Extreme breeding is a term used to describe pets that have been bred in such a way that it causes problems with their health. For example, in their body shape or physical traits such as a shortened legs or flat faces. This is also known as extreme conformation.
In pets, dogs are currently the most impacted by extreme breeding, but it can affect cats and rabbits too. The term, extreme breeding, often applies to specific body parts, such as the legs, tail, eyes, the nose or skin folds, but can be used to describe the whole appearance.
Extreme breeding happens when humans choose to breed for features based on how a pet looks, instead of on their health and welfare. Sadly, when a dog breed becomes too extreme, these traits can impact on their ability to carry out normal and necessary functions and can lead to pain and suffering daily.
Dogs with exaggerated physical features often require more care and support emotionally and financially. These problems can lead to heart breaking decisions where owners need to say goodbye to their pets much earlier than expected to prevent them suffering further. Sadly, people are often unaware of the problems until after they’ve brought their pet into their lives.
How can I tell if a dog has extreme conformation?
As dogs come in lots of different shapes and sizes, it’s important to know which features might be too extreme. This is why the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) launched the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) tool to help people identify extreme conformation in dogs.
The goal of this tool is to eliminate the suffering caused to pets from poor breeding, so our furry friends can live long, happy and healthy lives. The IHA tool is an easy-to-use visual checklist to assess a dog’s health based on the Innate Health Concept (IHC), which states all pets should be able to perform all the natural functions and behaviours expected for their species.
Under current law in England, no dog who has extreme physical features which have been exaggerated to make them look a certain way, should be used for breeding by anyone. The IHA will allow these dogs to be identified, preventing extreme breeding.
As the tool is focused on assessing the health of potential future puppies, it’s mostly aimed at dog breeders, licensing officers and people thinking of getting a dog. However, it can be used on any adult dog to see if their traits are innately healthy. The tool guides you through ten criteria and provides full instructions on how to assess each one. The ten criteria are:
- No merle colouring
- Smooth skin – no skin folds
- Muzzle long enough for easy breathing
- Eyelids that don’t turn in/turn out or droop
- Eyes sit deeply in socket – not bulging
- Jaws close correctly – no overbite or underbite
- Tail long enough to wag
- Straight legs – no bowing
- Natural leg length – no dwarfism
- Spine that can flex
What are skin folds and why can these be bad for a dog?
Yeast and bacteria live naturally on your dog’s skin but can cause a problem if they overgrow. Excessive skin creates folds and pockets which create the perfect environment for bacteria and yeast to grow, and infections to develop. Dogs with skin folds require lifetime care from their owners to keep their skin healthy. In rare cases, surgery is needed to remove the folds of skin to stop infection coming back.
Why is having a short muzzle/ flat-face bad for a dog?
Flat-faced dogs have the same amount of soft tissue as other dogs, but they are packed into a much shorter head. This means they often suffer with narrow nostrils, nasal passages, and windpipe. They often also have an overlong soft palate (the soft, muscular tissue at the back of the roof of a dog's mouth that helps separate the mouth from the nasal passages during breathing and swallowing). These issues can result in breathing problems, known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
Flat-faced dogs are unfortunately more prone to a variety of issues including:
- Eye and teeth issues because of the shape of their skull.
- Allergies and skin infections because of their wrinkly skin.
- Gastrointestinal (gut and stomach) problems.
- Heart problems.
- Higher risks with anaesthetic.
Some flat-faced dogs also have trouble having puppies naturally because of the large size of their puppies’ head relative to the mum.
Why is it bad for a dog to have eyes that bulge?
Dogs with bulging eyes are more likely to get painful eye conditions and injuries to the eyes. Because the eyes protrude, they may not be able to fully close their eyelids. This means they are more likely to get eye ulcers and dry eye. And if they do develop an ulcer, they can be more difficult to treat.
Why does a dog need a tail that is long enough to wag?
Dog breeds with curly or short tails are at a higher risk of spinal problems as the bones in their tail and spine haven’t formed properly. The tail also helps with balance, communication, and stability.
Why is it important for a dog to have legs that do not bow?
Bowed legs bend outward in a bow shape, affecting the way the dog stands and walks. A few things can cause this including poor nutrition, trauma and their genetics. Some breeds inherit bowed legs due to chondrodysplasia (a condition that affects cartilage growth).
Why is it important for a dog to have natural leg length?
Some dogs with short legs face some common health concerns including Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), joint problems, hip dysplasia, and luxating kneecaps. These health issues can significantly impact a dog’s quality of life.
Who is responsible for stopping extreme breeding?
Dog breeders
There are many responsible dog breeders that are working to move their breed away from extreme breeding if they’re currently impacted. These breeders use tools like the IHA to make the right decisions when choosing which dogs to breed. Over time, this helps reduce the number of dogs born who suffer from poor health due to extreme physical characteristics.
Local authorities
Local authorities such as district and county councils can use tools such as the IHA to verify that dogs used for breeding are suitable, alongside their licensing criteria. They are also responsible for enforcing the current legislation about exaggerated features in dogs, which aims to combat extreme breeding.
Everyone
Extreme breeding has come about due to a demand for dogs with exaggerated features such as French Bulldogs. While there are breeders who are working to combat these extreme breeding trends, there are some breeders and puppy farmers who capitalise on popular breeds without considering the health of the dogs. Learning about extreme breeding, and knowing how to identify extreme traits, can help reduce the demand. It’s also important to learn how to identify a good breeder when getting a puppy.
If a dog doesn’t have extreme traits, will the puppies be healthy?
Breeding from dogs that don’t have extreme traits will increase their chances of having a happy and healthy life. While it’s not always possible for tools like the IHA to pick up every problem that can be caused by extreme breeding, they give a guide on the most common traits that can impact welfare, backed up by strong scientific evidence.
There are also other health related traits and genetic problems that can be passed down from parents to their puppies, so other forms of health testing will also give puppies the best chance of being healthy which might include:
- Genetic tests
- Physical health screening (for example, hip or elbow scoring)
- Functional testing (for example, the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme).
It’s important to educate yourself on the breed of dog you own, or you are considering, so that you are aware of all possible illnesses they can get. Some conditions will only cause problems later in a dog’s life and may not be visible from the outside to begin with, such as heart disease.
Don’t forget, there are lots of factors that can have an impact on whether puppies will be healthy, so it’s always important to get advice from your vet about the safest way to breed and give any puppies the best chance of being born healthy.
Should breeds be banned to stop extreme breeding?
Although some breeds may have more extreme traits than others, banning breeds is unlikely to be a solution. While banning breeds may seem like a quick fix, it’s likely that extreme breeding would move to target an alternative breed that gains in popularity.
It’s also important to remember that dog breeds vary in size and shape, so not all dogs of the same breed will have extreme conformation. Tools like the IHA look at each dog to see if they are innately healthy.
Identifying and reducing extreme traits in dogs will help us move away from extreme breeding but this is a responsibility that falls to everyone who loves dogs. By understanding and identifying exaggerated traits, we can ensure dogs in the future have the best chance of being happy and healthy.
Find out more about looking after dogs with our Pet Health Hub.