Overview
- A cross-party parliamentary group working with veterinary experts has introduced a checklist to assess external traits linked to health problems.
- The scheme operates on a voluntary basis for now, with a goal to make passing the check a legal prerequisite for breeding within five years.
- Dan O’Neill of the Royal Veterinary College says the objective is that within ten years no dog with extreme physical traits will be bred in the UK.
- Corgis could be flagged because very short legs and low chest-to-ground clearance are associated by experts with spinal issues, joint pain and arthritis.
- Breeder groups including the Kennel Club and the Welsh Corgi League call the approach overly broad and warn up to 67 breeds, such as Dachshunds, Scottish Terriers and Shih Tzus, could be affected while the debate plays out during the Crufts show in Birmingham.