Selective breeding for exaggerated physical traits has produced a crisis of preventable suffering in popular dog breeds, now the subject of major regulatory reform in several countries.
A dog that cannot breathe normally, birth normally, or play without respiratory distress is experiencing chronic welfare compromise from the day of its birth to its death. The normalisation of laboured breathing, snoring and sleep apnoea in brachycephalic breeds represents one of the most pervasive welfare failures in the companion animal sector. The appeal of these breeds to human purchasers — their infant-like facial features — directly drives the selection pressure that causes their suffering. Norway's legal intervention demonstrates that structural reform is possible; other countries are watching.