At the recent Crufts dog show, a Clumber Spaniel named Bruin won Best in Show, but the event was overshadowed by controversy surrounding new breeding guidelines aimed at improving dog health. The debate focuses on the Innate Health Assessment (IHA), a voluntary 10-point checklist developed to discourage breeding dogs with extreme physical traits—such as very flat faces, short legs, or excessive skin folds—that can cause health problems. Campaigners fear that 67 popular British breeds, including the West Highland White Terrier, Shih Tzu, King Charles Spaniel, and the Queen’s Corgis, could be effectively banned if the guidelines become law.
However, animal welfare experts and academics clarify that the IHA is not a ban but a tool to encourage healthier breeding practices over time. Only 10 of the 225 Kennel Club breeds are considered high risk of failing the assessment due to multiple extreme features, including French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs. The remaining 57 breeds on the campaigners’ list may have one or two concerning traits but are unlikely to fail or be banned. Experts emphasize that the goal is gradual improvement in breed health, such as breeding pugs with less flattened faces or dachshunds with longer legs, rather than prohibiting specific breeds.
