Are we prioritising novelty over the health of our pets?
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has raised concerns of ‘extreme breeding’ as the first litter of hairless French Bulldogs have appeared in the UK. The dogs are believed to have been the result of the cross breeding of Chinese crested dogs, Pugs, and French Bulldogs.
Veterinarians have slammed dog breeders for creating hairless French Bulldogs
But the British Veterinary Association has issued a dire warning for this litter of hairless French Bulldogs. The national body warns that these dogs are at risk of a variety of problems later in life, including greater exposure to sunburn and heat stress. This is in addition to a greater risk of developing breathing difficulties, which is already known to be a problem in flat-faced dog breeds such as bulldogs, pugs, and Pekingese.
Justine Shotton, president of the BVA, has expressed her displeasure at people being able to make their dogs look a certain way even if it means making the animals suffer. In order to make their pets look a certain way, they’ve inadvertently created potential harm and welfare issues. She wishes that potential owners can understand that this type of extreme breeding will affect the dogs’ welfare.
A Monster was born
However, this isn’t the first case of hairless French Bulldogs. Back in 2020, US customs intercepted a hairless French Dog after it was shipped from China. Even back then, veterinarians expressed concerns that the ‘monster’ could be at risk of skin related illnesses. including skin inflammation and skin cancer.
While the reasoning behind this type of extreme breeding is unknown, Shotton believes that rarity, cuteness, and social media ‘likes’ are all potential motivations for this behaviour. Breeders often market these types of dogs as rare to attract people, who view them as a status symbol.
Crossbreeds are sometimes thought to be healthier than pedigree dogs as they will possess the ‘better’ genes from crossbreeding. However, this isn’t always the case. If they cross breed dogs that have particular health issues, there is a possibility that the offspring will inherit the worst of both worlds. And unfortunately, in some of these cross breeding experiments, veterinarians are already seeing a variety of problems.
Problem with being hairless.
An animal’s fur is important for regulating its body temperature. Thus, by removing the hair, hairless dogs face a number of problems. This includes struggling to maintain their body temperature, skin problems, and a greater risk of sunburn.
Hairless dogs face a number of potential health risks. Credit: Firn/Getty Images/iStockphoto
Bulldogs already have their own problems
While bulldogs are adorable, they have a long list of well-known health issues. Flat faced dogs, including bulldogs, have a greater risk of developing breathing problems, eye ulcers, and skin disorders. They are also prone to heatstrokes. Thus, it is not the best idea to cross breed with bulldogs as their offspring might also inherit these problems.
If you are concerned about the breeding of dogs with extreme characteristics or low welfare breeding in general, you can contact the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Australia (RSPCA) helpline here.
