What if there was an easy way to assess if the puppy or dog you’re thinking of getting is actually healthy? Up until now, this has involved looking up the health tests required for the breed you’re interested in and then asking the breeder if the parent dogs have passed those health checks. But the problem is, even if a puppy’s parents have passed those checks and have healthy hips and eyes, there are still other innate health issues that the puppy might have, like breathing issues due to a flat face. And in many cases, those issues are considered “normal for the breed,” despite the fact that they can cause serious welfare issues.

Now there’s a new tool to help would-be dog guardians choose a new puppy or dog who is more likely to be healthy and not suffer from health issues related to their looks. It’s called the Innate Health Assessment, and it was created by the Royal Veterinary College’s Dr. Dan O’Neill for the UK’s All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare. It has the backing of more than 20 UK animal organizations, including The Kennel Club, the Animal Behaviour and Training Council, and the British Veterinary Association.

The tool arose because some dog breeds have extreme conformation—such as a flat face (brachycephaly), corkscrew tail, or bulging eyes—that can cause poor health and suffering. For example,

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