Decades of welfare-compromising selective breeding have left many dog breeds with serious health problems. Reform efforts are making progress but face persistent resistance from breed communities.
Dog breed health reform is making measurable progress but at insufficient speed given the scale of suffering. Millions of brachycephalic dogs in the UK live with chronic breathing difficulties, dental crowding, skin fold infections, and spinal problems that cause daily discomfort. The popularity of flat-faced breeds shows that welfare considerations are not yet the primary driver of consumer choice. Education about the daily welfare cost to individual dogs - not just abstract breed health statistics - is the most effective advocacy tool for changing purchasing decisions.