Priority Areas

Extreme Conformations

The Issue

Certain animals are being bred to have extreme conformations. This can include the breeding of brachycephalic (snub-nosed) animals, animals with large skin folds, bulging or droopy eyes, cork screw tails, or other exaggerated body shapes. The unique appearance of these animals has made them desirable for advertisers and those in the public eye. Their use in marketing and as pets to celebrities has increased public interest, resulting in excessive and often less selective breeding to meet market demand.

Why it Matters

When breeding programs focus on specific exaggerated conformational changes, sometimes referred to as extreme breeding, there can be unintended negative consequences which could affect the health and welfare of offspring. Extreme features can result in serious health conditions and in some cases, animals may not be able to effectively breathe, groom, walk, see, or hear properly. Invasive surgeries may be required in order to correct some of these issues.

CVMA Action

The CVMA is currently working with members, various external stakeholders as well as national and international committees to address the serious health issues resulting from the breeding of animals with extreme conformations, such as seen in some brachycephalic animals.

Available now: 

• Innate Health Assessment (IHA):  The 10-point checklist for healthier dogs
• International Collaborative on Extreme Conformations in Dogs (ICECDogs) website
• Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG)
• University of Calgary initiative calls attention to health risks for flat-faced dog breeds
• CVMA Position Statement on Responsible Breeding of Companion Animals
• Revised CVMA Code of Practice for Canadian Kennel Operations
• Irish Dept. of  Agriculture, Food and the Marine welcomed the Advisory Council on Companion Animal Welfare (ACCAW)'s call for advertisers and media organisations to refrain from unnecessary use of images of flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds of dogs.
• Eurogroup for Animals (2023) Extreme breeding in Europe - Mapping of legislation: Eurogroup for Animals
• Guidelines for Marketers and Advertisers to Address Extreme Conformation Concerns
• During July 2022, the International Partnership for Dogs (IPFD) and the Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), in collaboration with the CVMA, presented an Interactive Symposium on Healthy Dog Breeding. View the recording.
• Media release “CVMA Calls on Regulators, Breeders, and the Public to End Extreme Breeding in Animals” issued by the CVMA advocating a call to action to improve the health outcomes for animals that are compromised.
• Participation in National Companion Animal Coalition, International Partnership for Dogs, and the International Coalition on Extreme Conformations in Dogs 
• Member access webinar on Extreme Conformations
• Social media posts 
• World Small Animal Veterinary Association educational video on Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)

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