The Kennel Club and the University of Cambridge are offering free respiratory function grading (RFG) scheme training for vets in Wales and Scotland, to increase availability of the scheme for dog owners and breeders, and to improve dog health.
The RFG scheme assesses Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs for brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS).
The aim of the scheme is to advise owners if their dog is affected by BOAS before surgery is considered, and gives guidance to breeders so they can make informed decisions to lower the risk of producing affected puppies.
It is now a mandatory requirement for Kennel Club Assured Breeders of Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs to participate in this scheme prior to breeding.
More information about the scheme can be found at on the Kennel Club website.
The Kennel Club is holding two veterinary RFG scheme training days led by Dr Jane Ladlow, MA, VetMB, CertVR, CertSAS, DipECVS, MRCVS, of the University of Cambridge:
- Wednesday 19 April 2023 in Scotland, at Whitsome Ark, Main Street, Whitsome, Near Duns, Berwickshire, TD11 3NA
- Wednesday 3 May 2023 in Wales, at Knighton and District Community Centre, Bowling Green Lane, Knighton, Powys, LD7 1DR
To become an assessor, vets are required to attend one RFG scheme training day, followed by a review each year.
The training day is completely free of charge and lasts a full day (10am to 4pm).
The day starts with a theory-based session, which includes a presentation from the scheme’s chief assessor, Dr Jane Ladlow, on the research behind the RFG scheme and an overview of its progress since its launch in February 2019.
The presentation is followed by a practical session, which provides an opportunity to observe and practice the assessments on volunteer dogs under the Chief Assessor’s supervision.
These RFG scheme training days are designed to deliver all the information a vet needs to become an assessor and offer this service to all owners and breeders of Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs within their region.
Any veterinarian that lives in Wales or Scotland and is interested in attending the training day to become an assessor for the RFG scheme can register online before Monday 27 March for Scotland, and Monday 10 April for Wales.
Places will be confirmed via email shortly after registering.
Bill Lambert, health, welfare and breeder services executive at The Kennel Club comments: “While we urge people to stop and think before buying a brachycephalic dog, we also want to give those who make the decision to breed and buy these much-loved dogs the tools to do so in an informed and responsible way.
“The scheme vitally helps to advise owners if their dog is affected by BOAS and gives guidance to breeders to lower the risk of producing affected puppies – while facilitating important data collection and enabling researchers to monitor the frequency of the condition and progress in the breed affected, which will inform ongoing research, for the overall improvement of relevant breeds.
“We look forward to continuing to work with vets and other collaborative parties dedicated to improving brachycephalic dog health across the board through promoting the scheme, and engaging vets, breeders and puppy buyers to raise awareness and understanding of this complex syndrome.”
Interested vets who are unable to attend this RFG scheme training but would like to be added to The Kennel Club’s waiting list for future training days can email the health team.
More information about the RFG scheme and what The Kennel Club is doing to improve and protect brachycephalic health is available at on their website.
