Royal Kennel Club expands RFG scheme with free health testing available at Crufts 2026 for an additional 14 breeds
The expansion has been enabled due to a peer reviewed KCCT funded research paper, published by the University of Cambridge today
- Breeds included in the expansion are: Affenpinscher, Boston Terrier, Boxer, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chihuahua, Dogue de Bordeaux, Griffon Bruxellois, Japanese Chin, King Charles Spaniel, Maltese, Pekingese, Pomeranian, Shih Tzu and Staffordshire Bull Terrier
- The Royal Kennel Club is working closely with the relevant breed communities to make sure the expanded RFGS is implemented in a way that supports each breed
- The Royal Kennel Club would like to thank the breed clubs, individual breeders, owners and volunteers whose commitment and cooperation made this research possible
London, 18th February 2026: The Royal Kennel Club, the UK’s oldest and most respected dog organisation has today announced an expansion to its existing Respiratory Function Grading (RFG) scheme, in partnership with the University of Cambridge, which will see free health testing at Crufts extended to a further 14 breeds. The expansion has been enabled due to the publication of a new peer-reviewed research paper by Cambridge University, which evaluates Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) prevalence and severity across 14 additional breeds using the existing RFG methodology.
Following the Kennel Club Charitable Trust (KCCT) funding of the BOAS research group at the University of Cambridge in 2010, the resulting publications underpinned the development of the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme (RFGS) for Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs. In 2021, additional BOAS research was funded by the KCCT and the new research, led by Dr Fran Tomlinson under the supervision of Professor Jane Ladlow, is a subsequent study undertaken to determine whether the same evidence-led framework could be applied to other breeds, 14 breeds researched in total.
Publication of the paper confirms that the evidence-based framework behind the RFGS can be expanded beyond the three original breeds to those included in the study, providing a standardised mechanism for data collection across a wider population. As of 18 February, the RFGS is available for the additional 14 breeds. Owners can find contact details for a list of trained veterinary assessors on the Royal Kennel Club website, www.royalkennelclub.com/rfgs. Additionally, from 5-7th March at Crufts, free testing will be available on a walk-up basis, in the relevant breed halls, with no advance booking required.
The study demonstrates a varying prevalence of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) across the breeds assessed. Some breeds showed no evidence of clinically significant disease, while others were found to have a higher proportion of affected dogs, with around 30-50% of dogs assessed in these breeds showing clinically significant signs.
The Royal Kennel Club has been working closely with the relevant breed communities to make sure the expanded RFGS is implemented in a way that supports each breed. Breed representatives have been engaged throughout the process, including a consultation period which began in October 2025, and will continue to be supported with breed-specific information and guidance as the scheme is rolled out. As part of the next scheduled update in June 2026, the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme will be added to the Health Standard for additional breeds, where appropriate and in line with the published methodology. The findings from the research, together with ongoing data collected through the expanded scheme, will help inform how respiratory health is addressed within each breed, including whether additional approaches are needed over time, in line with the Royal Kennel Club’s recently published Breeding for Health Framework for 2026.
Charlotte McNamara, The Royal Kennel Club’s Head of Health and Breeding, says, “This expansion is an evidence-led progression of RFGS and enables us to provide a practical, standardised tool to support informed breeding decisions to reduce BOAS prevalence over time in a wider group of breeds, while also enabling structured data collection across a wider population. As a key element of our Breeding for Health Framework, we look forward to continuing to improve brachycephalic dog health and by working together with our community we can make a difference for dogs.”
Liz Stannard, Breed Health Coordinator for Pekingese said, “We have been engaged with this research and are working closely with the RKC to ensure our community is both involved and supported. We welcome the expansion of the RFG scheme and will encourage our community to take part in testing to build strong data points and ultimately reduce the prevalence of BOAS in Pekingese.”
Jane Conway, Breed Health Coordinator for Griffon Bruxellois said, "We are pleased to see the RFG Scheme being expanded to include Griffons and welcome the opportunity to use the scheme to collect further data on our population. We hope this will support ongoing monitoring and help drive continued improvement for the breed."
The breeds included in the expansion of the RFGS are:-
Affenpinscher
Boston Terrier
Boxer
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua
Dogue de Bordeaux
Griffon Bruxellois
Japanese Chin
King Charles Spaniel
Maltese
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Shih Tzu
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
To read the new report from the BOAS research group at the University of Cambridge please visit BOAS Paper 18th Feb 2026 To find out more about the Royal Kennel Club’s canine health initiatives visit Breeding for health framework | The Royal Kennel Club www.royalkennelclub.com or www.crufts.org.uk.
Brachycephalic Health
We thought you might be interested in a unique webcast hosted by Kennel Club Chairman, Tony Allcock OBE, discussing brachycephalic health and what can be done collaboratively to ensure a healthier future for our dogs.
The webcast panel is made up of Dr Jane Ladlow, leading BOAS researcher; Bill Lambert, Head of Health and Welfare at the Kennel Club; and Charlotte McNamara, Health and Welfare Development Manager at the Kennel Club.
The panel discuss brachycephalic health, approaches across Europe, the need for a collaborative, evidence-based approach and the importance of data collection and ongoing research into the complex Brachycephalic Obstructive Airways Syndrome (BOAS).