Flat-faced dog breeds including French Bulldogs, pugs, and English Bulldogs have become extremely popular despite suffering chronic health problems caused by their extreme anatomy.
The welfare crisis of brachycephalic breeds is severe and systemic. Dogs bred for extreme flat faces cannot breathe normally. They snore, struggle to exercise, overheat easily, sleep poorly, and experience chronic discomfort from obstructed airways. Skin fold infections, eye problems, and spinal issues compound breathing difficulties. Cesarean section is required for reproduction in most individuals as puppies' heads are too large for natural birth. These dogs are literally bred to suffer for human aesthetic preferences. Choosing one of these breeds perpetuates the demand that sustains the breeding industry producing more suffering animals.