You may have caught wind of discussions in the media about banning short-nosed dogs such as pugs and french bulldogs. Here I’ll cover why these discussions are taking place and whether there is a ban on breeding or owning these dogs in the UK.
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Netherlands Ban
The subject of banning these dogs has come to light recently because of the steps the Netherlands have taken in this area.
In 2014 the Dutch Government put in place legislation to ban the breeding of short-nosed (known as brachycephalic) dogs. However this wasn’t enforced properly until 2019. Dogs are now graded on a traffic-light system according to the length of their nose. It is illegal in the Netherlands to breed dogs in the red zone, where the snout is shorter than one third the length of the skull. Dogs in the orange zone can only be bred if they meet certain criteria.
The ban prompted the Dutch Kennel Club to end the registrations for 12 brachycephalic dog breeds including Pugs, French and English Bulldogs.
Earlier this year the Dutch Government announced plans to go a step further and ban the ownership and display of pets with ‘harmful external characteristics’ including brachycephalic dogs. However they admit that an ownership and display ban will be complex and that it will take time to work out how they are best implemented and enforced.
Dutch Minister of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality, Piet Adema, explained the reasoning behind these measures; “We make life miserable for innocent animals, purely because we think they are ‘beautiful’ and ‘cute’. That is why today we are taking a big step towards a Netherlands where no pet has to suffer from his or her appearance.”
What does this mean for the UK?
There is currently no ban on the breeding or ownership of brachycephalic dogs in the UK.
But should there be?
Many feel that the UK Government should take similar action and that the UK Kennel Club should remove these breeds from their register or introduce mandatory tests for registration.
At the time of writing this article there is a petition circling, calling on the Kennel Club to introduce a requirement for brachycephalic breeds to pass a breathing test in order to receive registration. This ultimately wouldn’t stop unregistered breeders from breeding unhealthy dogs, but it would prevent the legitimisation of dogs suffering with these issues. The UK Kennel Club currently offers breathing tests but these are not mandatory.
Why ban the breeding of short-nosed dogs?
So why are people against breeding short-nosed dogs?
It comes down to the fact that brachycephalic dogs suffer from numerous health issues as a result of the short shape of their skull.
An extreme welfare issue affecting a significant number of brachycephalic dogs is called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS). This is where defects to the dog’s airways result in breathing and respiratory issues.
BOAS reduces the amount of air getting to the lungs of affected dogs. BOAS can vary in severity from dog to dog. At best this is unpleasant for the dog, and at worst it could be causing a constant feeling of asphyxiation. BOAS can also make dogs more prone to heat stroke, regurgitation and sleeping difficulties (due to airway obstruction occurring during sleep).
Brachycephalic dogs are also more likely to suffer from:
- Eye disease such as ulceration of the eye or prolapse of the eye
- Skin disease as a result of excessive skin folds
- Spinal malformations
- Birthing difficulties
- Dental issues
- Kneecap (patella) luxation
- Elbow fractures
This is all supported by research, such as that carried out by the Brachycephalic Research Team at the Royal Veterinary College.
Would a ban work?
Those opposing a ban argue that it could make the situation worse. For example, by encouraging irresponsible ‘backyard breeding’ of the dogs and ‘puppy smuggling’ of dogs into the UK.
The UK Kennel Club have opposed such a ban and have expressed desire to take a more collaborative approach and work alongside breeders, vets, scientists and welfare organisations to introduce more gradual measures to improve breeding.
But many animal welfare advocates argue that a more gradual approach has not been working as brachycephalic characteristics have only become worse in recent years as the popularity of these dogs has boomed. They argue that a more extreme approach needs to be taken to prevent dogs suffering from these (sometimes extreme) welfare issues.
Conclusion
The Netherlands have taken steps to ban the breeding of brachycephalic dogs. And other EU countries, such as Norway, are attempting to introduce similar legislation. Many feel that such a ban should be introduced in the UK to prevent the welfare issues suffered by these dogs. Opponents argue for a more collaborative approach to tackle the issue.
See Also
- Netherlands moves to ban pets suffering ‘harmful’ traits
- The Royal Veterinary College Brachycephalic Research Team
- Short-Nosed Dogs: What is BOAS?
- What is BOAS surgery, and why is it needed?
- Do pugs have health problems? Things to know before you buy
- Do Bulldogs Make Healthy Pets?
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