Will Germany ban the breeding of dachshunds? New bill is already making German breeders shudder

The Green Minister of Agriculture and Animal Welfare in Germany, Cem Özdemir, proposed a new version of the German animal welfare law in February. It takes strict action against so-called ‘torture breeding’, where animals are bred with “characteristics considered pathological”, such as cat and dog breeds without fur, pugs with breathing problems, shepherd dogs with hip problems or chronic eye infections, and therefore also dachshunds with a long, saggy belly. and short legs.

The German Kennel Club (VDH), an umbrella association of dog breeders, has therefore launched a petition to ‘save’ the popular dachshund or dachshund. In one week, more than 15,000 people have already signed the petition.

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According to VDH, the bill contains many useful elements, but leaves too much room for interpretation when defining a genetic defect. For example, the stated “abnormalities of the skeletal system” can be interpreted as a ban on the breeding of any dog ​​breed that “deviates significantly in size from the wolf”, the genetic ancestor of the dog, the association believes. “The term can be attributed to the leg length of dachshunds and other small dog breeds, which can exclude them from breeding,” it said. The cocker spaniel, bulldogs and boxers, among others, would also be eligible for a ban, VDH fears.

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Dwarfism

“With the new regulations in the Animal Protection Act, we want to consistently protect animals from pain and suffering,” a spokesperson for the German Ministry of Agriculture told news site T-online. A ministry spokesperson denied to Sky News that the reform would amount to a ban on certain dog breeds, such as dachshunds, and that the aim of the reform is only to strengthen the law that already exists regarding ‘torture breeding’.

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Dachshunds, the third most popular dog breed in our country, owe their short legs to the genetic disorder chondrodysplasia, a form of dwarfism. Due to their special physique, dachshunds are ideally suited for running through the bushes as a hunting dog and for underground hunting of badgers.

Jana Hoger of the animal rights organization PETA shouts in the newspaper BILD calls for a ban on the breeding of dachshunds. “I’m sorry for the many enthusiasts, but hernias are unfortunately common in dachshunds and cause a lot of suffering,” she says. “Their crooked legs are the result of intensive breeding. Many dog ​​breeds have been bred specifically to meet human needs, often through inbreeding. This is also the case with the pug and the French bulldog, among others.”