Stop breeding dogs for harmful appearance ideals

A Finnish clinic veterinarian argues that dogs should not suffer for human-defined aesthetic ideals. In an opinion piece for Helsingin Sanomat, Kaisa Lehtola states that many dogs are born with physical characteristics that lead to lifelong suffering, such as breathing difficulties and pain.

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No animal should have to suffer because a human has considered a certain appearance desirable.

Lehtola emphasizes that humans make the breeding choices for dogs, and these choices can result in conditions like short snouts, short legs, and other extreme features that compromise a dog's health and well-being. She points out that while humans can articulate their discomfort, dogs cannot, leading to a false sense of understanding their suffering. Dogs endure their pain silently, attempting to live normal lives despite their conditions.

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We also know that a short muzzle, short legs, and other extreme features are characteristics that can, at worst, mean lifelong suffering or dying young.

The veterinarian highlights the responsibility humans have in this situation. She notes that Finland is currently preparing a new breeding regulation and that a citizen's initiative, gathering nearly 25,000 signatures, aims to ban breeding practices that cause suffering. This indicates a growing public concern for animal welfare in Finland. Lehtola urges lawmakers to prioritize animal health and abandon breeding standards that are scientifically proven to be harmful.

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A dog cannot articulate its condition. A dog tries to live as normal a life as possible, and even if life is full of suffering, a dog does not complain.