The Animal Welfare Act and the Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance in Germany
The Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance
The Animal Welfare Dog Ordinance in Germany is very strict and the planned changes and tightening have not yet been finally adopted, but even if it is certainly adapted and relativized in some points, most paragraphs will certainly remain as planned. Furthermore, this does not change the fact that the Rhodesian Ridgeback is listed in the Agony breeding report and will remain there as long as the Dermoid Sinus exists in this breed.
Breeding concepts and breeding programs are one way of doing something in the field of breeding to combat hereditary defects. Numerous pedigree dog breeding clubs have now developed and implemented such concepts and programs.
Of course, genetic tests are also a possibility, but only make sense if these tests are meaningful and there is no risk that false positive results will eliminate dogs from the breeding potential that are neither sick nor actually inherit a genetic defect.
The Animal Welfare Act
Principle
§ 1
The purpose of this law is to protect the life and welfare of animals out of human responsibility for them as fellow creatures. No one may inflict pain, suffering or harm on an animal without reasonable cause.
Animal husbandry
§ 7a
(1) Animal experiments may only be carried out if they are necessary for one of the following purposes purposes are indispensable:
1. basic research,
2. other research with one of the following objectives:
a) Prevention, detection or treatment of disease, suffering, physical injury or physical discomfort in humans or animals,
b) Recognizing or influencing physiological conditions or functions in humans or animals.
The breed standard of the Rhodesian Ridgeback was recognized almost 100 years ago by the Kennel Union of Southern Africa (KUSA). At that time, a close look was taken at the conditions of the time.
Today, in 2025, the Rhodesian Ridgeback breed, whose standard has endured for so many years, has become one of the most popular family companion dogs. A dog that is adaptable to many (then unthinkable) living conditions. Today he lives in big cities as well as in rural areas and is a versatile dog, provided his owner has the necessary empathy and knows the characteristics of this breed.
At that time, there were not the possibilities for determining genetic requirements as there are today. Breeding experiments were always carried out by mating certain animals in order to breed and consolidate desired characteristics or traits. There was no animal welfare law back then!
It is not only the two above-mentioned sections of this necessary and extremely sensible law that show that new approaches must be taken in breeding today in order to protect the animals and minimize the risk of disease.
Due to the priority that the perfect ridge has for the Rhodesian Ridgeback and the breeders of this breed, there are massive reservations about the use of ridgeless Ridgebacks for breeding. Despite numerous attempts to implement the recommendation of the VDH Scientific Advisory Board in the German clubs, unfortunately no progress has been made. Therefore, there is only one way forward - a new breed with different priorities - the Lionhound.