Dutch prohibition of the breeding of dogs with too short muzzles
The Dutch government accepted the law in 2014, which prohibits the breeding of about 20 short-snouted dog breeds, as defined by the system of head measurement, using traffic light colors classification. According to this criterion, only dogs with the length of a muzzle at least a third of the head are allowed to breed. The law will now be actively enforced, which was the reason for the Dutch Pug Club Commedia to immediately stop breeding pugs and plan to adjust the breeding program in order to breed healthier dogs.
https://business.gov.nl/regulation/animal-welfare-requirements/
https://www.vettimes.co.uk/news/dutch-to-crack-down-on-breeding-of-dogs-with-too-short-snouts/
In its August edition, the Dog’s Today (UK’s largest magazine for dog owners) published an article on Dutch prohibition of the breeding of dogs with too short muzzles. FECAVA has welcomed this news and made a statement that was included in the article:
»FECAVA welcomes this decision, which is potentially a first small step towards healthier Pugs, and we would encourage other breeder associations of brachycephalic dog breeds to take similar steps,« said FECAVA president Wolfgang Dohne.
»It’s great news to see that breeders have taken an iniciative in improving the health and welfare of dogs,« added former president Monique Megens. »It is one of the recommendations of our joint FECAVA/FVE (Federation of Veterinarians in Europe) position paper on healthy breeding, adopted earlier this year. We hope that the show judges and public as a whole will embrace this iniciative, and move away from flat-faced Pugs.«
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Reply[…] Association has warned people to reconsider buying brachycephalic breeds, while the Dutch government announced last year they would start enforcing laws banning the breeding of French bulldogs, pugs […]
ReplyIt makes sense. Why breed dogs for them to suffer?
ReplyPeople have messed up so many animals in search of mutants to satisfy their own vain pursuit of "perfection".
There are more pressing matters to worry about.
It’s ultimately abuse to specifically breed for such deformities incompatible with life
ReplyLove this welfare intervention! Would love it to be brought to the UK to stop this ridiculously cruel breeding. As a doggie daycare operative, I see all kinds of dogs and hate watching year old bull dogs, desperate to run about with the other dogs, unable to because of their deformed bodies and poor respiratory capacity. Selective breeding comes with responsibility and I am deeply disappointed that several dog breeds seem to have seen change for the purposes of vanity rather than function and welfare. I do hope organisations such as the Kennel Club do something like changing the breed standards for dogs such as bull dogs and German shepherds so that anything that is contrary to the dogs health is not recognised.
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