Since 30 March 2022, the Swiss Continental Bulldog breed has been officially recognised internationally by the FCI on a provisional basis!
We are very happy for Imelda Angehrn that her dream of an international Continental Bulldog has come true!
It was a long, rocky road, but the patience was worth it.
What is the next step for the Continental Bulldog after the prov. international recognition?
Here is an extract of the recommendations, requirements associated with the prov. international recognition of the FCI.
Extract from the official letter of confirmation of recognition:
The breed will now appear in a special section of our breed nomenclature, but is not yet eligible for the CACIB.
Considering the tense situation we are in (BOAS, animal welfare issues in general, NKK legal case for English Bulldogs and Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, etc.), the recognition is accompanied by a number of recommendations and a request for follow-up (see below):
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Scientific Commission urges breeders, breed societies and judges to take immediate action as the trend towards brachycephalic hypertype is likely to lead to an increase in health problems typically seen in brachycephalic breeds, such as BOAS and complications at birth. This trend is already observed in Dr Ladlow’s BOAS report.
The breed standard should mention this mass (skull to muzzle ratio) in IMPORTANT PROPORTIONS.
DISQUALIFYING FAULTS
Should include too short a skull to muzzle ratio.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
It is strongly recommended that statistics on Caesarean sections or litter and breeding complications (irrespective of the reason), be collected at least in FCI countries where the annual registrations of Continental Bulldogs reaches 100 or more. The Scientific Commission will collect this data every three years as long as the breed is recognised on a provisional basis.
With artificial insemination, the recommendations of the FCI Breeding Regulations and Breeding Strategies apply.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
The joint health of the Swiss Continental Bulldog is good.
In order to maintain this positive situation, the Scientific Commission recommends that the few dogs with HD grade D should not be bred and those with HD grade C should only be bred to dogs with HD grades A/B. According to the FCI Breeding Regulations, dogs with HD grade E may not be used for breeding. It is recommended that the SKG-SCS provide the national breeding organisations with international guidelines in this regard.
5 Follow-up
The Scientific Commission requires a close follow-up of the breed every three years.
This follow-up should include the following points (international):
– Number of registrations
– Statistics of catch/skull ratio with combined BOAS evaluation (according to Cambridge University protocol or similar).
– HD/ED follow-up of at least 60-100 dogs, including radiographs.
– Information on average lifespan (longevity) and possible causes of death.
– Statistics on natural mating/delivery/caesarean section.
It is also strongly recommended that the breed be genetically tested for DVL-2 mutation (commercially available test) and that two carriers of the mutation not be mated.
We are all aware of the immense work that the SKG has done over the last 10-15 years to achieve this recognition and we are glad that it has finally become a reality.
become a reality.
We are also very confident that the SKG will take all the measures it deems appropriate to ensure a healthy future for the breed.
We thank you for adhering to the above recommendations and ensuring that the follow-up measures are properly implemented.
WE CONGRATULATE MRS ANGHERN AND THE SWISS KENNEL CLUB (SKG) for this great achievement.
On behalf of the FCI General Committee
“It is important for the breed that all breeders internationally adhere to the recommendations and implement them!”
“Only in this way will the Continental Bulldog remain successful in the future.”
Summary
Newly valid or existing recommendations of the FCI after recognition of the prov. international recognition.
– Compliance with the proportions of muzzle to skull according to the breed standard.
– Evaluation of BOAS grade (veterinary) for breeding approval.
– Keep statistics on caesarean sections or complications of litter and breeding (irrespective of the reason).
– Statistics on natural and/or artificial insemination
– HD-grade D and E are excluded from breeding
– HD grade C may only be mated with HD grade A or B
– Every 3 years the following data must be collected for follow-up control:
– Number of registered Contis
– Statistics of BOAS evaluations with evaluation of muzzle-skull proportions according to Cambridge University protocol
– HD/ED evaluations of at least 60 -100 dogs with radiographs
– Statistics of lifespan and causes of death
– Statistics on natural mating/delivery/caesarean section
– Additional gene test DVL-2 mutation
– 2 Carriers of the DVL-2 mutation must not be mated.
