Overview
- Scientists and APGAW introduced the Innate Health Assessment, scoring dogs on ten traits linked to harmful extremes such as flat faces, bulging eyes, wrinkly skin and shortened legs.
- Under the proposed timetable, only dogs meeting at least eight of the ten criteria would be eligible for licensed breeding at launch, rising to nine in five years and all ten within ten years.
- Developers say the scheme is voluntary at first and will be pushed to government for adoption to enable enforcement of the existing 2018 prohibition on breeding dogs with extreme conformations.
- The Kennel Club backs the goal of healthier body shapes but says the IHA criteria were not set by it, calls for a more veterinary‑led approach, and is developing its own nose‑to‑tail assessment without requiring IHA participation.
- Proponents stress the plan targets traits rather than banning breeds, with Dr Dan O’Neill predicting licensed breeders could stop producing extreme conformations within a decade, while welfare advocates warn many unregistered breeders may be hard to reach.