A quiet revolution in dog welfare is underway with the launch of the Innate Health Assessment (IHA) Tool – a free, research-backed checklist designed to help breeders, owners, and prospective pet parents understand what healthy canine conformation really looks like.
Released this week via the newly launched IHA website, the tool is the result of a 15-year research collaboration between the Royal Veterinary College, PetProov, and the veterinary sector, coordinated by the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare (APGAW). It aims to tackle the UK’s growing “extreme conformation” crisis – where dogs are bred for exaggerated features that may look cute, but often lead to a lifetime of suffering.
For more than a century, selective breeding has reshaped dogs’ bodies to meet trends or aesthetic ideals. The results are plain to see: flat faces, shortened limbs, over-wrinkled skin, bulging eyes – features that do not exist in nature and come with a raft of potential health issues, from spinal defects and blindness to severe breathing difficulties. Life expectancy, mobility, and quality of life are all at stake.
The IHA Tool provides a clear visual 10-point checklist covering key conformational risks, enabling anyone – from established breeders to first-time puppy buyers – to identify features that may compromise a dog’s wellbeing. It can be used without veterinary equipment or clinical expertise, offering step-by-step guidance for each of the 10 criteria.
Importantly, the tool is not just about discouraging unhealthy breeding – it also helps owners of dogs with extreme features better understand the challenges ahead, and gives breeders the information they need to make more responsible decisions.
Jo Middleton (pictured above), Director of leading education provider Canine Principles, welcomed the tool as a vital step forward:
“For too long, aesthetics have trumped welfare in dog breeding. The IHA Tool gives everyday owners and breeders a simple, accessible way to understand what healthy conformation actually looks like. Education is the missing link in ending extreme breeding practices, and this checklist has the power to save future generations of dogs from a lifetime of suffering.”
The IHA Tool has already gained wide support from across the animal welfare and veterinary sectors, with backing from organisations including The Kennel Club, Dogs Trust, RSPCA, Blue Cross, PDSA, Agria, Battersea, and many more.
Behind the project are Professor Dan O’Neil, Marisa Heath (APGAW Director), and Vanessa Barnes (APGAW Legal Advisor), who together hope to shift the public conversation from “cute” to “capable” – ensuring dogs of the future are bred for health, not looks.
The Innate Health Assessment Tool is available now at www.iha.org.uk