Come for the looks, stay for the personality? A mixed methods investigation of reacquisition and owner recommendation of Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs

Abstract

Brachycephalic breeds are proliferating internationally, with dramatic rises in popularity juxtaposed with common and severe breed-related health problems. Physical appearance is as a dominant factor attracting owners to brachycephalic breeds; however, whether these owners will choose their current breed for future ownership and develop ‘breed-loyalty’ in the face of health problems is not yet known. The aims of this study were (1) to quantify levels of, and explore factors associated with, brachycephalic dog owners’ intentions to: (i) reacquire and/or (ii) recommend their current breed to potential first-time dog owners, and (2) to use qualitative methods to explore why brachycephalic dog owners would or would not recommend their current breed. This large mixed methods study reports on 2168 owners of brachycephalic breeds (Pugs: n = 789; French Bulldog: n = 741; Bulldogs: n = 638). Owners were highly likely to want to own their breed again in the future (93.0%) and recommend their breed to other owners (65.5%). Statistical modelling identified that first-time ownership and increased strength of the dog-owner relationship increased the likelihood of reacquisition and/or recommendation. In contrast, an increased number of health problems, positive perception of their dog’s health compared with the rest of their breed, and dog behaviour being worse than expected decreased the likelihood of reacquisition and/or recommendation. Thematic analyses constructed three themes describing why owners recommend their breed: positive behavioural attributes for a companion dog, breed suited to a sedentary lifestyle with limited space, and suitability for households with children. Five themes described why owners recommended against their breed: high prevalence of health problems, expense of ownership, ethical and welfare issues associated with breeding brachycephalic dogs, negative effects upon owner lifestyle and negative behavioural attributes. Understanding how breed-loyalty develops, and whether it can be attenuated, will be key to controlling the current population boom in brachycephalic breeds in the long-term.

Pandemic Puppies: Characterising Motivations and Behaviours of UK Owners Who Purchased Puppies during the 2020 COVID-19 Pandemic

“…Bites peaked during May to July 2020, with the authors of that study speculating that increased exposure to dogs due to the acquisition of Pandemic Puppies as 2020 progressed may have been one reason for this increase [ 70 ]. The desire for a dog that is safe with children has been cited in several studies characterising the ‘ideal companion dog’ [ 71 , 72 ] and perceived suitability for living with children has driven the recent surge in brachycephalic dogs [ 73 ]. However, with no robust evidence that breed is a risk or protective factor for dog bites [ 74 ], urgent owner education is needed to raise awareness of the dog bite risk to children and promote safe interactions with dogs within and outside of the household.…”

Frequency, Stressfulness and Type of Ethically Challenging Situations Encountered by Veterinary Team Members During the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…The authors then discussed differences in their coding. Frequencies of themes and subthemes were measured (21). Quotations from respondents are identified by professional role.…”

French Bulldogs differ to other dogs in the UK in propensity for many common disorders: a VetCompass study

“…‘Undesirable behaviour’ spans a diverse range of behaviours that owners report as unwanted; these behaviours say as much about what owners accept and expect from their dog as they do about the true behavioural patterns of the dog itself [ 70 ]. In line with this tendency to show behaviours that are favourable to owners, French Bulldogs were also protected to aggression (aOR 0.64) which may further explain why the breed is considered as an ideal family dog by many owners [ 7 , 68 ]. Indeed, the description from The Kennel Club of French Bulldogs as ‘the popular clown of the bull breeds’ may find wide appeal with the general public, corroborated by findings of a recent study that explored why owners of brachycephalic breeds, including French Bulldogs, would recommend their breed [ 7 ].…”

“…Exploration of these relationships has revealed some of the interpretations and indeed, misinterpretations, of the health and behaviour of brachycephalic breeds [ 6 , 64 ]. Owners commonly perceive the ‘funny’ personality of these dogs as ‘unique and special’ [ 6 , 7 ]. In support of this view, undesirable behaviour represented the ultra-protection with the lowest adjusted odds ratio (aOR 0.09) compared with non-French Bulldogs.…”

“…Within efforts to encourage owners to incorporate health criteria during their decision-making on breed selection, and with an aim to reduce demand for breeds with extreme brachycephalic conformation such as the French Bulldog, the UK Brachycephalic Working Group promotes a wide public message that recommends ‘Stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog’ [ 5 ]. Although owners of brachycephalic dogs often acknowledge the existence of serious health issues in breeds such as French Bulldogs, these owners remain highly bonded to these breeds and show enduringly high tendencies to recommend and to re-purchase these breeds regardless in the future [ 6 , 7 ]. In support of the aims of the UK Brachycephalic Working Group to provide a robust evidence base on the overall health of individual brachycephalic breeds, the current study was designed to provide a holistic view of breed health in French Bulldogs compared to other dogs.…”