The relationship between humans and dogs has long been celebrated, yet modern breeding practices raise pressing ethical concerns. In this 2024 review, Claire Diederich traces the history of dogs alongside humans and examines how selective breeding, especially extreme conformation practices, has shifted priorities away from welfare toward aesthetics and rigid breed standards.
Many modern dogs live in conditions that fail to satisfy their basic needs. Breeding strategies, driven by human preferences and reinforced by show standards, often perpetuate health problems such as brachycephaly, joint disorders, and hereditary diseases. These issues reflect not only biological consequences but also underlying human psychological drivers, such as the desire for control and the anthropomorphic idealization of dogs.
The review emphasizes that sustainable reform must address both the structural framework of breed standards and the psychological motivations behind breeding decisions. Suggested solutions include re-evaluating breed standards with welfare as the primary criterion, regulating extreme breeding practices, integrating welfare science into canine research, and fostering greater public awareness of the long-term effects of selective breeding.
Ultimately, the article calls for a fundamental rethinking of the human–dog relationship in breeding contexts, urging a balance between tradition, science, and ethics to ensure that dogs’ wellbeing is no longer compromised for appearance or prestige.
Source: Diederich, C. (2024). The beauty of the beast: Suggestions to curb the excesses of dog breeding and restore animal welfare – Invited review. Veterinární Medicína, 69, 369–380. Author: Claire Diederich. Journal: Veterinární Medicína.
