Attitudes of Finnish dog-breeders about programs to control canine geneticdiseases

A questionnaire was mailed to 320 Finnish dog-breeders to study breeders' k nowledge of canine inherited diseases and of the present screening and cont rol programs in Finland. The purpose was also to study the breeders' attitu des about and compliance with such programs. Breeders estimated that their knowledge was quite good, and they also believed in their ability to influe nce other groups and to promote the programs. The present programs were con sidered to have a positive effect on the prevention of canine inherited dis eases, but information given to breeders and other key groups could produce even better results. Inherited skeletal and ocular diseases were thought t o be important to canine well-being; the importance of other diseases was a ssessed to be lower. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.