The Swedish Kennel Club's Bulldog Standard Change: A Misguided Approach

The Swedish Kennel Club (SKK / Svenska Kennelklubben)  has recently revised its Bulldog breed standard, shifting the breed's description towards a type more aligned with the Continental Bulldog, a breed recognised by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale (FCI) The Continental Bulldog has a longer muzzle, less exaggeration, and a more athletic frame.

While this change has no real impact on British-bred Bulldogs, as The Kennel Club breed standard remains the reference point for UK show breeders, it once again reignites the tired argument that all Bulldogs are inherently unhealthy.
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While likely well-intentioned, this change misses the real issue—a breed standard only governs those who choose to follow it, yet most Bulldogs are bred by those who do not.

The Swiss KC suggestion of the Ideal Bulldog □

Show Breeders vs. The Wider Breeding Population

Only a tiny percentage of Bulldog breeders are show breeders. The reality is that most Bulldogs are bred by novice or casual breeders who are not bound by any breed standard—let alone health testing requirements.

​Show breeders have been proactively addressing health concerns for decades. They voluntarily participate in health testing schemes, and more recently, BOAS (Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome) grading has become mandatory for Bulldogs entered at Crufts. These breeders work within the existing UK breed standard, which has been continuously revised to remove exaggerations without fundamentally changing the breed itself.

The real concern is that the pet-bred Bulldog population continues to be bred for extreme wrinkles and exaggerated features, often because novice breeders lack education on the consequences of these traits. Since they do not show their dogs, they have no incentive to follow the breed standard or participate in health testing. As a result, the most exaggerated Bulldogs are often bred outside of the influence of show breeders, meaning that even if The Kennel Club adopted a revised standard, it wouldn't impact the majority of Bulldogs being bred today.

The Activist Narrative & Its Misguided Approach

By altering the breed standard, the SKK has handed ammunition to activists who believe they are positively impacting Bulldog health. In reality, this approach does little to address the real issue—it only widens the gap between reputable and non-reputable breeders. The perception that "Bulldogs are unhealthy" continues to be fuelled not by the actions of responsible breeders but by those who breed without knowledge, ethics, or care for the breed's future.
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The biggest problem with revising the breed standard instead of regulating breeding practices is that it only affects the small proportion of breeders who follow it. The genuine health concerns lie outside the show world, where:

• Exaggerated traits (excessive wrinkles, flat faces, and extreme bulk) are still being bred for because of public demand.
• Many casual breeders don't even reference a breed standard—they breed based on appearance alone.
• Pet Bulldogs are often not health tested because their breeders don't show or lack education on health concerns.
• The worst examples of Bulldogs are typically found in commercial breeding setups, where profit is prioritised over health.

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Changing a breed standard does nothing to stop unethical breeding—it simply makes activists feel like they've had a positive impact when it does nothing to improve the health of Bulldogs outside of the show world.

A Meaningful Solution: Health Testing for All Breeding Bulldogs

​If the goal is to improve Bulldog health on a large scale, the only real solution is to require all breeding Bulldogs to undergo health testing. A revised breed standard might make for good PR, but unless enforced at a legislative level, it does nothing to control who is breeding Bulldogs and for what purpose.

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The real problem lies with unregistered breeders who operate outside breed clubs without knowledge and care for health and welfare. Until health testing becomes a requirement for all breeding Bulldogs—not just those shown in the ring—these changes in breed standards will remain a cosmetic adjustment that does nothing to safeguard the breed's future.

What Needs to Happen Next?

If we genuinely want to improve the future of Bulldogs, we need to:

• Educate new breeders on why breeding for extreme traits leads to long-term health problems.
• Health testing is required for all bulldogs used in breeding, not just those being shown.
• Push for responsible ownership so puppy buyers only purchase from health-tested, ethical breeders.
• Advocate for better enforcement standards to reduce the likelihood of unethical or uneducated breeders.

This is where real change will happen—not adjusting a breed standard that most Bulldog breeders don't even follow.

Final Thoughts

This revision by the The Swedish Kennel Club (SKK / Svenska Kennelklubben)  might make headlines, but it won't make a real difference to the overall health of Bulldogs. The problem has never been with responsible show breeders—it has always been with those who breed without knowledge, ethics, or health testing.
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A better approach would be to focus on education, health testing, and enforcing responsible breeding practices across all breeders, not just those in the show world. Anything else is just a distraction from the real issue.