Campaigns to reform dog breed standards to improve health and reduce inherited disease have achieved some progress but face significant resistance from established breed communities.
Dog breed health reform is a slow, contested process that pits animal welfare against cultural identity, economic interests, and the resistance of established breed communities. Some progress has been made: breed standards have been updated, health testing schemes have expanded, and awareness of extreme conformation harms has grown among some breeders and buyers. However, the continued popularity of severely brachycephalic breeds demonstrates that regulatory pressure and public education have not yet succeeded in shifting consumer demand at scale. Lasting reform likely requires a combination of compulsory health testing requirements for breed registration, veterinary-led breeding restrictions, celebrity and media engagement, and persistent consumer education about the welfare costs of extreme traits.