Selective breeding has produced companion animal breeds with severe inherited health problems, making breed reform one of the most significant welfare challenges in the companion animal sector.
The breeding of companion animals for extreme physical traits or within narrow gene pools represents a systemic welfare crisis that causes suffering to millions of animals across generations. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome affects dogs bred for flat faces, causing chronic breathing difficulties, exercise intolerance, and sleep problems throughout their lives. Hip dysplasia, epilepsy, and inherited eye conditions similarly cause lifelong pain and disability in affected breeds. Reform requires changes to breed standards, health testing requirements, and crucially, consumer demand — as long as people continue buying breeds known to suffer, the market incentive to maintain harmful traits persists.