If you ask any dog owner, they’ll tell you in no uncertain terms that their dog is the best.
They’ll pull out their phone and show you their favourite pictures. They might show you a funny video with their tongue stuck out, or maybe they have a clip of their dog snoring.
If they have the popular pug or French bulldog breed, they might have no idea that something is wrong.
With Crufts this week, it’s a more important time than ever to think about dog welfare. The annual dog show celebrates all dogs, but it also can endorse the extreme features that can be detrimental to their welfare.
Each year, brachycephalic (‘flat-faced’, or ‘short-headed’) dogs are shown at Crufts, and many viewers at home will have no idea that these animals might be struggling – and that the suffering of dogs just like them is being celebrated.
Their bred-in physical traits mean that they are at risk of huge and diverse health problems and may live a much shorter life. Not only that, but everyday behaviours such as breathing and exercise can be a struggle.
To put it bluntly, a flat-faced animal can be a biological nightmare.
My dog Yogi, a boxer, has the sweetest face. He has deep brown eyes and smiles at you if you ask. He’s one of two brachycephalic pets owned by my family.
We’ve been loyal to the breed since I was a teenager, and I’d like to think it’s been more to do with the loving, playful nature of our pets – rather than their features. That being said, I can’t deny that their looks were a factor in us bringing our first dog home.
Their features aren’t so cute to me now – only the symptoms of a crisis
He had such a ‘squishy’ face but his life was cut painfully short after only 18 months, but 20 years later, we’ve had many others just like him.
Yogi is turning 10 this month, and it’s a day that feels so rare that I’m taking annual leave. Not many of his siblings are still alive, but his sister Madison plods alongside him everyday. Even if they’re both a little grey now.
After I started working on the RSPCA’s Save Our Breath campaign last year, I had to learn all about the risks that come with brachycephalic animals and figure out how we would communicate the heartbreaking truth about them to the public. I immediately shut down the notion that our beloved family pets were part of the problem.
Since our very first dog, we’ve been careful and selective with where they came from. If anything, we’ve been attentive dog owners, taking incessant notes of their behaviours. My mother’s life revolves around them and she watches them like a hawk, but they’re fine.
Sure, they snore a bit. There was also that time Madison had a huge dental issue that required extensive surgery, but she’s fine now. Except, sometimes she faints.
There was also the time one of our previous dogs had chronic eye problems in his old age. He experienced an ulceration that left his eyes cloudy and clogged with yellow gunk. We gave him drops everyday until he died, aged 10, but he was fine.
But, now that I think about it, heatwaves aren’t too great for our dogs and last summer was pretty unbearable for them. The heat can really make their day to day life that much harder as they struggle to regulate their body temperature. Exercise can really wear them out, too. They’re fine though – right?
Except, maybe they’re not.
For many brachycephalic pet owners, we have the ‘but mine is fine’ line on repeat. It’s so deeply entrenched in us that I’ve had to switch gears slightly and admit that it feels shameful to pick apart the deep denial that has stemmed from the normalised behaviour of our pets.
We’re used to them snoring, snorting, and sometimes propping their heads on the side of sofas and toys to sleep. We know to protect them from the heat, and not to over exert them with their favourite tennis ball.
But we view our pets through a distorted lens in which we’re accepting of their health issues and risks, because we love them dearly. To us, the happiness they give us is worth the pain we feel. They are worth every tear and every vet bill.
But sadly, many brachycephalic animals such as French bulldogs, British bulldogs and pugs will face heartbreaking illnesses, including severe breathing difficulties, joint disease, skin issues, dental problems and spinal deformities. It’s true that some will have a significantly shorter life span. Many will need invasive treatments and surgeries to remedy the consequence of their extreme features, too.
For many, every breath is a struggle due to Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS), which makes it extremely difficult for affected animals to breathe. BOAS is a crushing diagnosis and the solution is invasive treatment and costly surgery, which is hugely distressing for both pets and their owners.
It’s also true that brachycephalic animals are becoming more extreme and profitable. Their prolific status means that they’re in high demand.
Selective breeding means their faces are becoming even shorter, with skin folds that sometimes cover their nostrils. These skin folds and wrinkles can cause chronic skin problems and painful infections. Their windpipes are narrower, making it even more difficult to breathe. They might also face dental problems, eye issues, spine deformities, and joint disease.
Their features aren’t so cute to me now – only the symptoms of a crisis. A ‘squishy’ face and bulging eyes are an indication of all the things that can go wrong. I also wonder how much of Yogi’s life he’s spent out of breath.
There are dogs just like mine on TV, and every year, millions of people come together to celebrate dogs and enjoy Crufts – organised by the Kennel Club. Flat-faced dogs are celebrated for their features and, on occasion, an extreme version of a breed will win a covetable trophy.
Take last year’s Best of Breed British bulldog, for example. Although this dog passed the show veterinary checks for any visible signs of health concerns and had excellent scores in The Kennel Club/University of Cambridge Respiratory Grading (RFG) Scheme assessment, there were more moderate dogs who could have been celebrated on a platform like Crufts instead.
Sadly, it isn’t what ‘healthy’ looks like. Yet, every year people are led to believe that these dogs are perfectly fine, and these breeds become more beloved and more profitable.
Of course, Crufts is not responsible for breeding the dogs but it does have a huge influence on what a champion looks like and has a responsibility to promote healthy animals.
The Kennel Club has a choice, and it can take a stand against suffering. It can do so by seriously reconsidering allowing the three most popular breeds: French bulldogs, British bulldogs, and pugs, to compete until more is done to protect them.
In a statement last year, Crufts stated: ‘Changes to entire breeds – inside and outside the show ring – will take time to surface, but we always urge potential puppy buyers to see the puppy’s parents and look for more moderate examples of these dogs.’
Owning a flat-faced animal can be expensive and, in the face of a crippling financial crisis, many pet owners will be forced to choose between vet treatment and other responsibilities. Some might even be forced to give up their animal, and charities like us will be left to pick up the pieces.
Last year, compared to 2021, we’ve seen an increase of 37% in these breeds coming into our care – and in some cases, the costs of veterinary treatment can be up to £6,000.
There will likely be plenty of these animals needing a home in the coming months as a result, and if you are set on getting one, please consider adoption.
I love my brachycephalic dogs, but I want to see future generations of them protected from the devastating consequences of their breed.
The RSPCA’s campaign aims to better protect future generations of flat-faced animals by educating the public, reducing demand for these breeds and ultimately changing the breeding practices that cause their suffering.
Yogi has the sweetest face, but I wonder how much of a price he’s had to pay for it.
Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing jess.austin@metro.co.uk.
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