British Pups Get Makeover

Britain’s Kennel Club has released revised standards designed to improve the health of the English bulldog.

The Kennel Club has been under pressure to change its breed standards since a recent BBC documentary accused breeders of endangering dogs’ health in order to achieve prize-winning features, which, for bulldogs includes stubby legs, big shoulders, narrow hips, and upturned muzzles. Years of selective breeding have made it virtually impossible for an English Bulldog to give birth naturally, and their upturned muzzles have been blamed for respiratory problems. The new standards will apply to a total of 78 breeds, including the shar pei and the German shepherd. [CNN]