In April 2025, the organization PETA launched a strong campaign against the inclusion of flat-faced dog breeds in dog shows, sending an official letter to the president of the Scottish Kennel Club ahead of the annual exhibition in Edinburgh. The organization focused on breeds like the Pug, Bulldog, and French Bulldog, which have been selectively bred to have flat faces but suffer from chronic breathing issues. PETA explained that these breeds live a life full of suffering due to “Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome” (BOAS), a condition that makes breathing painful, causes fainting with minimal exertion, and leads to persistent skin and eye problems.
PETA argues that these breeds have become far from natural, having been genetically altered to meet aesthetic standards that serve no functional purpose, but instead result in pain. The organization pointed out that such physical deformities are a result of selective breeding aimed at satisfying human preferences, making it difficult for some dogs to live a normal life. In their view, continuing to celebrate these breeds in shows only encourages their breeding — and thus, their ongoing suffering.
On the other hand, the Scottish Kennel Club responded by saying that the solution does not lie in a complete ban, but rather in awareness and responsible breeding. They emphasized that dog shows provide an opportunity to present healthy and moderate examples of these breeds, and that the club requires participants to pass breathing tests to ensure their ability to participate without health risks. From their perspective, a ban could have negative consequences, as people may continue to purchase these dogs through unregulated channels outside of oversight.
The disagreement between both sides reflects two contrasting viewpoints. PETA believes that any show featuring such breeds acts as a direct promotion of them, which increases demand for dogs that suffer genetically in the name of appearance. Meanwhile, the Kennel Club maintains that education through shows is the best way to combat irresponsible breeding, as banning them may push the problem underground and make it harder to monitor.
This debate is not limited to Scotland — it is part of a broader global conversation around responsible pet breeding and animal welfare. Countries like the Netherlands and Norway have taken practical steps by banning or restricting the breeding of certain breeds due to the long-term health damage they suffer. Moreover, prestigious global events such as Crufts and Westminster have begun requiring health assessments like breathing tests as a condition for participation, opting for regulation over outright bans.
Ultimately, this campaign highlights how human-imposed aesthetic standards can become a real source of suffering for other living beings. The ongoing discussions affirm that returning to health-based and functional priorities in animal breeding — rather than focusing purely on appearance — may be the first step toward a more compassionate and fair future for these animals.