Pedigree dogs should not be bred at all, one animal rights campaigner has said.
Gerry Boland was responding to calls from Britain's RSPCA to remove flat-faced dogs from the Crufts competition.
Brachycephalic dog breeds - those with short, flat faces - include French bulldogs, pugs and British bulldogs.
They have shorter snouts and flat faces, which can lead to breathing and other difficulties.
"Crufts has a responsibility to encourage and promote healthier versions of these dogs," the RSPCA said.
"Until these dogs are healthier and their welfare needs are protected, they shouldn't be shown during Crufts," it added.
Mr Boland told Lunchtime Live this has been a long time coming.
"I would see the flat-faced dogs issue as being, in a sense, on the extreme end of the whole pedigree dog and pedigree animal situation," he said.
"As far as I'm concerned, pedigree dogs shouldn't be bred at all because there are thousands upon thousands of abandoned dogs needing a home.
"The idea that anybody would be paying €500 or €1,000 or more for a dog because it's a pedigree dog... is entirely the wrong way to be approaching dog ownership".
'Severe health issues'
Mr Boland said breathing can be just one of the issues for these breeds.
"The flat-faced dogs do - it's been known for a long, long time - they do have severe health issues.
"They unusually don't live as long as most dogs would normally do.
"Nearly all of them suffer from breathing difficulties, some of them more acutely.
"A lot of them have heart issues, teeth issues and skin and ear issues.
"There's a lot of issues to do with them, because they're being bred to look a particular way.
"That isn't a foundation for having a dog. I think a lot of people own dogs who shouldn't have dogs.
"Only people who know how to look after a dog, and can provide for that dog, should have a dog".
A fawn French Bulldog dog with black mask and pointy ears in March 2019. Picture by: Firn / Alamy Stock PhotoVet Liz McCollum-Ryan said these dogs can have very painful lives.
"Breeders are there to supply a demand, and the demand is there because the shows demand it, the public demand it," she said.
"The problem is really that clients don't understand that the attractive, physical look of a dog comes with huge health implications for a dog - these particular flat-faced ones.
"Even when the breathing difficulties aren't that severe, you still get them affecting the dog.
"In more severe ones... you can get fainting, the dog actually collapses.
"The dog collapses because he hasn't got enough oxygen - that's really unforgiveable.
"Their nostrils are too tight; it's nearly like having a plastic bag in front of your face.
"In the worst cases we end up having to operate... to increase the air going in to the actual airway".
'Driving people to puppy farms'
Sean Deimer is a member of health and wellbeing committee of the Irish Kennel Club.
He does not believes this is the best way to deal with the issue.
"Of these dogs, only 15% of them are actually registered with the Kennel Club," he said.
"In my way of thinking... the people who register and show their dogs at Crufts... they are very dedicated in the fact that they recognise there's a potential problem.
"They put them through all kinds of health tests to make sure that these dogs have a free life and are well able to breathe.
"The Crufts dog is there because they have veterinary checks and all that.
"It gives the general public an opportunity to see dogs of that type... that can be relatively healthy.
"It stops sending them all down the road to the black market, the puppy farmers - which will happen - because they will fill the market anyway.
"At least this gives some control, where there's a veterinary check [and] where they've done tests and so on.
"If you take away the people that are responsible... you drive the people who want to buy those dogs to the puppy farmers," he added.
Listen back to the full segment below:
