Flat-faced dog breeds including French bulldogs, pugs and English bulldogs continue to dominate UK popularity despite severe and widespread welfare compromise from selective breeding for extreme conformation.
Brachycephalic dogs live with chronic respiratory compromise, sleep apnoea, skin fold infections and spinal disease. They routinely require corrective surgery (nostril widening, soft palate shortening) simply to breathe adequately. The normalisation of these breeds despite obvious suffering represents a systemic failure of breeding regulation and consumer awareness.