What Is the Innate Health Assessment (IHA)?
The Innate Health Assessment (IHA) is a practical, 10-point checklist designed to assess a dog’s innate health — essentially, their natural, physical wellbeing that is not overly influenced by selective breeding for extreme traits.
Developed by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW), the IHA tool aims to help breeders, licensing officers, and even members of the public make more informed decisions when it comes to breeding and evaluating dogs.
Why Does the IHA Matter?
Breeding for exaggerated physical traits, like flat faces, wrinkles, or large eyes, can ― unfortunately ― lead to serious health and welfare issues for dogs. The IHA seeks to counteract this by:
- Raising awareness of welfare problems associated with extreme conformation.
- Empowering breeders and authorities to check for traits that may compromise an individual dog’s quality of life.
- Complementing genetic health testing (such as BVA or Kennel Club schemes) with a visual, non-breed-specific assessment.
In the long term, the goal is to shift breeding norms toward health-first rather than appearance-first.
How the IHA Works
- The tool is intuitive and easy to use, with a 10-point checklist that focuses on visual, observable characteristics.
- It doesn’t discriminate between breeds — whether a dog is a flat-faced bulldog or a long-nosed hound, the IHA applies equally.
- Users are guided to perform a visual check, assessing each point on the checklist to see how well the dog aligns with healthy, innate traits.
- Importantly, the IHA is not a diagnostic tool. It complements other health-screening mechanisms, rather than replacing them.
- The website includes a disclaimer: for breed-related health risks and specific screening, always consult a veterinary professional or refer to breed-specific guidance from organizations like the BVA.
Who Supports the IHA?
The IHA has strong backing from major animal welfare and veterinary organisations, including:
- The RSPCA
- Dogs Trust
- The Royal Veterinary College (RVC)
- PetProov (which powers the digital version of the tool)
- BVA (British Veterinary Association), among others
This wide support underscores its credibility and its potential to become a standard part of responsible breeding practices.
IHA Vision and Mission
- Vision: No animal should live a life of suffering, simply because of how they were bred to look.
- Mission: Provide a clear, actionable blueprint for healthy breeding, reducing the number of dogs born with harmful exaggerated traits.
Who Is the IHA For?
The assessment is relevant for different groups:
- Dog breeders: To make more responsible decisions about which animals to breed from.
- Local authorities / licensing officers: As a tool for assessing breeding practices, especially in regulation.
- Members of the public / prospective dog owners: To help identify healthier breeding lines, or understand what to look for when choosing a dog.
- Media / advertisers: To raise awareness and promote more ethical representation of dog breeds.
FAQs & Practical Notes
- The IHA is not a substitute for veterinary care or genetic testing.
- It’s a visual checklist, so it’s quick and accessible.
- It applies to all breeds — regardless of how “extreme” their conformation might be.
- The digital version of the tool is available via PetProov.
Final Thoughts
The Innate Health Assessment is a promising step forward in dog welfare. By focusing on the innate, healthy features of animals rather than exaggerated, potentially harmful traits, it offers a practical way to encourage better breeding and more informed choices — for breeders, regulators, and the general public alike.
If you’re interested in using the tool, learning more, or sharing with others in the dog-care community, take the IHA through their digital portal here: Innate Health Assessment.