A new study confirms that dogs bred with flattened faces often suffer from severe respiratory issues, with some breeds showing alarmingly low rates of healthy breathing. The research, published in PLOS One, highlights the direct health consequences of prioritizing aesthetics over well-being in dog breeding.
Breed-Specific Respiratory Risks
Researchers at the University of Cambridge examined nearly 900 dogs across 14 brachycephalic breeds (those with shortened skulls) between September 2021 and April 2024. Using a standardized grading system from 0 to 3 (0 indicating healthy breathing, 3 indicating severe obstruction), they found significant variation in respiratory health across different breeds.
While some, like Boxers and Staffordshire Bull Terriers, had relatively low incidence rates of breathing problems, others were heavily affected. Only 11% of Pekingese and 7% of Pugs scored the highest grade (0) for healthy breathing. This confirms a long-suspected link between skull shape and airway obstruction.
The Science Behind the Suffering
The study identified three key factors driving these respiratory issues:
– extreme facial flatness,
– narrowed nostrils, and
– obesity.
These physical traits physically compress the airways, making normal breathing difficult. The condition, known as Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), leads to noisy, labored breathing, and severely limits a dog’s ability to exercise, sleep, and live a full life.
“Artificially selecting dogs for unnaturally short skulls reduces the ability of these dogs to breathe, sleep, exercise and live a complete canine life.” – Dan O’Neill, Royal Veterinary College
A Growing Problem, But Potential Solutions Exist
The popularity of brachycephalic breeds (like French Bulldogs) has risen sharply in recent years, which has put greater attention on their health problems. The study could provide tools for breeders to select away from exaggerated features. The researchers suggest using the breathing scores to identify and exclude severely affected dogs from breeding programs.
The data also shows that awareness of the issue has increased since 2016. There is hope that breeders are already making more informed choices, but further research is needed to understand the genetic basis of the breathing problems.
The findings underscore the ethical responsibility of breeders to prioritize animal welfare over aesthetic trends. Reducing the demand for extremely short-faced breeds and implementing selective breeding programs are critical steps to improve the health of these dogs.
