She will help Dogs Trust to understand dog health issues.

A Shih Tzu has become the 8,000th dog to join Dogs Trust’s Generation Pup welfare study.

Twelve-week-old Daphne Rose, from Darlington, will play a part in the welfare charity’s longitudinal research into canine health problems across different breeds and age groups.

The study, called Generation Pup, aims to record the behavioural and health problems of dogs across their lifetime, from 16 weeks to adulthood. This includes collecting information such as health, environment, behaviour and family experiences.

The project aims to discover how a dog’s early life, genetics and environmental factors contribute to its health throughout its lifetime.

Generation Pup, formed through a partnership between Dogs Trust and the University of Bristol, began in 2016 and is believed to be the first longitudinal study to include all breed and crossbreeds of dogs.

They are inviting any dog breeds under 16 weeks of age from the UK and Republic of Ireland to sign-up. Dog owners can decide how much they would like to take part in the project.

The study is aiming to reach their target of recruiting 10,000 dogs by the end of 2024.

Amber, Daphne Rose’s owner, said: “I had seen Generation Pup pop up on social media platforms. The fact that the reputable name of Dogs Trust were working alongside Bristol University gave me the confidence to sign up.

“Daphne has brought boundless joy and happiness to our family, if you are a dog lover, then what better way to improve outcomes and give advice to future owners.”

Dr Jane Murray, deputy head of research at Dogs Trust, said: “We are very proud to have welcomed our 8,000th puppy into the Generation Pup study. This incredible achievement could not have been done without the help of the committed owners and their wonderful dogs.

“We are so close to reaching our landmark goal of recruiting 10,000 puppies, and we are urging for owners to sign up. The more puppies enrolled into this study, the more likely we are to have a better understanding of our furry canine friends.”

To learn more about the Generation Pup study, visit the website.

Image (C) Dogs Trust