Companion Animals

Companion Animal Welfare and Dog Welfare Through Breeding 2026

Responsible dog breeding for welfare requires health testing, temperament selection, and breed standard reform to reduce heritable disease burden.

Key Facts

Heritable diseases including hip dysplasia, heart disease, and epilepsy cause significant welfare suffering
DNA health testing before breeding reduces the prevalence of testable heritable conditions by 50%
Breed standard reforms requiring healthier conformations are reducing brachycephalic disease rates
Genomic selection for temperament traits can reduce anxiety and fear in future generations
Open health register publication enables buyers to verify health testing compliance

Welfare Considerations

Responsible breeding choices prevent the welfare suffering that heritable diseases cause for entire generations of dogs. DNA testing, standard reform, and transparent health records are achievable improvements.

What You Can Do

Choose puppies from health-tested parents with certified results
Support breed clubs that require health testing before breeding
Advocate for breed standard reforms that prioritise health over extreme appearance