Why French Bulldogs Can't Breathe: The Truth About Breeding for Looks

Everyone loves French Bulldogs. But behind those adorable bat ears and smushed faces lies a troubling reality: many of these dogs struggle to breathe every single day of their lives.

Host Penny Ellison, animal law professor and advocate, examines how selective breeding for appearance has created dogs predisposed to suffering—and what we can do about it.

In this episode, we explore:

• What selective breeding is and how the shift from breeding for function to breeding for looks has harmed dogs
• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS)—why flat-faced dogs can't breathe properly and what those "cute" snorting sounds really mean
• The health consequences beyond breathing: eye problems, dental issues, sleep apnea, inability to regulate body temperature, and reproductive failure
• How Bulldogs looked in the 1850s versus today—and what that transformation reveals
• Other breeds paying the price. of selective breeding: Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, German Shepherds, Great Danes, and Dachshunds
• The shelter irony: why flat-faced dogs get adopted in minutes while healthy mixed breeds wait for months
• How other countries are responding—from Germany's constitutional protections to Norway's breeding ban to the UK's new respiratory testing requirements at Crufts

Key Takeaway: We created these breeds, and we can reverse the trend. Every time we choose health over appearance, share information about these issues, support breeders who prioritize welfare or, of course, choose a shelter dog, we move closer to a world where loving dogs doesn't mean condemning them to struggle.

Resources Mentioned:

• British Veterinary Association's "Breed to Breathe" campaign
• UK's "End the Trend" campaign targeting brachycephalic breeds in advertising
• "Can the Bulldog Be Saved?" – New York Times Magazine article on how bulldogs have changed over time