IS IT RUFF JUSTICE?

Chihuahuas, corgis and King Charles spaniels are among 67 dog breeds that could be banned in future under new rules proposed by MPs. CATHERINE LAMB speaks to three owners of affected canines about what they want to happen

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Martyn Smith

IT’S THE new set of breeding guidelines that has canine lovers divided — dog health checks are expected to become law within the next five years and there are fears that it could see up to 67 of Britain's much-loved breeds becoming banned in the future.

MPs want pooches to undergo screening for distinctive features which could make a pet poorly, including fat faces, short legs, bulging eyes or an overbite. But worried campaigners warn it could lead to some of the most popular breeds, including corgis, dachshunds, Shih Tzus and border collies, being branded unhealthy.

A voluntary 10-point checklist unveiled by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare is challenging extreme physical characteristics which can leave dogs in pain or discomfort, struggling to breathe, move or unable to give birth naturally.

The assessment — currently voluntary but expected to become law within five years - aims to educate new puppy owners and support breeders and pet care experts — and some local councils are already using it to assess breeders.

But the move has bitterly divided dog lovers over whether it will truly improve pets’ welfare.

While many animal charities, including the PDSA and Dogs Trust, praise the free Innate Health Assessment Tool (IHA), there is also growing concern over how it could affect the future of some of the UK’s much-loved breeds.

TV star Jeremy Clarkson, who owns labradors, declared: “Under new proposals you will not be permitted to choose which dog you want, based on its face or its ears or its temperament. You will have to select one from a government approved list.”

Campaigners describe the checklist as crude and discriminatory. Beverley Cuddy, founder of the Union of Good Dog People, says the proposed law is “a sledgehammer to crack a nut”.