Library:A Healthier Future for Pedigree Dogs (report)

A Healthier Future for Pedigree Dogs is an inquiry report by the Associate Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) published in November 2009.

The inquiry was set up in November 2008 following the issues raised in the BBC programme ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ regarding inherited diseases and breeding problems in dogs. The inquiry asked for written and oral evidence from various stakeholders and how it tried to avoid bias and rely on actual evidence. The aim of the inquiry was to investigate the welfare issues surrounding pedigree dogs in the UK and to advise on potential measures suitable for secondary legislation under the Animal Welfare Act.

Section 2: Findings

Section 2 of the report by the APGAW inquiry into the health and welfare issues surrounding the breeding of pedigree dogs presents the main findings of the inquiry based on the evidence received from various sources. It discusses the severity and scale of the problem, the health and welfare concerns, the current health schemes, and the code of ethics.

Severity and scale of the problem

The report states that there is a serious problem with the health and welfare of many pedigree dogs and that further measures can be implemented to improve the situation. It also states that there is a lack of information available about the scale of the problem, which makes it difficult to obtain a clear picture of what percentage of dogs are affected. It cites a study by the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) that identified 322 inherited disorders in the fifty most popular breeds in the UK and found that every one of them had at least one aspect of their physical conformation that predisposes them to an inheritable defect. It also cites various testimonies from pet owners, veterinary surgeons, and welfare organizations that confirm the existence and extent of the problem.

The health and welfare concerns

The report identifies two distinct but inter-related issues affecting the health and welfare of pedigree dogs: the extreme breed characteristics encouraged by breed standards, and the hereditary diseases that are a consequence of close breeding to maintain breed standards. It explains how some breed standards have resulted in exaggerated features that may compromise the health and welfare of dogs, such as short heads, short legs, excessive facial skin folds, pendulous ears, long backs, or curly tails. It also explains how close breeding or inbreeding can increase the risk of genetic diseases or defects in dogs, such as hip dysplasia, eye ulceration, chronic otitis, intervertebral disc disease, or spina bifida. It gives examples of some breeds that are particularly affected by these issues, such as Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Pugs, Bulldogs, German Shepherds, or Dachshunds.

Current health schemes

The report evaluates the current health schemes that are available for pedigree dogs to screen for certain hereditary diseases or defects. It acknowledges that some health schemes have been in place for decades and have been run by the British Veterinary Association (BVA) in collaboration with the Kennel Club (Kennel Club) or other breed clubs. It also acknowledges that some health schemes have been effective in reducing the prevalence or severity of some diseases or defects in some breeds. However, it also points out some limitations and weaknesses of the current health schemes. For example, some health schemes are not mandatory or widely used by breeders, some health schemes do not cover all diseases or defects known to affect certain breeds, some health schemes do not have clear criteria or guidelines for interpretation or application, and some health schemes do not have a central database or registry to record and monitor their results.

Code of Ethics

The report assesses the role and effectiveness of the Code of Ethics used by breed clubs to set acceptable standards for their members. It recognizes that the Code of Ethics is a voluntary agreement that aims to promote good breeding practice and to protect the health and welfare of dogs. It also recognizes that some breed clubs have revised their Code of Ethics to include more specific requirements for health testing and good practice in breeding. However, it also criticizes the Code of Ethics for being inconsistent across different breed clubs, for being poorly enforced or monitored by breed clubs or by the Kennel Club, for being ignored or breached by some breeders without consequences, and for being insufficient to address all the health and welfare issues affecting pedigree dogs.

Section 3: The Dog Breeding World

Section 3 of the report by the APGAW inquiry into the health and welfare issues surrounding the breeding of pedigree dogs examines the role and structure of the Kennel Club and other breed clubs and societies. It discusses the issues of breed standards, the Accredited Breeder Scheme, dog breeders, breed councils and societies, dog shows, and the Kennel Clubs future. It also explores the possibility of an independent body to advise on breed standards and health schemes. It makes several recommendations for the Kennel Club and other breed clubs to improve their practices and policies to ensure the health and welfare of pedigree dogs. It also suggests that the Kennel Club should be more transparent, open to scrutiny, and willing to engage with outside bodies and individuals who may have experience to offer to the debate on health and welfare.

Breed standards

Breed standards are written descriptions of the ideal characteristics, temperament, and appearance of a breed. They are set by the Kennel Club in consultation with breed clubs and societies, and are used as guidelines for judges at dog shows. The report criticizes some of the breed standards for encouraging extreme breed characteristics that may compromise the health and welfare of dogs. For example, some breeds have excessively short heads, short legs, excessive facial skin folds, pendulous ears, long backs, or curly tails that may predispose them to various physical problems. The report recommends that breed standards should seek confirmation of dogs so that they are ‘fit for purpose’ rather than based on visual aesthetics. It also recommends that breed standards should be reviewed regularly by an independent advisory body made of geneticists, veterinary surgeons, behaviouralists, breeders and animal welfare scientists.

