Learn why America’s favorite dog breeds will disappear in the next decade
Many dog lovers have grown up around breeds like Pugs, French Bulldogs, and English Bulldogs, often praising their short snouts, big round eyes, and expressive wrinkles. But while these traits have made them some of the most recognizable pets in the world, they have also created health problems that animal welfare groups have been trying to address for years. Now, an effort is underway to limit the way these dogs are bred in order to protect their long-term health.
The initiative centers on a new evaluation system called the innate health assessment, or IHA, which launched this week. The tool was designed by researchers and veterinary experts to help identify harmful physical traits that have become common in certain breeds. The list includes flat faces, sagging eyelids, bulging eyes, shortened legs, stiff spines, twisted limbs, an absence of a tail, wrinkled skin, overbites, underbites and merle coloring. Each trait is assessed individually, creating a score that reflects the overall health risk a dog may face.
Professor Lord Trees, co-chairman of the All Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW), said the tool is meant to help breeders steer away from features known to cause discomfort or chronic illness. “This tool is a valuable contribution to reducing the chronic ill-health associated with extreme conformations in dogs,” he told The Telegraph. He added that while the public may view these physical features as cute or appealing, they often mask serious medical issues.
Under the voluntary plan, licensed breeders in the United Kingdom will initially be required to use the IHA and ensure that only dogs with scores of eight or higher are bred. That threshold will rise to nine in five years and then to ten within a decade. The long-term goal is to prevent dogs with extreme traits from being bred at all, without eliminating entire breeds.
Dr. Dan O’Neill of the Royal Veterinary College, who helped develop the IHA, told the Telegraph that the plan aims to reshape expectations about what certain breeds should look like. “The plan here is that in 10 years time, there will not be a single dog bred in the UK by a licensed breeder that has any extreme conformation,” he said. O’Neill emphasized that many owners have grown so accustomed to these features that they no longer recognize the health risks tied to them. “We’re saying that it’s not about breed, it’s about the dog,” he added.
Animal welfare organizations, insurers and the Kennel Club have expressed support for the initiative, although the Kennel Club noted that it did not select the criteria itself and favors a more veterinary-driven approach. A spokesperson told The Telegraph, “The Kennel Club is committed to the principle that all dogs should have a body shape that enables them to lead a good quality of life.”
Not everyone agrees with the direction of the program. Some groups argue that responsible breeders are already working to produce healthy animals without government involvement. Sandy Moore, CEO of the Pet Advocacy Network, told The Post that concerns about popular breeds disappearing are overstated. “Claims that popular breeds will ‘disappear’ are alarmist and ignore the fact that these dogs live happy, healthy lives when bred responsibly,” Moore said.
As debate continues, the IHA represents one of the most ambitious efforts yet to change long-established breeding standards. Supporters believe it could dramatically improve dogs’ quality of life over time, while critics worry it may overreach. What remains clear is that discussions about breed health are gaining urgency, and the next decade could bring significant change for some of the world’s most recognizable dogs.
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