Breed-specific health reform addresses the welfare impact of selective breeding for extreme traits. Understanding the reform landscape enables effective advocacy.
The rapid growth in brachycephalic breed popularity has created a public health-scale welfare problem - large numbers of dogs bred with anatomy that compromises their ability to breathe, thermoregulate, and sleep comfortably. Breed reform that modifies standards to select for improved respiratory function would, over generations, reduce the prevalence of BOAS in these breeds. Consumer education and potential legislation are additional levers.