These recommendations must be strictly adhered to, otherwise there is a possibility that in the future the definitive international recognition may be denied again by the FCI!
Excerpt from the breed standard concerning muzzle-skull proportions:
Muzzle: Broad, almost square seen from the front. The back of the muzzle is straight, curved neither up nor down. In proportion to the total length of the head it is 1:3 (tolerance 1:4). The skin folds on either side of the muzzle ridge are not too thick. The lower jaw including the chin is broad and square. Neither tongue nor teeth may be visible when the mouth is closed. Seen from the front lower jaw, it is not covered by the upper lips.
What does “provisionally” mean internationally recognised now?
Each new breed recognised by the FCI first receives provisional international recognition.
The provisional status lasts for 10 years.
During the ten-year period of provisional recognition, measures shall be taken to maintain genetic variability within the population.
Also, during the ten-year period, some recommendations and requirements in breeding selection are to be followed by the FCI.
Some have been carried out by the CBCS for years, some are new.
This means that the breed will be monitored and observed to see how it develops over the next 10 years.
In terms of health, reproduction (mating, birth, caesarean sections), temperament and appearance.
according to the valid breed standard recognised by the FCI as well as the world-wide population.
Every 3 years, the data collection, statistics of the development of the breed are assessed by the FCI.
After ten years at the earliest, the applicant member country may apply for final recognition of the breed,
provided that the following data are considered adequate:
– a written report on the development of the breed worldwide
– total number of dogs worldwide
– state of health,
– development of their behaviour/character (nature)
– any difficulties encountered during the period of provisional recognition.
Concerning shows:
A provisionally accepted breed shall be entered in the stud books (pedigrees) of all FCI member countries; it may be exhibited and judged at international shows under the patronage of the FCI, may be awarded a CAC, but shall not be eligible to be exhibited at international shows under the patronage of the FCI.
It may be exhibited and judged at international shows under the patronage of the FCI, may receive a CAC, but is excluded from the CACIB until final recognition.
What is the DVL-2 mutation gene test?
Robinow-like syndrome (DVL2)
LABOKLIN Service ID: 8747
The so-called Robinow syndrome is caused in humans by genetic variants in the genes Dishevelled1 (DVL1) and 3 (DVL3).
Characteristic features of the syndrome are prominent facial features (prominent forehead, wide-set eyes, flat nasal bridge) as well as shortened limbs and cardiac, oral and urogenital abnormalities.
The English Bulldog, French Bulldog and Boston Terrier breeds show a breed-typical phenotype with a broad head and short muzzle (brachycephaly, so-called “short-headedness”), widely spaced eyes and small body size. Malformed, fused or missing tail vertebrae result in a shortened corkscrew tail.
A genetic variant of the DVL2 gene was identified, which is fixed in the three breeds and is associated with the breed-typical phenotype. In addition, the variant correlates with thoracic and caudal vertebral malformations and, together with the already known variants in the SMCO2 and BMP3 genes, contributes to the brachycephalic phenotype. The variant appears to follow a recessive mode of inheritance, showing incomplete penetrance with respect to the thoracic vertebral malformations, which varies from breed to breed. Evidence that the DVL2 variant is also associated with other health problems, such as such as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) or congenital heart defects, are still the subject of ongoing research.
In addition to the breeds mentioned above, the DVL2 variant could also be found in the homozygous or heterozygous state in the following breeds: American Pit Bull Terrier, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, Shih Tzu, American Staffordshire Terrier, Dogue de Bordeaux, Olde English Bulldog and American Bulldog. In these breeds, the variant also appears to be associated with the brachycephalic phenotype as well as the malformations of the caudal vertebrae. However, in contrast to the breeds with corkscrew tail, the absolute number of vertebrae is not reduced and the tail is not completely malformed. Furthermore, in these breeds there seems to be no correlation between the variant and malformations of the thoracic vertebrae, but this could also be due to the variable penetrance.