Canine Genetics Centre - Research and DNA Testing

06/03/2026

Help Us Name Our New DNA Bank!
A few weeks ago, we asked our followers what they thought about our idea to set up a new DNA bank that would store DNA specifically from male and female dogs that have been used for breeding.
The idea is to store high-quality DNA from each dog so it can be used in the future for whole genome sequencing, estimating heterozygosity or investigating newly emerging inherited diseases.
We were really encouraged by how many of you responded positively, so we’re now making plans to get this project off the ground!
But first… our new DNA bank needs a name.
We’re looking for something that reflects that it will contain DNA from breeding dogs and will act as a resource to benefit the health of future generations of dogs. Ideally, the name would be memorable — and even better if the initials spell a word themselves.
Some words that you might use: sire, dam, DNA, bank, archive, future, research, health — but this isn’t an exhaustive list by any means.
Be creative!
If we choose your suggestion, you’ll be able to bank the very first DNA sample free of charge once the bank is up and running.

03/03/2026

Crufts week is here! CAGT are not attending but we wanted to wish all of our customers and all CGC supporters the very best of luck if you're competing.

However, to celebrate the world's largest dog show, we are offering 25% off all CAGT tests until the 14th March - just use code CRUFTS26 at the checkout.

Shop online: https://www.cagt.co.uk/

27/02/2026

Have you got that spring feeling? It definitely feels like we are coming out of the other side of the constant mud, dark and wet and with the positive news about the University of Cambridge Vet School earlier this week we are also walking with a spring in our step!

Incredibly, we have also secured 78% of the required funds to keep the CGC running for the following financial year, but we are looking for help to plug that 22% gap (£90,000).

Has YOUR breed benefitted from research done by the CGC in the past?
- or -
Are we currently working on a disease relevant to YOUR breed?

If you can answer YES to either of these questions please do support our "Spring Appeal"... either by donating if you can, or by spreading the word with your friends, breed communities and members of your breed groups.

To read more about the work of the CGC, how many dogs have benefitted from our research and how to donate:https://www.canine-genetics.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/CGCSpring2026-Appeal.pdf

17/02/2026

Intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) is the most common cause of spinal injury in dogs with clinical signs ranging from pain to complete, irreversible paralysis of the limbs. IVDD can affect all breeds but chondrodystrophic (short-legged) breeds are at highest risk, which is a significant concern given that some of the UK’s most popular breeds fall into this category.

The Canine Genetics Centre is actively researching IVDD. Our investigations are currently focused on Dachshunds, but we hope that in time, and with appropriate funding, we can extend our research to include other breeds.

Details of our research can be found here: https://www.canine-genetics.org.uk/research/ivdd/

The Canine Genetics Centre would like to thank Dachshund Health UK for their generous and continued financial support of our IVDD research, and for campaigning for additional funds to help support our IVDD research as well as helping us meet our core funding requirements.

https://www.paypal.com/donate?campaign_id=FEYBGGAS4AUUE

30/01/2026

We wanted to let you know that some of our prices will be changing from 1 March 2026.

Due to rising operational costs, a small adjustment is necessary on all CAGT individual tests, to ensure we can continue delivering the high-quality service and reliable results you expect.

💷 From 1 March 2026, the price of an individual DNA test will be £49.50 (inc. VAT).

🙌 As always, 100% of CAGT profits are reinvested into research at the Canine Genetics Centre.

Thank you for your continued support of Canine Genetic Testing and for helping advance the future health of all dogs.

26/01/2026

🐾 Banking DNA from popular sires – a sound investment in the health of your breed?

Everyone from within the dog world knows that popular sires are a cause for concern. Like every other dog, a popular sire inevitably carries mutations that will cause disease if they are inherited in homozygous form by any of their offspring. The Canine Genetics Centre can identify these disease mutations more easily and cheaply than ever before. But only if we have DNA from key ancestors of affected dogs.

The Canine Genetics Centre is developing a scheme to bank DNA from breeding dogs, particularly popular sires and we would love to hear your thoughts. Please feel free to comment below 👇

For more information on our thoughts and reasons please do read this week's article on our website - https://www.canine-genetics.org.uk/banking-dna-from-popular-sires-as-an-investment-in-the-future-health-of-a-breed/

13/01/2026

Do you breed Irish Setters... 🤔

Did you know that that you can buy ALL the required DNA tests to meet the Royal Kennel Club health standard GOOD and BEST practices for breeding your Irish Setter right here in the UK through CAGT?

🧬 You can also build your own test bundle—selecting only the DNA tests you need—while adding additional tests such as DM. This flexible approach ensures both value and peace of mind—all in one.

https://www.cagt.co.uk/product/irish-setter-bundle/

CAGT in a small DNA testing entity based at the University of Cambridge Vet School that works alongside the researchers at the Canine Genetics Centre - Research and DNA Testing. 100% of profits are reinvested into future research at the CGC, so please use CAGT where you can for your DNA testing needs!

12/01/2026

10/01/2026

🎉 Happy New Year to all our friends, supporters and followers! We hope that 2026 will be a fantastic year for all.

As we start back analysing all our canine data we thought we'd take a quick look back at some of the articles that we published towards the end of 2025. This month's newsletter showcases our research into PRA and epilepsy as well as hi-lighting a recent paper we published on PHPT in the Keeshond breed. We've also included the information on how CAGT, our DNA testing facility, can be your "one-stop-shop" for all your Royal Kennel Club GOOD/BEST practice DNA tests - you can even tailor your bundles to just get the tests each dog needs!

https://www.canine-genetics.org.uk/newsletter/january-2026

If you fancy subscribing, pop over to our and you will receive future issues straight to your email inbox - https://canine-genetics.eo.page/2w2jf

02/01/2026

Happy New Year to all our friends, followers & supporters... we hope that 2026 will be a year for us to continuing building. We have papers in the pipeline, samples heading off for sequencing and data to interrogate. So here's hoping for a productive year and more dogs helped.

For now, we take a look back to the beginning of December when we hosted the first Companion Animal Genetic Health (CAGH) conference here in Cambridge. We welcomed fellow researchers in the fields of dog, cat & horse genetics from the UK, mainland Europe and the USA to present their current work. After all, scientific research is all about discovering new things and sharing those ideas with others!

Read more about the event in our news article - https://www.canine-genetics.org.uk/companion-animal-genetic-health-2025-cambridge/