BREEDING FOR EXTREME CONFORMATIONS What is the problem?

Extreme breeding

EXAMPLE OF BREED * Large round skull, Thick neck SPECIFICATIONS wrinkled forehead, with skin fold Instructions for breeders big round eyes

Double Skin fold on curl nose Extreme conformation Short of by selecting for Short coat muzzle

a particular ‘look’ (e.g. Undershot mouth fl at nose, sloping back, Short body, no obvious bulging or droopy eyes, ‘belly tuck’ Blue coat, skin folds, round skull) to dark blue ears Short the point of of causing square body 6-8 kg animal suffering. Dark blue nails 35.4-55 cm *Although this is example is fi ctitious, it is inspired by true breed standards. Breed specifi cations (or their interpretation) can be quite extreme.

Causes

• Increased demand (fashion) of certain • Lack of owner awareness about the health • Lack of regulations breeds, boosted by advertising, movies, and welfare impact of extreme breeding (e.g. (e.g. extreme breeding, social media and celebrities thinking that snoring is normal) breeding conditions)

Consequences for animals Consequences for owners Consequences for society

• Extreme looks (‘conformation’) can lead • High unexpected medical and • More and more unscrupulous to poor animal health and welfare to the surgical bills breeders and farms to satisfy demand point of animal suffering (struggling • Heartache due to poor health and welfare to breathe, overheating, joint pain, sore or early death of their • Behavioural problems if are from skin, eye ulcers…) an uncertain source (due to early weaning, • Complicated care of unhealthy dogs (avoid poor socialisation) • They may need invasive surgery in warm weather, excitement, activities) order to breathe or walk normally, and • Higher risk of introducing disease • Unmet expectations of pet ownership often need a caesarean section when with dogs that come from abroad giving birth • Emotional and (e.g. , resistant bacteria, • Intensive interbreeding can pass on legal hurdles disease-carrying ticks and fl eas) for dealing with genetic disorders, causing • Increased numbers of unwanted unhealthy suffering and early and dogs death animals

Although pugs dominate on this page, many other breeds and animals are also affected by extreme breeding. BREEDING FOR EXTREME CONFORMATIONS What can we do?

Veterinary organisations Pet owners & animal charities Veterinarians

Consult a vet before you buy a Raise awareness about the risks Advise (future) owners and breeders Don’t buy pets with extreme of extreme breeding on animal health and welfare breeding features Create and promote veterinary health Don’t ‘normalise’ extreme breeding Don’t buy a dog or cat online or certifi cates and puppy contracts traits (e.g. snoring) from an uncertain source Encourage health screening Record all health and welfare issues If buying a pedigree puppy, before breeding related to extreme breeding always ask to see its mother Set up a system for vets to share data Report corrective surgery and and sign a puppy contract on health screening, corrective surgery caesareans due to extreme breeding and caesareans due to extreme breeding Check that the animal is identifi ed Only carry out caesarean sections and registered Work with national kennel clubs in emergencies to share these data Avoid artifi cial insemination if the dog or cat is incapable of mating or giving birth alone Dog and cat breeders Politicians & legislators Choose health and welfare over Breeding associations looks when breeding Ban extreme breeding to protect animal & kennel clubs Don’t breed from animals with welfare extreme traits Impose health and welfare standards in Revise breeding standards to prevent Have a vet check your dogs for health dog and cat breeding extreme breeding and functionality before breeding Make microchipping and registration Encourage breeders to breed for of dogs and cats mandatory Consider cross-breeding if extreme health not just looks features impact and welfare Improve border checks on pets Train show judges to recognise Don’t ‘normalise’ extreme breeding Regulate the online trade of pets healthy animals traits (e.g. snoring) Enforce legislation with high penalties Don’t accept or reward extreme Correctly identify and register Help raise awareness about extreme breeding features at shows all puppies and kittens breeding Set up pre-breeding health screening Don’t sell animals under 8 weeks programmes of age or 16 weeks if sold abroad Work with vets to collect data on health Advertisers, fi lmmakers, screening, corrective surgery and social media users caesareans due to extreme breeding Researchers & educators Don’t use dogs with extreme breeding features (or their cartoons) in commer- Celebrities and VIPs Train vets and breeders on breed- cials, advertisements and movies related health and welfare issues Don’t create or share ‘funny’ videos of Study the impact of extreme breeding pets that struggle to breathe, exercise Don’t buy or promote pets on health and welfare of dogs and cats or show other signs of extreme breeding with extreme breeding features Develop evidence-based limits on Help raise awareness about extreme Help raise awareness physical features or function tests breeding about extreme breeding

This infographic was produced jointly by the Federation More information? of Veterinarians of Europe and the Federation of European Companion Animal Veterinary Associations. I www.fve.org I www.fecava.org I A joint FVE/FECAVA position paper on healthy breeding was adopted in June 2018. Please visit our respective websites for details.