by Jessica Freni
Brachycephalic breeds can be a hot button topic, even within the purebred dog community. Stigma and ARA talking points are a constant source of frustration for those who breed/ own Brachycephalic dogs, from the veterinarian community to the general public.
Brachycephalic dogs are not inherently unhealthy nor are they suffering. Brachycephalic dogs include a wide variety of breeds, who participate in a wide variety of sports and activities. Wellbred brachycephalic dogs can and do live quality lives, often until good old age. Fad color gimmicks (merle, blue, platinum, pink, etc) and surges in popularity spurring backyard breeders, hypertypes and trendy traits (fluffy, “floodles”, “big ropes”) do not represent the breeds as a whole.
Brachycephalic breeders haves been the target of attempted bans and restrictions intending to either eliminate their breeding all together, force outcrossing, drastically alter breed standards/type and or criminalize their breeding. Encouraged by ARA (Animal Rights Agenda) some countries in Europe have folded to pressure to ban outright or criminalize the breeding of certain breeds. Breed clubs have been the target of court cases in
French Bulldogs (now America’s number one most “popular” breed), Bulldogs and Pugs are the most commonly targeted breeds (along with CKCS (also technically brachycephalic)), but attempts to outright ban or strict brachycephalic breeds are nearly all indiscriminate as to the dog’s individual health or testing nor limited to just these breeds, but are broad, over- reaching morphology bans using the poorest bred or hyper types To empower their agenda.
Fortunately, the attempt to ban and criminalize brachycephalic breeders as a test case, supported by PETA, in NH was (narrowly) defeated recently. Breed clubs and breed parent clubs are many being proactive in using health testing to support preserving their breeds to their breed standards.
BOAS testing or RFGS is a fairly new and very important tool in the brachycephalic breeder/ enthusiast toolkit. BOAS testing is a exercise and breathing testing to evaluate if symptoms of BOAS,
“A few years ago, the University of Cambridge and The Kennel Club in the U.K. developed the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme as a way to objectively measure the severity of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome in dogs and help make a clinical diagnosis. The intent of the scheme is also to improve understanding of the condition, increase awareness, and ultimately reduce the incidence of BOAS.” (https://www.avma.org/news/health-screening-test-rolled-out-brachycephalic-dog-breeds) BOAS testing in conjunction with OFA has been an initiative of the (French Bulldog Club of America) FBDCA, PDCA (Pug Dog Club of America) and BCA (Bulldog Club of America). Boston Terrier Club of America (BTCA) and ETSCA (English Toy Spaniel Club of America) both also hosted BOAS testing at their recent Nationals which had outstanding results and very good participation.
The FBDCA also recently promoted a new initiative to encourage and recognize dedication to health testing- The FBDCA Ambassador of Health Program and Pioneer of Health Designation. This new program will be tier based depending on number of health tests completed AOH Bronze (AOH-B for 5
tests) up to AOH Diamond (AOH-D) successful completion of 10 of the eligible tests/ screenings. (Full details available on the FBDCA Facebook Page). This new program is comparable to a successful one in place with the BCA.
It’s crucial that preservation breeders and brachycephalic exhibitors embrace health testing as it’s evolving, before ARA is successful in banning breeds entirely.
