Legislation on Breeding

This article offers links to articles and blogs on DogWellNet which elaborate upon breed-specific, country-specific breeding regulation of brachycephalic and potentially other purebred dog breeds.

Design of appropriate regulatory interventions that inform best practice for a variety of stakeholders including government-based policy-makers, Kennel and Breed Clubs, breeders, rescue/rehoming organisations involves input from advisory bodies including veterinary groups, pet industry entities, i.e. pet insurance companies, health test providers, academic and scientific researchers.

The International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) has called on stakeholder groups – including dog show enthusiasts, kennel and breed clubs, legislators, dog owners, veterinarians, welfare advocates – from all regions and countries to come together to address issues currently impacting the health, welfare, and breeding of dogs. See: International Partnership for Dogs Calls for Collective Actions for Health and Welfare of Pedigree Dogs and our article, Reframing Current Challenges Around Pedigree Dogs: A Call for Respectful Dialogue, Collaboration and Collective Actions (also available in Dutch, Finnish, French, German, and Spanish), responds to a wave of recent legislative actions, especially in Europe. Although primarily focused on brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds, regulations may eventually impact all pedigree and non-pedigree dogs.

“This is a call for each one of us to examine how our personal attitudes, attachments, and beliefs impact these discussions, says Dr. Brenda Bonnett, CEO, IPFD. “And it is a call to work collectively for what is truly in the best interest of dogs and the people who care for them."  

Breeding dogs that exhibit symptoms identified as creating 'agony' is addressed by governments of some country's animal welfare laws. In Austria the legislators responsible for creating language in their country's Animal Welfare Act assume that characteristics required in the breed standards can lead to these 'agony' symptoms and now calls for organized cynology to take counter-measures. The Austrian Kennel Club ( Österreichische  Kynologenverband -  ÖKV ) initiated a project, "Konterqual"  to address these concerns. All breeds have been under review for some years as the project has developed with the goal of identifying key areas of breed-specific health issues and pursuit of viable solutions to evaluate and improve breed's health.   Here we present translated documentation on the processes by which the Austrian Kennel Club is addressing health and welfare issues in ÖKV registered purebred dogs. We at DWN commend the Austrian Kennel Club for their outstanding work for purebred dog health and welfare. Sharing work like this can help to inform other kennel clubs and countries dealing with similar issues.  In addition to presenting the facts and outcomes, it is so helpful to be able to see the process, to follow what steps were taken.  Personal experiences, what works, what doesn't ... all these help others.  We look forward to further information from Austria on developments and outcomes of this program.    

According to an April 15, 2015, article published by the American Veterinary Medical Association, the Department of Agriculture is supporting an effort to create dog care standards that could eventually lead to development of a privately operated dog breeder accreditation program.  

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Since publication of this article there have been developments in many countries to address dog welfare issues. At the 4th Dog Health Workshop the Theme "Supply and Demand" resources speak to issues raised in the 2015 article.