Brachycephalics in Australia: Attitudes, issues and communication

Love is Blind is a joint initiative of the Australian Veterinary Association and the RSPCA:

"We’re raising public awareness about the animal welfare problems caused by exaggerated physical features such as brachycephaly, short limbs and excessive skin wrinkling, and how these problems can be prevented."

This campaign stresses many of the issues in international work being presented on DogWellNet.com and the work - building on previous Workshops - that will happen at the imminent 4th International Dog Health Workshop (IDHW), in Windsor, UK, 30 May - 01 June, 2019.  Including:

• The challenges of the brachycephalic breeds need to be understood by current AND future owners, breeders, veterinarians, kennel and breed clubs and other stakeholders, 
• All these groups need to work together for the benefit of individual dogs and the breeds.
• The material suggests actions needed to be taken by each of these groups, including attention to sourcing of dogs, breeding, showing and more.

Resources: See the Australian Love is Blind homepage for links to material, including several videos explaining the increased susceptibility of these dogs to heat and providing practical advice for owners. 

We have recently posted on Facebook a video entitled 'The Purebred Crisis'  that describes this campaign, interviews veterinarians, owners and a breeder-judge.  This video highlights the very different attitudes and perceptions for various individuals.  It is this variation in opinion and approach to these dogs that complicates efforts to improve health and welfare in these breeds.  I have discussed this in previous blogs.  There is no question that people are attracted and deeply attached to these dogs that have, as the Aussies say, "squishy faces", and that they have delightful personalities.  However, it is also clear that some owners do not realize the health and welfare challenges in these breeds.  One of the themes at the 4th IDHW is effective communication, and we need to use all available tools and knowledge from experts in order to change human behaviour - to not only educate people but also to encourage collaboration.

See more in Brenda's blogs, including:

          French Bulldog Health Seminar October 2018

          Breeding: A Moral Choice?

and:

4th International Dog Health Workshop Pre-Meeting Resources, for example: 4th IDHW Theme #5: Exaggerations and Extremes in Dog Conformation

And this previous post on DogWellnet.com:  Love is Blind - Dr Philip Moses