More than 66 dog breeds could be banned in the UK under new parliamentary guidelines — including the late Queen Elizabeth II's beloved Corgis.
A new tool launched by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW) has developed a 10-point checklist of "extreme physical characteristics" that make a dog unhealthy.
The list includes features such as short noses, flat faces, excessive skin folds, drooping eyelids, mottled colouration, and bulging outward-turning eyes, following a health assessment that found these characteristics cause dogs pain and discomfort.
It also stated that dogs with shortened legs, such as Dachshunds, can experience spinal deformities and joint pain, among other health issues.
However, critics have said the new criteria is a "blunt tool" and could lead to 67 dog breeds being banned, including Border Collies, Shih Tzus and Scottish Terriers.
Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today Magazine and founder of the Union of Good Dog People, which promotes ethical breeding practices, told The Times: "We need proper, nuanced tests that don't throw the baby out with the bathwater or we're going to lose Britain's most beloved breeds in the blink of an eye.
"It's going to be the most shocking thing to happen to dog lovers in this country. People will rightly be outraged at being told they can't have the dogs they want. It's madness. I think the late Queen would have been very upset by this proposal."
The tool was launched as a voluntary scheme in the House of Lords, but campaigners suggest the intent was to make it mandatory.
"The plan here is that in 10 years, there will not be a single dog bred in the UK by a licensed breeder that has any extreme conformation," said Dan O’Neill, associate professor of companion animal epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, who developed the tool.
If approved, the tool would become mandatory for breeding licence applicants in the UK.
67 dog breeds that could be banned in the UK
- Affenpischer
- American Cocker Spaniel
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Australian Shepherd
- Basset
- Basset Bleu
- Basset Fauve
- Beagle
- Beauceron
- Bergamasco
- Bloodhound
- Border Collie
- Boston Terrier
- Boxer
- Bracco
- Brittany
- Brussels Griffon
- Bull Mastiff
- Bulldog
- Cairn Terrier
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
- Cesky Terrier
- Chihuahua
- Chow Chow
- Clumber Spaniel
- Dachshund
- Dandie Terrier
- Dogue de Bordeaux
- French Bulldog
- Glen of Imaal Terrier
- Grand Basset
- Great Dane
- Japanese Chin
- King Charles Spaniel
- Lancashire Heeler
- Lhasa Apso
- Mastiff
- Mudi
- Neapolitan Mastiff
- Newfoundland
- Norfolk Terrier
- Norwich Terrier
- Old English Sheepdog
- Pekingese
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Petit Basset
- Polish Lowland
- Pug
- Pyr Mastiff
- Pyr Shep
- Rough Collie
- Schipperke
- Scottish Terrier
- Sealyham Terrier
- Shar Pei
- Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie)
- Shih Tzu
- Skye Terrier
- Smooth Collie
- Spanish Water Dog
- St Bernard
- Staffordshire Terrier
- Sussex Spaniel
- Swedish Vallhund
- Tibetan Mastiff
- West Highland White Terrier
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Lisa Joyner is the Deputy Daily Editor at House Beautiful UK and Country Living UK, where she's busy writing about home and interiors, gardening, dog breeds, pets, health and wellbeing, countryside news, small space inspiration, and the hottest properties on the market. Previously, she has written for Conde Nast Traveller, House & Garden and Marie Claire magazine. Lisa studied at University For The Creative Arts, where she completed a BA in Fashion Journalism.
