Question to the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs:

To ask the Secretary of State for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, what steps his Department is taking to educate the public on the dangers of breeding dogs with exaggerated physical features which compromise dog welfare.

This Government has gone further than educating the public on the issue of dog conformation and has restricted licensed breeding activities which might lead to such outcomes through the Animal Welfare (Licensing of Activities) (England) Regulations 2018. Under the 2018 Regulations licensed breeders are prohibited from keeping dogs for breeding if it can be reasonably expected that on the basis of their genotype, phenotype or health, this would lead to welfare problems for the mother or the puppies.

Under the 2018 Regulations local authorities have powers to grant, refuse or revoke a licence. Licencees must achieve and maintain statutory minimum animal welfare standards, linked to the welfare needs of the Animal Welfare Act 2006. Anyone who carries on a licensable activity without a licence is liable to imprisonment, a fine or both.

More broadly, provisions included in the Animal Welfare Act 2006 require owners or handlers of animals to protect them from harm and to provide for their welfare needs in line with good practice, and a breach of these provisions may lead to imprisonment a fine, or both. The 2006 Act is backed up by the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Dogs which provides owners and keepers with general welfare information, including a specific section on how to protect them from pain, suffering, injury and disease: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/code-of-practice-for-the-welfare-of-dogs.

That section of the Code of Practice recommends owners thinking of breeding from their dogs consult their vets, who can provide information on the risks of inherited conditions and exaggerated features that could affect the welfare of the puppies. The Code of Practice also reminds owners of their responsibility to care for the dog throughout its pregnancy.

In addition, my department maintains Petfished, a public communications campaign, to raise awareness of issues associated with the low-welfare and illegal supply of pets. This includes guidance on ensuring that a dog's physical appearance has minimal adverse impact on their physical well-being and welfare.