Why flat-faced dogs remain popular despite health problems

Date:
August 26, 2020
Source:
PLOS
Summary:
Owners of bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs are highly likely to
want to own their breed again in the future, and to recommend their
breed to other owners, according to a new study. The development of
breed loyalty toward these so-called brachycephalic (flat-faced)
dogs may lead to their continued proliferation and popularity,
despite their substantial health risks.



FULL STORY ========================================================================== Owners of bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs are highly likely to want to
own their breed again in the future, and to recommend their breed to other owners, according to a study published August 26, 2020 in the open-access journal PLOS ONE by Rowena Packer of the Royal Veterinary College, UK,
and colleagues. The development of breed loyalty toward these so-called brachycephalic (flat-faced) dogs may lead to their continued proliferation
and popularity, despite their substantial health risks.


==========================================================================
In the past decade, the popularity of brachycephalic dogs has dramatically increased worldwide. But these breeds are strongly predisposed to a
range of severe disorders, including respiratory disease, eye disease,
spinal disease, heat stroke and pneumonia, and their lifespan is reduced
by on average four years compared to dogs with longer muzzles. Some veterinarians consider bulldogs, French bulldogs and pugs as having health
and welfare too compromised to continue breeding, while owners of pets
with chronic illnesses report greater psychological distress and a lower quality of life. It is important to understand factors that influence
breed choice to avoid the future proliferation of breeds that are prone
to substantial health risks. Toward this goal, Packer and colleagues
conducted the first large-scale study to explore owners' desires to
reacquire or recommend the most popular brachycephalic breeds in the UK.

Among the 2168 owners surveyed, 93% would choose to own their current
breed again in the future, and two-thirds would recommend their
current breed to a potential first-time dog owner. The likelihood of reacquisition or recommendation is increased by first-time ownership
and increased strength of the dog-owner relationship, and is decreased
by an increased number of health problems and dog behavior being
worse than expected. Owners recommend their breed because of positive behavioral attributes for a companion dog, breed suitability for a
sedentary lifestyle with limited space, and suitability for households
with children. Owners recommended against their breed due to the high prevalence of health problems, expense of ownership, ethical and welfare
issues associated with breeding brachycephalic dogs, negative effects
upon owner lifestyle and negative behavioral attributes. According to the authors, these results can be used to inform interventions that highlight undesirable traits of brachycephalic dogs and desirable traits of other
breeds to control the population boom in brachycephalic breeds in the
long term.

The authors add: "Although dog breed popularity often follows a boom and
bust pattern, our results are of real concern as they indicate that this 'brachy boom' is here to stay. Owners are becoming hooked on the loving personalities of these sweet dogs, but also accepting and normalising
their shocking health issues."

========================================================================== Story Source: Materials provided by PLOS. Note: Content may be edited
for style and length.


========================================================================== Journal Reference:
1. Rowena M. A. Packer, Dan G. O'Neill, Francesca Fletcher, Mark J.

Farnworth. Come for the looks, stay for the personality? A mixed
methods investigation of reacquisition and owner recommendation
of Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs. PLOS ONE, 2020; 15 (8):
e0237276 DOI: 10.1371/ journal.pone.0237276 ==========================================================================

Link to news story: https://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2020/08/200826140905.htm

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