The Norwegian Food Safety Authority has prepared a new regulation on dog breeding which has been ordered by the Ministry of Agriculture and Food. The regulation is expected these days. In this connection, the Liberal Party’s parliamentary representatives Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik and Alfred Jens Bjørlo have presented a representative proposal for better animal welfare in dog breeding. The proposal will be considered when the Storting convenes again after the summer. Storting representative in the Justice Committee (V) Ingvild Wetrhus Thorsvik in the Liberal Party asks the government to take action when it comes to dog breeding. Photo: Svein Sundsdal / news Thorsvik says the background for the proposal is that too many examples have been seen of dogs being bred with health challenges and diseases. – There is too much focus on dog breeds and how the dogs look. Rather than them being healthy, healthy and able to live a happy life, says Thorsvik, who also sits on the justice committee. The Liberal government is now asking the government to study the establishment of a searchable database with breeding values, as a possible tool to prevent dog smuggling and unethical breeding. – Dogs that, for example, cannot breathe normally should not be used further in breeding, so that several individuals do not get the same type of disorder. This is largely about inbreeding degree issues, says Thorsvik. She believes that cross-breeding should be facilitated to a greater extent, ie that genes from other healthy dog breeds are bred to prevent diseases. Equal rules for all Thorvik believes that the EU Commission’s guidelines for dog breeding, which came into force in 2020, should be leading for dog breeding in Norway. Among other things, it states that dogs to be used in breeding must first be approved by a veterinarian. – Most veterinarians use a searchable diagnostic register with elf values. They will be able to see the anatomy, see the health history of the individual dog. Based on that, the veterinarian will be able to decide if it is something hereditary, or if there is a risk of it, says Thorsvik. The rules should apply to those who breed. – It is natural that these rules apply to everyone who breeds, not just those who are professional breeders. If you are going to breed and sell dogs, it is important that healthy and healthy animals are bred, she says. Thorsvik adds that such an arrangement could give puppy buyers more knowledge about the dog they will spend many years with. The Liberal Party wants greater consideration to be given to the elf values and characteristics of the dog. Photo: Trine Bjørnsen / private Mixed dogs Thorsvik also believes that clear functional requirements must be set for the dogs to be used in breeding, and aims at all dog breeds and mixed dogs. – If you have a mixed breed dog, it could be that one of the dog’s parents has allergies, or for example problems with the anatomy, which means that it should not be used in breeding, she says. They have set a limit when it comes to poaching. Then it can be more difficult to gather information about. – Will it be stricter to engage in dog breeding in Norway? – Yes, and I think that is correct. This is about living individuals who should have good lives. It is important that when we deliberately breed dogs, it must be done in a proper way, so as not to create individuals who do not suffer, says Thorsvik. Five-year-old Fiffi is a mix of Tibetan temple dog and jack russel terrier Photo: Trine Bjørnsen / private Will cooperate The Norwegian Kennel Club (NKK) is well acquainted with the Norwegian Food Safety Authority’s proposal for a regulation on dog breeding. They also support the proposals that the Liberal Party has now put forward are good. At the same time, the Liberals believe they could go even further. – Instead of being specific that you should not use dogs with breathing problems, you can rather say that only “clinically healthy dogs” should be used in breeding. – If a dog breathes well, but has bad skin, then it is not good either, says Anne Buvik who is a spokesperson for NKK. – There is too much junk dog breeding in Norway. We can only manage the part that concerns our members. There is also a lot of breeding of purebred dogs without papers, which is beyond our control, says spokesperson for NKK Anne Livø Buvik. Photo: Privat Buvik is one of twelve dog judges in Norway who can judge all dog breeds at shows that are affiliated with NKK. She also has experience with dog breeding. – Crossbreeding that should give a good result requires a lot of planning, evaluation and good knowledge. Often there are two steps forward and one back. It does not always turn out as planned, and there is also a risk of getting new diseases into a breed. In any case, there is no quick or easy solution, says Buvik. – We are happy to enter into a dialogue with the Liberal Party about this, she says. Earlier this year, the Court upheld the Animal Protection Norway, which convened the Norwegian Kennel Club, the Norwegian Bulldog Club, the Norwegian Cavalier Club and six breeders, for violating section 25 of the Animal Welfare Act. NKK has appealed the verdict. The appeal case starts on 19 September.
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Want stricter regulations for dog breeding in Norway – also for mixed breed dogs – news Norway – Overview of news from different parts of the country
