Selective breeding has created severe inherited health problems in many popular dog breeds. Reform through breed standard changes and health screening is gradually improving welfare.
Breed-specific health problems represent a welfare failure built into the genetics of millions of dogs. A French bulldog that cannot breathe normally during mild exertion, cannot sleep without respiratory obstruction, and cannot give birth naturally without caesarean section experiences a lifetime of compromised welfare from inherited conformation. The reform process is slow and contested - breed clubs resist significant conformation changes, and consumer demand rewards exaggerated features. Yet the evidence is clear: dogs with less extreme conformations have better health outcomes, longer lives and better quality of life. Every breeding decision is a welfare decision.