This paper summarises the factors that led to the formation of the Advisory Council on the Welfare Issues of Dog Breeding and sets out some of the challenges facing the Council. Common to all types of dog is the irresponsible way in which they can be produced, purchased and owned, and the considerable welfare problems that may arise as a direct consequence of these actions. In pedigree and purebred dogs, specific welfare problems may also be the result of the manner in which some of them are bred, as well as a variety of breed-related and inherited disorders and a number of other complex issues. These include the breeding strategies adopted, including cross-breeding for so-called 'designer dog' hybrids, and the influence of showing and judging on the production of over-exaggerated conformational features. The Advisory Council's science-based collaborative approach is key to tackling these issues.