Where does the craze for brachycephalic dogs come from?

The popularity of flat-faced dog breeds has only continued to grow in recent years, despite their health problems and contrary to veterinarians’ ethical recommendations. Researchers hope to better understand the origins of this craze in order to limit the anticipated population growth of these breeds.   Over the past decade, the popularity of brachycephalic dogs has increased significantly in the United Kingdom and around the world—despite the health problems these breeds face. In fact, brachycephalic dogs are highly predisposed to developing a range of disorders intrinsically linked to their physical build. These dogs frequently suffer from respiratory diseases, eye conditions, dystocia, spinal disorders, as well as pneumonia and heatstroke. Because of their physical build, flat-faced dogs have, on average, a lifespan that is 4.1 years shorter than that of their long-snouted cousins. Some veterinarians even argue that bulldogs and pugs are in such poor health that breeding them should be stopped—a matter of animal welfare for both the animal and its owner. In fact, animal owners of pets with chronic illnesses report greater psychological distress and a lower quality of life than animal owners of healthy pets. And yet, despite these warnings against breeding and purchasing brachycephalic dogs, prospective dog owners, drawn to the physical appearance of these breeds, continue to choose these malformed dogs. A new study aims to shed light on this decision-making process in order to prevent the future proliferation—or perpetuation—of breeds that are prone to inherent health problems. The researchers sought to explore and quantify the factors associated with brachycephalic dog owners’ desire to acquire these breeds again and/or recommend them to first-time dog owners. In doing so, they also sought to explore the reasons that might lead brachycephalic dog owners to recommend—or not recommend—their current breed. Unsurprisingly, owners become attached to their dogs. So much so that they are highly likely to want to own a brachycephalic dog again in the future (93.0%) and to recommend this breed to other owners (65.5%). This desire is even stronger if the owner previously owned a brachycephalic breed and has a close bond with their dog. On the other hand, the opposite sentiment arises in cases of excessive health problems, a perception that the dog’s health is much better than that of the rest of the breed, or the emergence of problematic behaviors in the dog. The factors that lead people to adopt a brachycephalic dog include their pleasant, companion-dog-like behavior, their ability to adapt to a sedentary lifestyle in a limited space, and their ability to get along well with children. On the other hand, owners advised against brachycephalic dogs due to their numerous health problems, the resulting cost of care, the ethical and welfare issues associated with breeding brachycephalic dogs, the negative effects on owners’ lives, and certain undesirable behaviors. Gaining a better understanding of the attachment to these breeds with fragile health and how this attachment can be mitigated will help better manage the craze for flat-faced dogs in the long term and, consequently, avoid ethically questionable situations.