Research published in PLOS ONE helps to understand the recent obsession with flat-nosed dogs, a trend in many countries such as Australia, where the study was carried out. Not only because they are attractive , but because they appear to have excellent behavior , according to Paul McGreevy, author of the paper and professor at the Faculty of Veterinary Sciences at the University of Sydney. And that despite the fact that experts in animal behavior believe that these types of dogs have more health problems and are more likely to die young than nose dogs. And the fact is that the flatter the face , the greater respiratory problems it produces. So much so that sometimes it even forces you to go to surgery , says McGreevy. This expert believes that if people accept short, flat-headed dogs even though they are more expensive, have poorer health and cost more to maintain, it must be because they have something else, and not just because they are “very cute. behavior which outweighs the disadvantages of owning one of them. “
There are more than 400 registered dog breeds of all shapes and sizes, from Chihuahuas measuring just 20cm and 2kg in weight to Newfoundland 70cm and 60kg. The size of their skulls can vary up to 28 cm. Among those with the most flattened face are bulldogs and pugs, of the brachycephalic type, with a flat shape and folds on the face. At the other extreme are the dolichocephalics, combo the greyhounds, the whippet or the Afghans, with elongated and narrow heads. In a previous study of more than 8,000 dogs, McGreevy and his colleagues found that small breed dogs tend to be more aggressive, rebellious and sexually active than large dogs. The most recent study covers data from 60,000 dogs of 45 breeds, and looks at the relationship between physical characteristics and behavior.
The shape of the skull is important
Confirming some of the results of previous research, the experts found that, in addition to size, the shape of the skull has a significant influence on behavior . Thus, they have seen that snub-nosed dogs are more affectionate and obedient than pointy-faced dogs. They are also more likely to go after a toy when it is thrown at them, which means they are easier to train and tame. On the other hand, when they are threatened by a strange presence, the chatos present characteristics of good guardians, being aggressive and barking when defending themselves against a potential threat. On the contrary, the proboscis appear more shy and cautious around strangers. According to McGreevy, this would explain why greyhounds are not great guardians and Afghans tend to be distant, not very playful, and more fearful than flats.
In addition to their behavior, flat dogs are more attractive to people because the shape of their skull, and therefore their eyes, makes them look straight ahead and directly . Their vision is more “human” and there is evidence that they are better at following with their eyes where their owner is pointing them.
Of course, Professor McGreevy warns that the health problems of these dogs and their lower longevity should give food for thought when following this trend. Because, yes, we want affectionate, playful and affectionate dogs with children, but we also want them long-lived, so it would be interesting to cross them so that their skull does not continue to shorten, with consequent health problems.
