Experts launch voluntary toolkit to phase out breeding of flat-faced dogs

With their huge eyes, large heads and tiny snub noses, the public perceptions of flat-faced dogs as “cute” and “infant-like” has driven demand over recent years.

- Caroline Davies

Film, TV and the greetings card industries have long capitalised on this anthropomorphism, attracting criticism from animal welfare campaigners highlighting the painful health disorders experienced by the extreme conformation of short-muzzled, or brachycephalic, breeds such as the English bulldog, French bulldog and pug.

Now scientists have launched a toolkit to assess a dog on 10 traits, called the innate health assessment (IHA), which can be used to test dogs - those passing eight of the criteria will be judged acceptable for breeding. The list includes merle, or mottled colouration, wrinkly skin, bulging outward turning eyes, drooping eyelids, under or overbite and a muzzle allowing easy breathing.