Dog welfare in the UK faces a crisis driven by puppy farming, demand for extreme brachycephalic breeds, and post-pandemic ownership patterns. Understanding these issues is essential for improving welfare for the 13 million dogs kept in the UK.
Dog welfare in the UK is compromised at the point of acquisition, through poor breeding, and through inadequate owner understanding of dog needs. Puppy-farmed dogs have higher rates of physical health problems and behavioural issues than those bred by responsible breeders. Brachycephalic dogs experience lifelong chronic discomfort — reduced ability to breathe, eat, sleep, and exercise normally. Research by the Royal Veterinary College shows that most brachycephalic breed owners do not recognise abnormal breathing as a welfare problem. The welfare case for breeding dogs with anatomical extremes is not defensible when those extremes predictably cause chronic suffering. Consumer demand, breeder education, and veterinary norm-setting are all needed to shift breeding practices toward functional conformation.