The Swedish Dog BioBank
The Swedish Dog BioBank is a new ambitious collaboration between the Canid Research Group and the Swedish Working Dog Association. Our goal is to build up a large-scale database with DNA from dogs in Sweden.
Below you can read more about the Swedish Dog BioBank and how your dog can be part of the initiative.
What is the Swedish Dog BioBank?
The Swedish Dog BioBank is an initiative to build up a database with DNA from dogs in Sweden. The project is fully administered by Linköping University and funded by several Swedish grants, including Erik-Philip Sörensens Stiftelse and Magnus Bergvall Stiftelse. We work closely with the Swedish Working Dog Association to reach dog owners in Sweden to get as many dogs included in the BioBank as possible – we need thousands of dogs in the database!
Why establish a BioBank for Swedish dogs?
The short answer is: To provide the best possible foundation to answer important questions on dog behaviour, genetics and health. Below you can read more about the specific goals for the Swedish Dog BioBank and how your dog or your breed club can participate in this exciting initiative
.
Goal of the BioBank
Behaviour and genetics
Behaviour is an incredibly important aspect of our lives with dogs. Many dogs are bred to fulfill specific roles associated with behaviour, such as herding, hunting or diverse service functions. Behaviours can also be universally desired, such as sociability, or undesired, such as behavioural problems (e.g. excessive anxiety or aggression). Yet, we know very little about the genetic basis of behaviours in dogs.
Genetic health
A recent study showed that the average inbreeding coefficient (F) for a wide range of dog breeds is ~0,25. This is equivalent to breeding full siblings. Inbreeding can have severe consequences on dog health, including decreased litter sizes, neonatal death and accumulation of harmful recessive mutations (causing diseases) in the population.
The goal
The goal of the Swedish Dog BioBank is to build up a database large enough to allow us to address urgent questions that will help us understand the genetic basis of dog behaviour and improve health in the Swedish dog population.
How do I sign up my dog?
Your dog must be behaviourally tested
All dogs entering the Swedish Dog BioBank must have completed the Dog Mental Assessment Test (Mentalbeskrivning Hund, MH) offered by the Swedish Working Dog Association. You can read more about the MH here. The reason for this is simple: we want to create a database where standardized behavioural data can be directly connected to genetic profiles of individual dogs in Sweden.
How will you collect DNA from my dog?
We collect DNA using a saliva swab. This is a common technique used for dogs, it only takes about 20-30 seconds and it is stress and pain free. Your dog should not eat or drink immediately before the swabbing but it should definitely have a treat afterwards. You can see a demonstration video of the swabbing here.
Where can my dog be DNA sampled?
If your dog has not yet been MH tested, the Swedish Working Dog Association will provide a number of test sites where your dog can be MH tested and simultaneous DNA sampled. These sites will be announced soon. If your dog already has been MH tested, we will arrange DNA collection throughout Sweden where you can come with your dog for sampling. Note that 1) it is free to enrol your dog in the BioBank, and 2) your dog’s DNA will be anonymized.
For Breed and Dog Clubs
Help us arrange sampling events and collect DNA
Breed and Dog Clubs frequently arrange events such as training, competitions or behavioural testing. Since many dogs are gathered at these events they are perfect opportunities for DNA collection for the Swedish Dog BioBank. If you are interested in hosting DNA collection at one of your events, please use the sign up form below.
Clubs can also participate by having members volunteer to collect DNA at events all around Sweden (training will be provided). This is a big help for the project as we can only be so many places at once. Please indicate your interest below.
Want us to come give a talk about our research?
We often give talks about our research to dog owners, trainers, breeders and other groups of dog professionals. We prioritize a good connection to the dog community and would therefore love to come out and tell you about what we do. This would also be a good opportunity to discuss how the Swedish Dog BioBank, in time, can help address questions you may have for your specific breed.
When will I see results?
The BioBank is a long-term project
It is important to realize that the Swedish Dog BioBank is a long-term project. We expect that it will take several years to build up the BioBank and that is why it will also take several years before we will start getting results from all the efforts we put into the project now. It is an investment, but a very valuable one.
We need thousands of dogs in the BioBank
When doing research on behavioural genetics and genetic health, large sample sizes are needed. Because we are addressing these questions across many different dog breeds in the Swedish Dog BioBank project, we therefore need thousands of dogs in our database before it is meaningful initiate specific research projects. For instance, we need enough dogs represented of one breed before we can ask specific questions for this breed. This is the reason why it will take several years to build up the BioBank.
We need your help
Because we need so many dogs in the BioBank we really need the help from dog owners, breed clubs and the like to sample as many dogs as possible. Sign up your dogs and spread the word.
Thank you so much!
Location
Linköping University, Sweden