The Accredited Breeder Scheme

The Accredited Breeder Scheme is a voluntary scheme run by the Kennel Club that aims to promote good breeding practice and provide puppy buyers with a list of reputable breeders who adhere to certain standards. The report acknowledges that the Accredited Breeder Scheme is a positive step towards improving the health and welfare of pedigree dogs, but also points out some limitations and weaknesses of the scheme. For example, the scheme does not require health testing for all breeds, does not enforce any limit on the number of times a sire can be used for breeding, does not do random checks on breeders, and does not have a clear mechanism for dealing with complaints or breaches of the code of ethics. The report recommends that the Accredited Breeder Scheme should be strengthened and made more robust by making health testing mandatory for all breeds, imposing a limit on the number of times a sire can be used for breeding, doing random checks on breeders, and having a clear system for reporting and resolving problems. The report also recommends that the Accredited Breeder Scheme should be more widely promoted to puppy buyers and that the Kennel Club should highlight breeders who carry out health tests and supply healthy puppies.

Dog breeders

Dog breeders are individuals or businesses who produce puppies from purebred dogs for sale or show purposes. The report recognizes that there is a wide variation in the quality and ethics of dog breeders, ranging from responsible hobby breeders who care about the health and welfare of their dogs to unscrupulous commercial breeders who exploit their dogs for profit. The report recommends that dog breeders should be supported and encouraged to follow good breeding practice and to health test their dogs before breeding. It also recommends that dog breeders should be regulated by law or by a code of good practice to ensure that they meet certain standards for health and welfare. It also suggests that dog breeders should be required to permanently identify their dogs (e.g. by microchip) to help trace their breeding history and monitor their health problems.

Breed councils and societies

Breed councils and societies are organizations that represent specific breeds or groups of breeds. They provide information, advice, support, and education to their members and to the public about their breeds. They also have a role in setting and enforcing their own code of ethics for their members. The report acknowledges that some breed councils and societies take positive action and have the health and welfare of their breeds as their top concern. However, it also notes that some breed clubs and societies are resistant to change or do not accept or acknowledge the health problems in their breeds. The report recommends that the Kennel Club should ensure that breed clubs enforce their code of ethics effectively and that any breeder failing to meet the Kennel Club code of ethics should not be selling their puppies as Kennel Club registered pedigrees. It also recommends that the Kennel Club should use good examples from some breed clubs as guidance for others and that it should send this information to all other clubs and societies.

Dog shows

Dog shows are events where dogs are judged according to how well they conform to their breed standards. They are organized by the Kennel Club or other organizations affiliated with it. The report argues that dog shows have an influence on breeding practices as they create a demand for certain features in dogs that may not be beneficial for their health and welfare. It also argues that dog shows can be used as an opportunity to promote healthy dogs and to educate the public about responsible dog ownership. The report recommends that the Kennel Club should ensure that no dog is given the title of champion unless it has been health screened for diseases known to be associated with its breed and that proof of that has been provided. It also recommends that the Kennel Club should ensure that judges at dog shows look for proof of health screening before awarding places and that they favor dogs that are fit for purpose over those that have extreme breed characteristics. It also expresses disappointment that More4 channel decided to show Crufts 2010 and hopes that it will focus on educating its viewers on health and welfare issues.

The Kennel Club's future

The Kennel Club is the main organization that registers pedigree dogs, sets breed standards, organizes dog shows, and runs the Accredited Breeder Scheme. It also has a charitable trust that funds research and education on canine health and welfare. The report evaluates the role and performance of the Kennel Club in relation to the health and welfare of pedigree dogs. It recognizes that the Kennel Club has taken some steps to address the issues raised by the documentary, such as revising some breed standards, setting up an independent inquiry, and launching a website on dog genetic health. However, it also criticizes the Kennel Club for being slow to react, for being defensive and resistant to change, for being influenced by vested interests, and for not taking enough responsibility for the dogs registered with them. The report recommends that the Kennel Club should make a clear decision about whether registering dogs or dog health and welfare is their primary objective and focus their attention more precisely on this. It also recommends that the Kennel Club should be more transparent, open to scrutiny, and willing to engage with outside bodies and individuals who may have experience to offer to the debate on health and welfare. It also suggests that the Kennel Club should look at the composition of its General Committee to see if there is room for a wider variation of interests such as pet owners, welfarists, and those who have had experience of canine hereditary diseases firsthand.

An independent body

The report proposes the creation of an independent advisory body made of geneticists, veterinary surgeons, behaviouralists, breeders and animal welfare scientists to provide advice and make recommendations through the Kennel Club to breed clubs and societies. It argues that this independent body would be well placed to offer informed and scientific advice on the setting of breed standards and the development of breeding strategies and health schemes based on their experiences treating or researching such issues. It also argues that this independent body would be able to advise the government on the need for further action if the changes set out by the Kennel Club fail. The report recommends that the Kennel Club and breed clubs should be open to this advice and that the advice should be published independently so that all stakeholders are able to see whether it has been taken into account.

External links

• Full report