The Netherlands just banned Sphynx and Scottish Fold Cats.

The Netherlands just banned Sphynx and Scottish Fold Cats.

But this isn’t the only way they are leading the world in animal welfare.

When it comes to dogs they are equally as strong.

In 2019 they banned the breeding of extremely flat faced dogs, only allowing those with a decent nose length, and other characteristics of health, to reproduce.

In order to breed in The Netherlands, dogs must have;

* A muzzle at least one third of the length of the skull

* No noisy breathing when they are resting

* At least moderately open nostrils

* If they have a nasal fold, it cannot be causing eye irritation

* Eyelids that can close easily over the eyes

All fairly basic standards of a reasonable life, you would assume, but the fact is many breeds of dog have these abnormalities written into their pedigree standards and it has taken a change in the law to force breeders to make these changes for the good of their dogs.

However, the Dutch Kennel Club had other ideas, and continued to issue pedigrees to dogs with extreme features, giving these dogs a legitimacy that they didn't sadly didn't deserve. This was stopped in 2025, another indicator of the Dutch commitment to the health of the pets in their country.

Learn more about these laws here;

https://zoek.officielebekendmakingen.nl/stcrt-2023-23619.html

https://www.dierenrecht.nl/nieuws/2025/06/rechtbank-verbiedt-misleidende...