A solution right under our nose? Exploring health implications and public demand for brachycephalic ‘designer’ outcrosses (Complete)

People: Dan O'Neill, Rowena Packer

People: Lizzie Youens, Dan O'Neill, Rowena Packer

Dates: July 2023 - Jan 2025

Background

pug cross.jpg

Demand continues to rise for brachycephalic (flat-faced) dog breeds in the UK. Evidence documenting links between extreme flat-faces and the risk of severe, chronic disease (e.g. breathing and eye problems) has failed to lead to conformational-changes (e.g. increased muzzle length) required to protect canine welfare. Breeders continue to select for extreme show-ring standards, and puppy-buyers continue to favour extreme-brachycephalic breeds (e.g. French Bulldogs, Pugs, English Bulldogs).

Educational efforts have not resulted in substantial changes to owner attitudes, with normalisation of health problems pervasive. Alternative evidence-informed strategies to change demand are urgently needed to protect canine welfare. Leveraging the current popularity of ‘designer crossbreeds’ (intentional crosses of purebred-breeds) offers one route to shifting demand towards more-moderately shaped dogs. However, the health-status and public attitudes towards brachycephalic-outcrosses are poorly understood.

Aims

This project poses two questions:

  • Do brachycephalic-outcrosses exhibit improved respiratory and ‘innate’ health characteristics compared to their extreme-brachycephalic parent-breed?
  • Do brachycephalic-outcrosses meet the aesthetic-preferences of people who desire extreme-brachycephalic purebreds?

Method

These questions will be addressed by:

  • Conducting health assessments of Pug-crosses (selected based on current popularity/availability for study) using validated respiratory assessments, questionnaires and conformational-health metrics (e.g. skull shape, tail length/shape, skin folds), to compare against existing data on purebred-Pugs.
  • Conducting a large-scale, online survey of aesthetic preferences and perceptions of the health, behaviour and ethics of brachycephalic-outcrosses more broadly, in current/prospective owners of extreme-brachycephalic purebreds.

Funding Partners

This project is jointly funded by the Animal Welfare Foundation, RSPCA, and the Blue Cross.

Papers

"You could get the best of both breeds or the worst of both": UK public attitudes towards crossbreeding in dogs - with a specific focus on brachycephalic dogs
Youens, E., O'Neill, D.G., Belshaw, Z., Neufuss, J., Tivers, M.S., Packer, R.M.A. (2026) PLoS ONE

Beauty versus the beast: The UK public prefers less-extreme body shapes in brachycephalic dog breeds
Youens, E., O'Neill, D.G., Belshaw, Z., Mochizuki, S., Neufuss, J., Tivers, M.S., Packer, R.M.A. (2025) Vet Record

Infographics

Conference presentations

Youens, E., O'Neill, D.G., Belshaw, Z., Mochizuki, S., Neufuss, J., Tivers, M.S., Packer, R.M.A. (2025). Beauty vs the Beast: UK public preferences on extremeness of body shapes in brachycephalic dog breeds (Oral presentation). BSAVA, Manchester, UK.

In the press

Vet Compass Project Type: Dog

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