The increasing popularity of smaller pedigree dogs among Australian consumers in the last 28 years leads to health concerns for canine welfare. The short, wide heads of these small dogs can help veterinary experts forecast the frequency of diseases normally associated with a dog's head size.
In the study published in the Canine Genetics and Epidemiology journal, the researchers analyzed 180 dog breeds from the Australian National Kennel Council (ANKC) statistics from 1986 to 2013. Specifically, they looked for trends in the demands from Australian consumers for purebred dogs.
Based on height and weight values, the dogs were divided into four groups: small (54 breeds weighing less than 10 kilograms or 22 pounds), medium (62 breeds weighing 10 kilograms to less than 25 kilograms or 22 to less than 55 pounds), large (42 breeds that weigh 25 to less than 40 kilograms or 55 to less than 88 pounds) and giant (22 breeds weighing 40 kilograms and above, or 88 pounds or more).
In the span of 28 years, the registration for small- and medium-sized breeds surged by 4.2 percent and 5.3 percent, respectively, relative to large breeds. Compared to the giant dogs, the demand for small- and medium-sized dogs increased by 11 percent and 12.1 percent, respectively.
"Australians are favoring brachycephalic breeds, dogs with shorter and wider heads, such as the Pug and the French bulldog, more than those with longer and thinner heads," said the University of Sydney's Kendy Teng, the study's lead researcher.
These brachycephalic dogs typically have breathing difficulties and digestive disorders. They also have common eye and skin conditions, and veterinarians are showing increasing concerns for the health and welfare of these small breeds.
"The breeds that are increasing in popularity unfortunately are plagued by a plethora of different health problems - we are talking about issues from head to tail," said the Royal Veterinary College's Dr. Rowena Packer.
The researchers suggested that the shift in preferences also revealed changes in lifestyle. In past decades, dogs are often chosen to help in human activities such as guarding and hunting. For these activities, consumers normally chose larger breeds.
Today, however, dogs are mostly chosen for companionship. The change in preference could also have been affected by living space limitations. The downsizing from houses to apartments or flats could have affected the consumers' choice of dog breeds.
