) – Following confirmation that a KC registered Bearded Collie was tested positive for CEA, the Club
worked through the JBLC with other Breed Clubs and the Animal Health Trust to carry out a cohort study to help identify the
prevalence in the Breed. The Club has continued to encourage all Members but especially breeders to test all breeding stock
at the ongoing 20/20 clinics held by the Clubs. The Club has financially sponsored testing and continues to work with the AHT
and Optigen regarding further analysis of results. All dogs mentioned in Club publications must have their status indicated
with regard to CEA. A draw is held at Club Shows/events and the Club provides a winning voucher to have a Bearded Collie
tested at a 20/20 clinic where the results are recognised by the KC.
General –
1. The Club supports BeaCon (Bearded Collie Foundation for Health – set up in the United States to promote research,
education and information dissemination from its voluntary Open Health Registry). Registration forms are available to
Members for the Open Health Registry.
2. Rescue and Welfare Scheme – The Club has a Rescue and Welfare Administrator supported by Co-ordinators across the UK
to address both Rescue and Welfare issues in the Breed.
3. The Club assisted in a study into MDR-1 gene mutation by providing cheek swab samples from Bearded Collies. A mutation
of this gene alters the sensitivity of affected dogs to many commonly used drugs (Invermectin being one of them). Bearded
Collies have been found to be unaffected by this mutation seen in other ‘collie breeds’.
4. Some of the Branches of the Club run Seminars and Education days throughout the year addressing health issues.
5. The Club, along with the other Bearded Collie Clubs, is organising a Health Seminar in the next six months to look at Auto
Immune Diseases.
6. The Bearded Collie Club is an active participant of, and contributes funding to, the Joint Breed Liaison Committee, which
considers the health and welfare of the breed, (together with other issues of mutual interest to the six Breed Clubs). The JBLC
has been instrumental in the work around CEA and DNA Databank as detailed in the following points.
7. The JBLC have carried out and analysed a Health Survey for the Breed. This study was funded by the Bearded Collie Club
together with the other Breed Clubs and the Kennel Club Charitable Trust. The results have been sent to the Kennel Club and
the AHT and we are currently considering the results and what action we need to take. This will include a discussion with the
members at ways of monitoring the health of the breed on an ongoing basis.
8. The Club has been involved in the establishment of a DNA databank at the Animal Health Trust. The BCC is currently
promoting this to our Members and are offering subsidised swabs at Branch fun events and Club Shows.
9. The Club commits to continually update it’s Code of Ethics and Breeding Guidelines which are reviewed regularly with
amendments being proposed, discussed and voted on at the AGM.
10. The Club looks at ways of monitoring the health of the breed on an ongoing basis which includes encouraging Members to
share results of Health Tests and communicating with the KC on health testing requirements to be considered for the KC's
Assured Breeder Scheme.
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