Purebred Dog Breeding

Position

The CVMA supports the responsible breeding of purebred dogs such that only those dogs with good temperament, sound structure and no known health or inherited disorders are selected for breeding. The CVMA encourages breeders to become familiar with inherited disorders known to occur in their breed, and to make use of any recognized breed registries and screening tests for these disorders , in order to prevent the breeding of dogs that are likely to pass on inherited disorders (1,2).
 
The CVMA opposes the selective breeding of dogs resulting in changes in body form, function or temperament, that are detrimental to the health and quality of life of the dog or that have a negative impact on its behaviour towards people and/or other dogs. 

Background

The CVMA is concerned about the breeding of dogs with a known or highly suspect genetic predisposition to particular inherited disorders, such as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy and cardiomyopathy. The CVMA is also concerned  about the continuation of breeds whose structure or characteristics inherently cause health problems. Some examples include the large, brachycephalic head structure in bulldogs, which can cause dystocia due to large fetal size, and respiratory difficulties throughout life; cardiomyopathy in Doberman pinschers and boxers; and intervertebral disk disease in chondrodysplastic breeds such as the dachshund, corgi and Bassett hound.   

The CVMA encourages the development and use of breed registries, as well as research into the identification and elimination of genes that cause heritable disorders in dogs. The CVMA also encourages a review of breed standards under the Canadian Kennel Club to put an emphasis on the well-being of dogs, and revise requirements that result in inherent welfare problems (eg. bulldog)(3). The CVMA also opposes the cropping of ears or docking of tails for cosmetic purposes, and encourages breed clubs to change breed standards so as to discourage these practices. (See position statement on cosmetic surgery.)

The CVMA encourages the sterilization of dogs that do not possess good temperament, sound structure or that have known health or genetic disorders.  (See position statement on Dog and Cat Spay/Castration.)

References

1. Canine Inherited Disorders Database:  www.upei.ca/cidd  last accessed March 5, 2006

2. Institute for Genetic Disease Control in Animals - www.gdcinstitute.org/ last accessed March 5, 2006

3. Canadian Kennel Club Breed Standards, Bulldog http://www.ckc.ca/en/Default.aspx?tabid=99&BreedCode=BLD  Last accessed March 5, 2006

"Head: The head and face should be covered with heavy wrinkles. The skull should be very large, and in circumference, in front of the ears, should measure at least the height of the dog at the shoulders....Viewed at the side, the head should appear very high, and very short from the point of the nose to occiput.

Muzzle: The face, measured from the front of the cheekbone to the tip of the nose, should be extremely short..."

(Adopted March 2006)