Selective breeding for extreme conformations in dogs including flat faces, excessive skin, and miniaturised bodies causes lifelong suffering in millions of dogs worldwide.
Extreme conformation breeding creates dogs that suffer throughout their lives from difficulties breathing, overheating, giving birth, moving, and from structural pain. This suffering is caused entirely by human aesthetic preference and commercial demand. Choosing breeds with natural, functional conformations or cross-breeds reduces demand for dogs that will suffer by design. Breed standard reform is necessary but insufficient without consumer choice change.