Popularity of brachycephalic dogs declining, statistics suggest
Thirty-nine per cent fewer English bulldogs were registered this year.
The Kennel Club has released statistics which suggest that the popularity of brachycephalic dogs among the general public may have decreased.
The dog registration organisation recorded a 17 per cent decrease in puppy registrations of flat-faced breeds in the past year, with three such breeds seeing declines of more than a third.
Registrations of pugs, English bulldogs and French bulldogs all dropped in 2023. The Kennel Club registered 42 per cent fewer pugs, 39 per cent fewer English bulldogs and 34 per cent fewer French bulldogs compared to the same period in 2024.
This is the most significant decrease in registrations of these breeds in over ten years in the UK, which puts each breed in the ‘top five fallers’ of the past year.
These statistics have been welcomed by the Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG), a group which works to raise awareness of the health issues associated with flat-faced breeds, and the importance of buying from a reputable breeder.
Brachycephalic breeds are often associated with severe health problems, which can include issues with breathing, difficulty giving birth and excessive skin folds. However, despite these conditions, many brachycephalic breeds have remained popular in the UK.
This has led to some breeders using low-welfare, high-volume breeding methods, or importing dogs from abroad, to meet demand for the breeds.
The BWG has voiced its hopes that the Kennel Club’s statistics mark a change in attitude in dog buyers, owners and breeders, with more consideration being made of the health and welfare implications for flat-faced dogs.
The BWG recommends buying from breeders which have health tested the parents that the puppy is being bred from. Buyers should also ask to see the mother, and ideally the father, of the puppy, to look for exaggerated features including overly short muzzles, partly closed nostrils and excessive skin folds, which may pass to the puppy.
Bill Lambert, spokesperson for The Kennel Club and BWG member, said: “We encourage all would-be owners to think very carefully about any puppy-buying decision, especially if they are thinking of getting a flat-faced dog.
“We hope the new figures are a sign of this message getting through and that there are now fewer, better-informed owners buying from responsible breeders who are doing all they can to breed healthy puppies.”
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