Final answer:
UKC breeders should prioritize the health and genetic diversity of the animals in their breeding plans, avoiding inbreeding and focusing on favorable traits that contribute to the animals' overall well-being and pedigree.
Step-by-step explanation:
UKC breeders shall plan each breeding with the paramount intention of producing healthy, high-quality animals with a low risk of inherited health problems.
Selective breeding can sometimes be detrimental to the health of the animal breed. In the case of the English bulldog, specialized traits such as large heads and narrow pelvises have made natural births difficult, resulting in a high percentage of cesarian sections. Breeders are aware that a narrow gene pool can lead to increased health issues like cancer, hip dysplasia, deafness, hereditary epilepsy, and allergies. Therefore, avoiding inbreeding is a good practice, as it increases genetic diversity, prevents fatal mutations, and allows for new, successful genes to be introduced into the population.
Although some breeders may focus on traits that affect the appearance, like permanent juvenile characteristics or neotony, responsible breeding practices include a focus on health and pedigree rather than only on physical attributes. The well-being of the breed and the avoidance of indiscriminate inbreeding are key goals for conscientious UKC breeders.