It's not a show Dogslife...

Give the researchers a helping paw, eh?

One of the big claims by show breeders is that they are the ones that contribute money and dogs to the research into inherited disease. And that is undoubtedly often true. But where the hell are they on the Dogslife project - the innovative epidemiological study of Labradors funded (to the not inconsiderable tune of £100,000) by the Kennel Club?

Dogslife, based at the Royal Dick Vet School in Edinburgh, has now recruited some 1,400 Labradors into the study - far short of the 20,000 they hoped for when they announced the project, but still enough to be useful research-wise.  But, a year into the project, and according to data recently released, a pitiful number of Labradors owned by show breeders have been recruited  - despite the project being very well publicised on the Labrador forums.

"We have been collecting data from Dogslife members for nearly a year, and some trends are already emerging. Interestingly, when participants tell us what the main reason for owning their dog is, most own their Labrador Retriever as a pet (87%), rather than for working (9%), breeding or showing (3%), or other (1%)" says DogsLife in its recent research update.

This translates as:

Pet owners: 1218 dogs
Working owners: 126 dogs
Breeders/exhibitors: 48 dogs

So come on show-breeders - enrol your Labs!

Any UK Labrador born after 1st January 2010 is eligible for the study which hopes to answer all kinds of interesting questions about environment, diet and disease.

Registration details here