GenomeTails

23/10/2026

I recently had the opportunity to give a breed-tailored genetic health webinar for the Finnish Tibetan Spaniel club (Tiibetinspanielit ry).

We discussed genetic testing and the breed’s inherited diseases, including management of conditions such as PRA type 3 and CDDY/IVDD (chondrodystrophy and intervertebral disc disease). We also reviewed trends in the size and diversity of the breeding population in the context of sustainable breeding and maintaining a healthy gene pool.

Would your breed club benefit from a webinar tailored to your current questions and priorities in genetic health? Feel free to reach out via my website: https://genometails.com

Photo credit: Eini Vihko

Pet Genetic Counselling and Consulting Services

11/08/2026

Is your breed club or association planning an event or educational programme? I offer lectures and webinars on canine genetics, tailored to your organisation’s interests and needs. I still have some availability this autumn.

Examples of possible lecture topics:

🧬 Breed-specific genetic health webinar. An overview of inherited diseases and traits, genetic tests and current genetic topics relevant to your breed.

🧬 Inherited diseases, traits and DNA testing. How are traits inherited, what can DNA tests tell us, and how can test results be used in breeding decisions?

🧬 Genetic diversity, population structure and crossbreeding programmes. What does genetic diversity mean in practice, how can it be measured and maintained, and when might a crossbreeding programme be justified for a breed?

🧬 Gene–environment interactions and epigenetics. Genes alone do not determine a dog’s characteristics. How do genetics and the environment interact to influence health and other complex traits?

🧬 Behavioural genetics. What do we know about the heritability and genetic background of behavioural traits, and how can this knowledge be considered in breeding?

The content and scope of each lecture can be tailored to the organisation, its audience and specific interests.

Find out more about me and my previous research in companion animal genetics at https://genometails.com/
Get in touch for a quote: [email protected]

Pet Genetic Counselling and Consulting Services

03/06/2026

The 6th International Partnership for Dogs Dog Health Workshop in Bologna has now come to an end, but the discussions and work surrounding dog health certainly continue.

At the workshop, GenomeTails presented the attached poster exploring a topic that is becoming increasingly important across the dog world:

Genetic data alone does not improve breed health.

Today, breeders, breed clubs, veterinarians, registries, researchers, and dog owners have access to more genetic information than ever before. DNA tests, health databases, and breed-health initiatives continue to expand, creating valuable opportunities to improve canine health and welfare.

At the same time, making sense of that information is becoming increasingly challenging. How should results be interpreted? How should risks be communicated? How can disease reduction be balanced with maintaining genetic diversity?

The challenge is no longer simply generating genetic data. Increasingly, it is ensuring that genetic information is translated into practical, balanced, and sustainable decisions that support the long-term health and welfare of our breeds.

This is where GenomeTails aims to contribute: helping bridge the gap between genetic data and informed action through independent genetic expertise, interpretation, education, and stakeholder collaboration.

What do you see as the biggest challenge facing dog health and breeding today? Comment below!