New research from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has revealed divided public attitudes in the UK towards crossbreeding flat-faced (brachycephalic) dogs. The UK public disagrees on whether crossbreeding improves or worsens the health, appearance and temperament of flat-faced dogs, with preferences relating to cute appearance and companionship often outweighing health concerns when owners decide which dog to acquire. These RVC findings provide novel and important insights into the beliefs of the UK public that can help address the ongoing serious dog welfare issues linked to breeding for extreme conformation and low genetic diversity in popular purebred flat-faced breeds.
Flat-faced dog breeds, such as Pugs, French Bulldogs and English Bulldogs, have become increasingly popular in the UK, with many owners drawn to their distinctive flat-faced, bulging-eyed, folded-skin and large-headed appearance. However, growing evidence shows that these extreme and unnatural body conformations are associated with severe, lifelong health and welfare problems, including breathing difficulties, eye and skin disease, spinal disorders and shortened lifespans.
In response to the international flat-faced dog crisis, crossbreeding is being explored in countries such as Finland to reduce extreme traits and support reduced health issues and suffering in future flat-faced dogs, if owners continue to demand these dog types. However, to ensure there will be meaningful health and welfare gains for these new dogs, further evidence is needed to understand the health outcomes with this approach, with current and planned RVC research exploring the health outcomes from crossbreeding flat-faced dogs. In addition, data exploring public attitudes towards crossbreeding is essential to determine if this approach is likely to be accepted and embraced as a ‘new normal’ for dog breeding.
RVC research, funded by the RSPCA, Animal Welfare Foundation and Blue Cross, was therefore conducted by Dr Rowena Packer, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science; Dr Dan O’Neill, Professor of Companion Animal Epidemiology; Master’s student, Elizabeth Youens; and their research team to find out more about the public’s perceptions of crossbreeding.
This included a national online survey of 4,899 members of the UK public who were current and former dog owners, prospective owners or non-owners which examined their views on crossbreeding between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs, as well as wider attitudes to crossbreeding between non-brachycephalic breeds. For example, a Cockapoo as a cross between a Cocker Spaniel and a Poodle.
The findings revealed that the wider UK public holds divided attitudes towards crossbreeding brachycephalic dogs. Improved health was the most commonly perceived benefit of crossbreeding, cited by 43.0% of non-brachycephalic crossbreed dog owners, 37.2% of non-brachycephalic purebred owners, 42.5% of brachycephalic crossbreed owners and 33.2% of owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs. Expected health gains were cited as relating to breathing, alongside less extreme facial conformation and fewer skin, eye and dental problems. Existing owners of crossbreed brachycephalic dogs were most likely to state that crossbreeding results in better temperament and improved appearance as positive reasons for crossbreeding compared to other ownership groups. Less commonly perceived benefits across all ownership groups included improved longevity and increased genetic diversity.
However, the wider UK public also expressed concerns about crossbreeding itself causing health issues, identified by 23.5% of purebred brachycephalic dog owners, and reduced predictability of appearance and temperament of crossbred dogs, which was identified as a drawback by 12.2% of owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs and 13.1% of owners of purebred non-brachycephalic dogs. Compared to other ownership groups, existing owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs were most likely to be concerned about the loss of pedigree or ‘purity’ of the dog’s genes as a result of crossbreeding, and to consider that there would be detrimental effects on appearance.
Fears that crossbreeding could worsen canine health overall by introducing the harmful brachycephalic traits into non-brachycephalic breeds were particularly common among non-brachycephalic owners. These concerns were cited by more than a quarter of respondents in this group, compared with just 9.6% of owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs. Some respondents expressed their core ethical objections to crossbreeding on the grounds that it is inappropriate for humans to interfere in dog breeding by crossing between pure breeds, despite all purebred breeds being recent human inventions in the last few hundred years.
The differing groups of dog owners within the UK public also showed very divided attitudes towards their own future plans for ownership of dogs. An expressed desire to only ever own a purebred dog was significantly more common in owners of purebred dogs compared to owners of crossbreed dogs. Only 16.6% of non-flat faced dog owners said they would consider a brachycephalic crossbreed, with many stating they would only do so if the dog were adopted from a rescue rather than purchased. In contrast, 55.2% of owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs and 51.8% of crossbred brachycephalic dogs said they would consider acquiring a brachycephalic crossbreed in the future. This significant proportion of purebred brachycephalic dogs considering acquiring a crossbred brachycephalic dog in the future offers opportunities to transition owners away from dogs with extreme conformation and associated negative health problems.
Further evidence is now needed on the health, welfare and temperament of brachycephalic crossbreeds. If those results show positive health gains, then this could reassure owners of the benefits of moving away from extremes and breed ‘purity’, and support human behaviour change initiatives. Evidence of acceptable health in this population, combined with public acceptance of crossbreeding could also support formal recognition of either ‘designer’ brachycephalic crossbreeds or less extreme, outcrossed versions of existing pure breeds by existing dog registration bodies, or the development of new registration bodies for this purpose.
Dr Rowena Packer, Senior Lecturer in Companion Animal Behaviour and Welfare Science at the RVC, and senior author of the paper, said:
“This study shows that some public concerns about crossbreeding centre on the idea that it represents inappropriate human interference, or that it makes the health of offspring less predictable. In reality, all purebred dogs are the product of human choices, and some of those choices have led to highly predictable welfare harms, particularly in breeds with extreme body shapes such as French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs.
“If we accept that humans already shape dog populations, then we also have a responsibility to do it better. Breeding for innately healthier body shapes and greater genetic diversity through carefully planned, evidence-based crossbreeding that prioritises health over appearance offers a practical opportunity to translate that responsibility into improved welfare.”
Lauren Bennett, Scientific and Policy Officer in the Companion Animals Department at the RSPCA, said:
“The RSPCA is very pleased to have supported this research, which demonstrates a potential shift away from brachycephalic dogs. It is really positive to see that a key motivator for the acquisition of brachycephalic crossbreeds is improved health and increased genetic diversity. This alone demonstrates that the public is becoming more aware of the significant health and welfare compromise conformational-related disorders cause. If greater evidence can be produced demonstrating that strategic crossbreeding is beneficial for health, welfare and temperament, more of the public may well then feel more confident in acquiring these dogs.”
Becky Thwaites, Head of Public Affairs at Blue Cross, said:
“At Blue Cross, we all too often see French Bulldogs, Pugs and other brachycephalic dogs suffering due to their skull shape, and their compromised welfare is a direct result of humans breeding them to be this way. Responsible dog ownership starts with informed puppy purchase. It is encouraging that this research suggests many potential puppy purchasers are accepting of outcrossing where there are clear health benefits for the dogs. Every dog owner has the power to improve the future health of dogs by choosing only to buy a healthy puppy. By prioritising a dog’s health over what they look like, we can ensure they enjoy happy lives.”