What is Innate Health?
Innate health describes a dog’s capacity to carry out the natural functions and behaviours that any normal canine should be able to do — run around, breathe freely, eat normally, blink their eyes, wag their tail and reproduce naturally. A dog with good innate health will be able to carry out all these functions without limitations caused by its physical conformation.
Quick Five-Point Innate Health Checklist
Can your dog breathe freely? No noisy breathing at rest, no narrow nostrils, no shortened muzzles.
Does your dog have smooth skin with no folds on face, body or legs?
Are your dog’s eyes properly positioned and able to blink effectively?
Are your dog’s front and back legs straight and long enough for good ground clearance?
Does your dog have a tail long enough to wag?
What is Extreme Conformation?
A dog with an ‘extreme conformation’ is one whose physical features have been exaggerated to make them look a certain way through selective breeding techniques.
Traits such as excessive skin folds on the face or body, lack of a tail or very shortened tail, shortened muzzle/ flat-face, bulging eyes, merle colouration, shortened legs or elongated spines are all examples of extreme conformation characteristics.
In addition to the welfare issues caused to dogs, Extreme Conformation breeding can also cause emotional and financial strain. Vet bills can reach thousands; insurance premiums are higher for breeds prone to EC-related issues. In severe cases, euthanasia may be the only humane option — an outcome avoidable through responsible breeding.
