The UK Labour Party is proposing legislation that could ban 67 popular dog breeds, including Chihuahuas, Border Collies, and French Bulldogs, by classifying many common physical traits—such as underbites, overbites, excessive skin folds, and breathing-impairing muzzles—as unhealthy. This initiative, supported by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, aims to promote breeding for healthier conformations to reduce health problems in dogs. The group emphasizes that the tool used, the Inherited Health Assessment (IHA), is voluntary and designed to encourage sustainable breeding practices rather than to eliminate any breed.

If strictly enforced, the new criteria could lead to the extinction of many breeds, though some, like corgis and dachshunds, have already met the health standards. The list of at-risk breeds is extensive, covering a wide range of types from terriers and spaniels to mastiffs and collies. The legislation reflects growing concerns about the welfare implications of breeding for certain physical traits that, while often considered cute, can cause significant health issues for dogs.