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VOOZH | about |
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VOOZH | about |
Nine years ago Generation Pup set an ambitious goal of recruiting 10,000 puppies. We did this to ensure the project was as successful as possible and our findings would be statistically robust.
On the 14 November 2025 we were thrilled to celebrate reaching this incredible milestone!
Now we have reached our target, we will no longer be recruiting new puppies into the project. We are delighted to welcome our 10,000th and final puppy into the Generation Pup family – introducing, River!
We want to extend heartfelt thanks to all of the people, and pups, who have been instrumental in the success of the Generation Pup project so far. Thank you to each and every one of our amazing participants and your wonderful dogs; your dedication and enthusiasm has been the foundation of every insight we have discovered and every impact we have created. Thank you to all of the vets who have supported the gathering of crucial medical and health data, and thank you to the individuals both within Dogs Trust and from the numerous external organisations that have supported the project over the years.
Thank you all. It is down to all of your efforts that we have reached our lofty target of 10,000 puppies – but, the story doesn’t end here!
We hope to follow as many of our participants through their lives as possible, gathering data and looking for ways this can help us make the lives of dogs better in the future.
Keep reading for a quick recap of how we got to this point, what we have achieved together so far, and a look ahead to what the future holds for Generation Pup.
Generation Pup was the first project of its kind in the UK and Republic of Ireland. Funded by a Dogs Trust Canine Welfare Grant in 2015 it was launched in 2016 by researchers at the University of Bristol – Dr Rachel Casey, Dr Jane Murray, Prof Toby Knowles and Prof Séverine Tasker. In 2018, Dogs Trust gave the project a permanent home and continues to fund and run Generation Pup to this day.
The project explores how a dog’s early experiences, genetics, environment, and relationships with people influence their health, behaviour, and overall wellbeing. By understanding this, we can help improve the lives of dogs now and in the future.
Dog owners regularly complete questionnaires, collect non-invasive samples (like fur, poo, and saliva), fill in veterinary cards, and can opt to allow access to their dog’s veterinary records. Participation has always been open to all breeds and crossbreeds.
Since launching in 2016, Generation Pup has been a meaningful study that we’ve built over the long-term in order to help improve dog welfare. We’ve created the digital systems needed to follow dogs over many years, supported thousands of owners to share their experiences, and developed strong partnerships with experts in behaviour, genetics, and veterinary science.
Now that we’ve reached this important milestone, we’re beginning to see the impact of the project take shape. Through the data we’ve collected and analysed, we’re starting to build a much clearer picture of the patterns that influence a dog’s behaviour, health, and welfare across their lifetime. Already, the findings are helping us identify early signs that may predict later behavioural or health concerns, understand how relationships and environments shape a dog’s wellbeing, and improve advice and support available to owners so that dogs and families can live happier lives together. These insights are also contributing to national conversations about best practice in training, rehoming, and veterinary care, helping to influence change across the wider sector.
Dr Jane Murray has been involved in the Generation Pup project since its inception 10 years ago, both as a part of the team who planned the project, and as the Generation Pup team manager up until November 2024. Jane continues to play a pivotal role in project development and its continued success. When asked about why Generation Pup is such a special project, Jane shared:
“The project is so exciting and a huge collaborative project including the team working at Dogs Trust, external contractors, collaborators at different Universities and, most importantly, the dog owners and veterinary professionals who provide the valuable data relating to dogs registered on our study. The insights gained from analysing the Generation Pup data will be incredibly helpful in improving the health and welfare of dogs in the future.”
Dr Jana Muschinski took over managing the project in 2024 and had these words to share:
“Now that we have reached our final recruitment target, the team is gearing up for an exciting period ahead. We will be continuing our work of futureproofing all the ways we collect data, while also making sure we continue to make the most of this incredible dataset. We look forward to expanding our analysis efforts, with new projects underway led both internally and with collaborators who have specialised skillsets.”
Reaching 10,000 puppies is a huge milestone, but our work doesn’t end there; Generation Pup is a long-term project, and the real impact lies in what comes next.
We will continue to follow these dogs throughout their lives, building a richer understanding of what shapes their health, behaviour, and wellbeing. Thanks to our wonderful participants and partners, we will be able to bring you the latest findings that can help improve the lives of dogs today and in the future.
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