The Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show is an internationally broadcasted event where dogs are judged based off their ability to match breed specifications, according to the American Kennel Club (AKC) standards.

The problem is the AKC has specific standards for breeds, making for a limited genetic pool. While purebreds are presented as dogs of perfect status, they are not dogs of perfect health.

Purebred dogs are documented back to their ancestors. To be given the status of pure a dog’s lineage needs be traced back to the club’s original stock of dogs. Dogs who are purebred by AKC standards are often a result of inbreeding.

A Huffington Post article talks about the questionable techniques of dog breeding.

“One common breeder technique is known as line breeding, which pairs direct relatives, such as grandfather and granddaughter, in an effort to produce puppies with the most desirable physiques.”

This sort of line breeding causes health problems in purebred dogs. Not only are desirable traits passed on to the pups, but so are genetic diseases.

According to a Time Magazine article, “as many as 25 percent of the 20 million purebred dogs in America — 1 in 4 animals — are afflicted with a serious genetic problem.”

This is why German Shepherds are known to have hip problems and why bulldogs often have breathing issues.

An example of the issue of pedigree dog breeding is the English Bulldog. In the past ten years, this breed’s popularity has increased substantially in dog shows.

However, the dog is deemed as one of the unhealthiest breeds. Its abnormally large head and unbalanced physique makes breeding difficult, often requiring artificial insemination and birth through cesarean section. Even with a short lifespan and health issues, breeding English Bulldogs is at an all-time high.

The AKC disregards a breed’s health and instead focuses on physical appearance. When purebreds perform in judged contests, such as the Westminster Dog Show, they are critiqued on their ability to match AKC standards. These standards include only visual traits and temperament; they do not measure the health or welfare of a dog.

Dogs are bred according to specific traits that are often exaggerated and end up causing complications. Do not be fooled by status most purebreds are of poor health and will require a lot of medical attention throughout their lifespan.

The problem with the AKC and contests like the Westminster Dog Show is that they encourage pedigree breeding by showcasing purebreds as though they are tokens of status in the dog world. Little does the public know, the dogs that win best of show often have a collection of genetic health problems.

The AKC needs to shift its attention from visual traits and temperament to include the health and welfare of breeds. There is no reason for breeders to continue breeding dogs that have poor genetic health and are prone to complications. Good health and overall welfare should be the number one focus of breeding, not physical traits or purebred status.