Opinions divided on brachycephalic crossbreeding
Some non-brachycephalic dog owners said they'd only acquire a brachycephalic crossbreed through adoption.
A study from the Royal Veterinary College (RVC) has highlighted divided opinion among the UK public on the benefits of brachycephalic crossbreeding.
Responses to a national online survey revealed controversy about the benefits of crossbreeding for the health, appearance and temperament of flat-faced dogs.
The college says that, while flat-faced dog breeds continue to rise in popularity, evidence is proving the impacts their distinctive features have on their health. Among their severe, lifelong conditions are breathing difficulties, skin disease and spinal disorders.
To tackle these health concerns, countries including Finland are exploring crossbreeding opportunities to reduce extreme traits, reduce health issues and ease future generations’ suffering.
Researchers from the RVC shared an online survey with 4,899 members of the public. The survey explored their attitudes towards crossbreeding between brachycephalic and non-brachycephalic dogs, as well as between non-brachycephalic breeds.
The findings revealed divided attitudes towards the crossbreeding of brachycephalic dogs.
The most commonly perceived benefit to crossbreeding was improved health for the dog. This was recorded across various different dog owners, including 43 per cent of non-brachycephalic crossbreed dog owners and 33.2 per cent of owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs.
Among the expected health gains were fewer breathing issues, less extreme facial conformations and fewer skin, eye and dental problems. Those who owned crossbred brachycephalic dogs also noted better temperament and improved appearance.
However, some respondents shared concerns that crossbreeding could in fact contribute to health issues.
The survey found that 23.5 per cent of purebred brachycephalic dog owners believed crossbreeding would cause health issues in dogs. There were also 12.2 per cent of purebred brachycephalic dog owners which said it might cause reduced predictability of appearance and temperament – an opinion shared by 13.1 per cent of owners of purebred non-brachycephalic dogs.
Some respondents also shared ethical concerns with crossbreeding practices, suggesting it was inappropriate for humans to interfere by crossing between pure-breed dogs.
The UK public was also divided in its plans for future ownership of dog breeds.
Owners of purebred dogs were more likely to only ever own a purebred dog, when compared to owners of crossbreed dogs. Only 16.6 per cent of non-brachycephalic dog owners said they would consider a brachycephalic crossbreed – but many said they would only do so via adoption.
Meanwhile, 55.2 per cent of owners of purebred brachycephalic dogs and 51.8 per cent of crossbred brachycephalic dogs said they would consider acquiring a brachycephalic crossbreed in the future.
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.”
The full study can be found in the journal PLoS One.
Image © Dina da/Shutterstock.com
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