Whilst the winning Crufts Bulldog, which comes from Spain, may appear less moderate than others that may have won in recent years, he is, according to all assessments and vet checks, showing as being a healthy dog. He passed the show veterinary checks for any visible signs of health concerns – in the same way all Bulldogs and Best of Breed winners have to – and he also has excellent scores in The Kennel Club/University of Cambridge Respiratory Grading (RFG) Scheme assessment, which measures a dog’s likelihood to develop a breathing condition called Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS).
Even though this winner has been assessed as healthy, The Kennel Club, as part of the Brachycephalic Working Group, continues to work to change perceptions about what should be seen as normal and desirable when looking for flat-faced dogs. Changes to entire breeds – inside and outside the show ring – will take time to surface, but we always urge potential puppy buyers to see the puppy’s parents and look for more moderate examples of these dogs, and to also look for dogs that have been tested for potential breathing difficulties – known as BOAS or Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome – using The Kennel Club and the University of Cambridge’s RFG scheme, as the way a dog looks doesn’t always correlate with potential health issues.
To find out more about what The Kennel Club is doing to improve brachycephalic health, and what dog breeders and puppy buyers can do, visit The Kennel Club's Brachy information hub.
Even though this winner has been assessed as healthy, The Kennel Club, as part of the Brachycephalic Working Group, continues to work to change perceptions about what should be seen as normal and desirable when looking for flat-faced dogs. Changes to entire breeds – inside and outside the show ring – will take time to surface, but we always urge potential puppy buyers to see the puppy’s parents and look for more moderate examples of these dogs, and to also look for dogs that have been tested for potential breathing difficulties – known as BOAS or Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome – using The Kennel Club and the University of Cambridge’s RFG scheme, as the way a dog looks doesn’t always correlate with potential health issues.
To find out more about what The Kennel Club is doing to improve brachycephalic health, and what dog breeders and puppy buyers can do, visit The Kennel Club's Brachy information hub.