To be glad Norway is banning breeding deformed dogs?

[AnakinthePadawhine]

Norway will ban the breeding of King Charles and British bulldogs. I hope that this will catch on in other countries, and force breeders and Kennel Clubs to change their stupid and harmful standards?
Can pugs and French bulldogs be next?

www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/02/02/norway-bans-breeding-british-bulldog-king-charles-cavalier-spaniel/

They should ban all brachycephalic breeds, utterly cruel, it’s not a surprise that people who like dressing their dogs up are often pug owners. Literally some weird lifestyle accessory.

A step in the right direction but I think there are issues to be considered. Who decides? You have given some cogent examples here, but in all seriousness who really wants to see the back of westies because of skin problems? Or German Shepherds (lovely breed) and it would certainly break my heart if dachsies were outlawed (long backs). You could make a case for any of these. We need to get rid of puppy farms, unscrupulous breeders, dogs as fashion statements and educate the public.
Norway's an oddity when it comes to dogs. It's illegal to castrate for example and there are dogs who just need to be neutered for all sorts of reasons. In addition the gene pool in Norway is small which has led to problems in normally trouble-free breeds.

Very strange given the issues with pug types etc.

I don’t think banning a small number of breeds is a solution any more than it was for this country when “dangerous” breeds were banned.
People are the problem. Those who see nothing wrong with breeding from dogs who can’t breed will just move onto a breed than isn’t banned.
I would like to see much much greater control and restriction on breeding and dog owning. Doubt it will happen though.

great - but how on earth are they going to enforce that?!

person a breeds under the radar, people b c d buy puppies - cycle continues. What are they going to do remove the dog and euthanise?

our country wont follow suit, we cant even stop pit bulls and other banned breeds in the wrong hands!

@Bitofachinwag

Oh, so those breeds will just die out?

Not necessarily. You just stop breeding for the harmful characteristics, which is what we've been doing for decades.

This is what pugs used to look like, before they started to be bred for flatter and flatter faces: commons.m.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Henry_Bernard_Chalon_-A_Pug_dog(1802).jpg

Lockheart that's really interesting, thanks for showing us that picture. It's quite different to current pugs!

@Bitofachinwag

Lockheart that's really interesting, thanks for showing us that picture. It's quite different to current pugs!

It's almost unrecognisable! Longer legs, a properly formed face, not so barrel-like a chest nor so squat a body.

Many dog breeds are similar. Dachshunds used to have longer legs and not such elongated bodies. Bulldogs had longer noses and jaws. If you can find old photographs or paintings it's quite something.

images.app.goo.gl/5QcC2Ynerw7yJA2QA

Another one. Note the difference in the shape of the boxer and the American bulldog skulls. The British bulldog is now more squat, has excess skin, and a more brachycephalic face.

Living near one of the largest puppy farms in Europe which is actually more of a puppy factory it's difficult for me to get exercised about the banning of these breeds.Its a start but the fully legal puppy factory near me is making millions through the various cockapoo etc cross breeds and it's that trade which also needs tackled.

I hope they add 'SchminkyPinkyShmebulokapoos' as well, especially charging £££. They're cross breeds! The Emperor's New Dog.

@IncompleteSenten

Awful photo. A dog's skull shouldn't look like that.

It's not just the breathing problems- some breeds struggle to give birth.

en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neapolitan_Mastiff#/media/File%3ANeapolitan_Mastiff_Male_Head.JPG

^That's in the wiki entry for Neos. I wonder if Neo breeders thought "oh I wonder what happens when you google our breed?" saw that and thought "yep good example of the breed, we'll leave it".

@EerieSilence

I'm glad, those poor dogs can hardly breathe and move. I feel something similar for some other breeds, for example show line German Shepherds. The working lines are fine but the show lines have a completely deformed back and back legs, it looks like they're dragging their back legs on the ground.

I can't even imagine why someone would want that, it looks ridiculous.

I'm surprised its just English bulldogs and cavalier king Charles spaniels, especially given the popularity and well known health issues associated with French bulldogs. Surely it would make more sense to ban all brachycephalic breeds?

And chihuahuas. The fontanelle that never closes.

Good. They need to put the brakes on brachycephalic breeds.

I kind of scared to Google "micro pocket bully". How disgusting is it?

There are still excellent breeders out there but you've got to be patient and do your research. But I agree that certain breeds have now been so damaged that the kindest thing is to let them die out. Fashion and greed keeps them going. How anyone could want a pet that is highly likely to be plagued with health problems is beyond me but then again the people that buy these animals are usually completely ignorant to the reality of it. Too many people just want to type something into Google, hand over the cash and collect their puppy. The prices are insane too but I think a certain type of buyer sees that as part of the appeal. A status symbol no different to driving a flashy car.

We have a cavalier and had to look hard for one that had a good pedigree but not a show line. Some of them are being bred with such flat faces to conform to breed standard and are so snobby about any not bred to standard. I'm surprised frenchies aren't on the list too.

If you dont want them 'coming for' your dogs, don't breed from defective animals. Breed dogs that are physically and mentally sound, and fit for purpose.

According to the Independent, outcrossing under vetinerary supervision can be permitted.

That's a way to 'save' the breed, or rather save the desirable characteristics, by breeding to correct deformities. Of course those dogs won't be recognised by KCs, but if your aim is a healthy cav then a Norwegian Cavalier might be a suitable and non-cruel choice.

The Netherlands have been very forward thinking on this issue, from genetic screening to banning certain breeds