Attitudes of Finnish dog-breeders about programs to control canine genetic diseases

A questionnaire was mailed to 320 Finnish dog-breeders to study breeders' knowledge of canine inherited diseases and of the present screening and control programs in Finland. The purpose was also to study the breeders' attitudes about and compliance with such programs. Breeders estimated that their knowledge was quite good, and they also believed in their ability to influence other groups and to promote the programs. The present programs were considered to have a positive effect on the prevention of canine inherited diseases, but information given to breeders and other key groups could produce even better results. Inherited skeletal and ocular diseases were thought to be important to canine well-being; the importance of other diseases was assessed to be lower.