The new rules, which are being proposed by an all-party parliamentary group for animal welfare (APGAW) , would see the introduction of a 10 point checklist to determine whether or not a breed is healthy.
This would consider characteristics such as short noses, flat faces, excessive skin folds and drooping eyelids.
Will there be ban on short-legged breeds?
Critics of the proposal say the new rules would include a ban on breeds like the Queen's beloved Corgi, the Dachshund and the Shih Tzu.
“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.” suggested Beverly Cuddy, who founded the Union of Good Dog People.
"A voluntary welfare tool"
But supporters of the assessment tool, including Marisa Heath as Director of the APGAW, feel strongly that the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) will not target any particular breed.
“The IHA is a voluntary welfare tool designed to encourage breeding from dogs with healthy conformations. It does not target particular breeds and is not intended to make any breed extinct - quite the opposite as it is about making those breeds healthier and sustainable by moving them towards good innate health" Heath explained.
The tool is voluntary at present, but it has been suggested it could become law within the next five years.
