How selective breeding for extreme traits affects the health and welfare of purebred dogs, and what responsible breeding looks like.
The welfare crisis in purebred dogs is one of the most preventable and yet most persistent problems in companion animal welfare. It is caused by human aesthetic preferences being systematically prioritized over the capacity of animals to breathe, move, and live without chronic pain. Kennel clubs, breeders, and buyers share responsibility for this crisis and for its solution. The path forward requires breed standards to be reformed to prioritize function over form, health testing to be mandatory before breeding, and consumers to actively choose health over appearance. Without demand-side change, supply-side regulation alone will not solve the problem.