New study confirms flat faced dogs have 40% increased risk of shorter lifespan

Your Pets Daily Editor — Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:00:00 +0000

New research led by the UK's largest dog welfare charity Dogs Trust provides further insight into the life expectancy of our beloved canine companions. The study published today (1st February) in Scientific Reports, explores how different factors such as breed, body size, face shape and sex affect how long our pooches live for.

The study used data from over half a million* UK dogs, from over 150 breeds and crossbreeds to highlight those dogs most at risk from an early death. The study showed the median life expectancy of all dogs was 12.5 years, with breeds such as the Lancashire Heeler (15.4 years), Tibetan Spaniel (15.2 years), and Miniature Dachshund (14.0 years), found to live the longest.

Researchers found brachycephalic dogs, those with flat-faces, like popular French Bulldogs (9.8 years) have a 40% increased risk of living shorter lives than dogs with typical shaped faces e.g., Border Collie (13.1 years). The team also found large-sized breeds have a 20% increased risk of shorter lifespan than small-sized breeds. The data was collected from 18 different UK sources**, including breed registries, vets, pet insurance companies, animal welfare charities, and academic institutions.

The nation's favourite breeds according to Dogs Trust's National Dog Survey***, Labradors (13.1 years) and Cocker Spaniels (13.3 years), lived longer than the average age. Researchers also found female dogs had a slightly higher median life expectancy than males (12.7 years compared to 12.4 years). The dog breeds with the lowest median lifespans are the Caucasian Shepherd (5.4 years), Presa Canario (7.7 years) and Cane Corso (8.1 years).

Lead author Dr Kirsten McMillan, Data Manager at Dogs Trust said: "We found life expectancy varies between breed, body size, face shape and sex - this is the first study where all of these elements have been compared and contrasted alongside evolutionary history. Many of these factors interact to compound the issue, for example medium sized, flat-faced male dogs are nearly 3 times more likely to live shorter lives than small sized, long-faced females."

"The findings have important implications for the canine pedigree health debate: although this study does not determine risk factors for early death, it does highlight groups that require further investigation. We hope this study can help breeders, policymakers, funding bodies, and welfare organizations make informed decisions to improve the welfare of companion dogs, as well as helping owners understand the range of factors that influence health and longevity, especially when acquiring a dog."

Dr Dan O'Neill, Chair of the Brachycephalic Working Group (BWG) which comprises of veterinary, breeder and welfare organisations to tackle the health and welfare issues facing flat-faced breeds, said:

"Issues related to their huge popularity and serious health problems have triggered a health and welfare crisis for flat-faced dog breeds such as the French Bulldog, Pug and English Bulldog. This new research underlines these major health issues by revealing that flat-faced dogs live 1.5 years shorter lives than typical dogs. It is crucial that the public prioritises health over what they might think looks 'cute' and we urge anyone considering getting a flat-faced breed to 'Stop and think' and to ensure that they acquire a dog with the best chances of a long and happy life."

For more advice on getting a dog responsibly, visit the Dogs Trust website.

Pugs Are The Most Tattooed Dog In The World

Your Pets Daily Editor — Fri, 23 Apr 2021 11:29:04 +0000

There’s no disputing the love we have for our four-legged friends, from a cuddly cockapoo to a loving labrador, they have definitely earned their place as a man's best friend. In fact, for many people their pooch means so much to them that they’ll have their favourite breed tattooed on them as a permanent symbol of their love.

Curious to discover which breed is the most popular in tattoo-form, pet insurance comparison site Money.co.uk analysed Google, Instagram and Pinterest data to discover the most searched for and posted dog tattoos to reveal which pooch is the most tattoo-worthy.

With nearly 25,000 Instagram posts alone, it’s the pug that is the most tattooed breed in the world. The small, wrinkled-nosed pooch has over 103% more tattoo-related posts than the French bulldog, who came in second place. Most famous for their wrinkly faces and cute curly tails, pugs are well-known for their playful and loving temperament, as well as being Queen Victoria’s favourite dog - she owned 38 in her reign. Interestingly, their small build is the complete opposite of many of four-legged friends in the top ten, such as a rottweiler and labrador.

Like the pug, the French bulldog, who takes second place, also shares the recognizable characteristics of a wrinkled face. Although the pug isn’t the smallest breed in the top ten – beaten by the Mexican-born chihuahua who comes in fourth place – it is much smaller in build than the likes of a Doberman pinscher who is third on the list and a rottweiler who ranks in the eighth position. You only have to look at the weights of our canine friends to understand the stark size difference of those appearing high up in the list; for example, an average-sized pug weighs around 8kg compared to a rottweiler who typically weighs 48kg.

Top 20 Most Tattooed Dog Breeds

Pug
French Bulldog
Doberman Pinscher
Chihuahua
Dachshund
Greyhound
Boston Terrier
Rottweiler
Poodle
Labrador
Beagle
Whippet
Schnauzer
Pomeranian
Shih Tzu
Jack Russell
Golden Retriever
Border Collie
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Chow Chow

Money.co.uk also analysed the popularity of popular pets to uncover the other animals we love enough to have permanently penned onto our skin. It’s surprising that the snake is the most popular species of choice when it comes to body art, beating cuter companions such as cats who were also found to rank above cute canines as a tattoo choice.

Most Tattooed Pets Overall

Snake
Cat
Bird
Dog
Fish
Turtle
Horse
Rabbit
Lizard
Tortoise

As a result of cats being transformed into tattoos more than dogs, Money.co.uk also looked into the specific breeds of felines that are most commonly tattooed onto our bodies. This research found that the number of sphynx cat tattoos is 820% larger than the next most popular breed of a Siamese cat. Famous for its furless skin, the sphynx cat originates from Ontario, Canada where they were developed through selective breeding in the 1960’s. The furless appearance is the complete opposite of the maine coon who is famously dubbed as ‘the gentle giant’ by Maine natives (of which it is the official state cat) due to its robust bone structure and abundance of fur.

Top 5 Most Tattooed Cat Breeds:

Sphynx
Siamese
Birman
Maine Coon
Persian

Your Pets Daily - pugs