Genomic selection and health testing in dog breeding are shifting the field toward evidence-based approaches that prioritize heritable health traits alongside conformation and temperament.
Dog breeding genetics sits at the intersection of welfare science and practical application, with genomic tools now making evidence-based breeding decisions achievable for committed breeders. The welfare implications of breeding choices play out across multiple generations: a breeding decision made today creates welfare consequences for the offspring produced and potentially for generations beyond. The prioritization of appearance traits over genetic health in many breed standards has created populations with elevated disease burdens that represent preventable, multigenerational welfare harm. The culture shift toward mandatory health testing and genetic diversity monitoring in responsible breeding communities represents genuine progress, but market demand for dogs with extreme traits continues to drive welfare-compromising breeding decisions in other segments.