With their small stubby noses and curly tails, pugs and bulldogs have become favorites among dog lovers and celebrities.
But flat face types come with many health problems – from breathing problems to spinal deformities.
Even so, owners of smooth-faced dogs see laziness as a positive thing rather than a sign that their pet is not doing well, experts have warned.
New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed that the dangerous conformations of French Bulldogs, Pugs and English Bulldogs have been stable.
And even though they are at high risk of serious breathing problems due to the flattened face, facial expressions due to the size of their eyes and skin diseases due to their skin depth, many owners still believe that ‘nothing’ can stop them from buying colors.
The study involved an online survey of more than 2,000 UK dog owners, including those who currently own ‘dangerous’ brachycephalic – flat-faced – dogs.
Research has shown owners rated ‘laziness’ as the most important trait, although this may indicate their dog has a respiratory or musculoskeletal problem that prevents them from being active.
This ‘lazy’ preference was highest among owners who admitted they did not do much research before buying their dog, the survey found.
With their small stubby noses and curly tails, pugs and bulldogs have become favorites among dog lovers and celebrities. But flat face types come with many health problems – from breathing problems to spinal deformities.
Experts warn that this pattern found in flat-footed individuals is often due to exercise intolerance due to brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS).
This is a serious health problem that is often found in these breeds due to their extreme flexibility, including a flat face that can leave dogs with breathing difficulties and an inability to exercise.
One in seven owners said there was ‘nothing’ that would stop them from owning a flat-faced dog, especially those who really like flat faces and don’t believe they shorten a dog’s life.
The same proportion of owners reported that they had found their dog on social media – almost three times more than those with non-faced breeds.
The researchers said more needs to be done to highlight the plight of these dogs, as well as positive messages to promote other breeds.
Dr Rowena Packer, Head of Companion Animal Behavior and Welfare Science at RVC and lead author of the study, said: ‘The limited success of the campaign to combat the popularity of brachycephalic dogs is a major disappointment for animal care and animal groups. .
‘This study shows the prevalence of signs of poor health in brachycephalic dogs, and the owners of non-brachycephalic dogs consider the symptoms of the disease to be important “human” behaviors.
‘The most worrying thing is the number of owners of brachycephalic dogs who feel that there is nothing to stop them from getting these difficult dogs.
One in seven owners said there was ‘nothing’ that would stop them from having a flat-faced dog, especially those who loved flat faces and didn’t believe it reduced the dog’s life.
‘Future strategies to deal with the brachycephalic problem must do more than just provide health information in a well-known environment, on the contrary, provide alternatives, dispel false beliefs and encourage the public stories of brachycephalic owners to have a greater impact.
‘Furthermore, specifically targeting these messages on social media and child marketing platforms would increase their influence.’
The study was conducted in collaboration with Blue Cross researchers and was published in the journal Pets.
Previous studies have found that flat-faced breeds have a 40 percent higher risk of dying than other breeds.
For example, the famous French bulldogs have a life expectancy of 9.8 years compared to border collies, which live an average of 13.1 years.
