Handling duplicate dog profiles

Accuracy and consistency are crucial for every pedigree database. One of the challenges we face is managing duplicate profiles. When multiple entries exist for the same dog, it can lead to confusion and inconsistencies (e.g. by linking offspring to different profiles of the same dog). To maintain the integrity of the archive, we have a specific process for handling duplicate profiles. As a user you can help to facilitate this process.

Why Duplicate Profiles Are a Problem

Duplicate entries can create issues such as:

• Inconsistent Information: Different profiles of the same dog might contain conflicting details about lineage, health records, or achievements.
• Fragmented Version History: Each profile maintains a version history, allowing users to track changes over time. If a duplicate profile is created instead of updating an existing one, this history gets lost or split between multiple profiles.

The correct way to handle duplicates

Instead of manually altering profiles by renaming animal entries or converting them to other profiles, users should report duplicate entries through our built-in issue reporting system. This ensures that an admin can carefully review the profiles and take appropriate action.

How to report a duplicate

1. Copy the link of the original profile (on your smartphone long-press on the dog's name and select "copy link text", or go to the original profile and copy the link from the browser's address bar)
2. On the duplicate profile, click "Report issue"
3. Choose "Duplicate entry" as category
4. Paste the copied link into the "Original entry" field (long-press in the field and select "paste")

Admins review and merge duplicates

Our administrators have tools to merge duplicate profiles while preserving version history. They analyse both profiles, confirm that they refer to the same dog, and consolidate data and offspring without losing details.

Preserving historical data

By reporting duplicates instead of deleting or modifying them directly, we can ensure that:

• Any profile updates, including ownership changes and achievements, remain intact.
• The dog's version history is preserved in a single, continuous record.
• Users searching for a dog find the correct and most up-to-date information.
• All offspring of a dog is assigned to the correct entry.

How you can help

To maintain a high-quality database, we encourage all users to:

• Check for existing profiles before creating a new one. If the dog profile you are creating is similar to an entry already in the archive, we ask you to double-check. Only create a new entry if you are certain it does not already exist.
• Use the search function to ensure the dog isn’t already in the system.
• Report suspected duplicates rather than editing them into new entries or renaming them.

By following these best practices, we can all contribute to a more accurate and reliable pedigree database. Thank you for helping us maintain the integrity of all dog records!