Dog breeds with squished in faces?

[Dolly]

These breeds fascinate me for some reason, but frustrate me at the same time! Just for fun, I was reading up on smaller dog breeds (thank you, library book sale!), and almost all of the ones that I found appealing temperament-wise had squished in faces!

Pugs, English Toy Spaniels, Shih Tzu, Boston Terriers, Pekingese, French Bulldogs . . . they all tend to have sweet and/or calmer personalities, which I really like. But this makes me kind of sad when I think about it, because those cute flat faces come with lots of health problems, like with their eyes and breathing. I really love Shih Tzu, but reading their looong list of potential health issues would probably scare me off if I ever thought of getting one.

Out of curiosity, does anyone know WHY so many of the calmer, sweeter small breeds have squished in faces? Do they all share a background?

Just wondering. I'm on break so have had a little to much time on my hands.

 

[Zoom]

If you find a "squishy" face from a very good breeder, the health problems are minimized and if you know what you are doing when you own one, the problems are even tinier.

But Showpug would be the best answer-er person for this. That's just my opinion. She's made me fall in love with pugs...she deserves a ribbon!

 

[Dolly]

Very true, Zoom! They're such cuties though, so they are overbred, and it is so sad that there are so many around that aren't healthy. It would be pretty hard to find a good breeder, but worth it.

And just looking at showpug's signature makes me want a pug again, lol. My childhood dog was a pug, and he was the SWEETEST thing! But he was also 25+ lbs (not fat!) and went blind and deaf and started smelling really bad when he was 5, as in, he would positively reek 3 days after a bath with odor-control dog shampoo. He lived to be 15 . . . :yikes:

 

[showpug]

Well, I have to say that ALL breeds come with their list of health problems. Yes, pugs do have their problems as do shi tzus' etc. but what dog doesn't? This should by no means scare you away from getting one if it's the right type of dog for you and if it would fit into your lifestyle.

When researching a breed, it is easy to get scared off. I was nervous when reading about pugs, but there wasn't any stopping me, it was and still is the breed that owns my heart.

I have owned 4 pugs and will be bringing home my 5th next week. I have had no health problems related to breathing or eyes. No major health problems of any type for that matter except my precious pug, Mabel who died from pug dog encephalitis, but that disease had nothing to do with a smooshed in face. It was a fatal neurological disease. My pugs don't have skin problems, allergies, breathing problems, joint problems or heart problems and they don't stink at all! The smell can come from poor diet or an owner who fails to keep up on ear and nose wrinkle hygiene. A good diet usually makes for healthy ears and wrinkles though. To date, my pugs have been the most stable, sturdy and iron gut dogs that I have owned.

If you want a smooshie face breed then do your reasearch on breeders. I have known many, many Shi Tzus that lived very long, problem free lives. Make sure your breeder has up to date CERF numbers on the sire and dam and that they got a normal CERF result. I would also make sure they have done an OFA Cardiac screen as well and checked breeding stock for luxating patellas. When you find a breeder, go meet with them and meet their dogs. Take note of if their dogs are heavy breathers or if they are panting a lot. Healthy dogs should not be noisy breathers and should pant maybe a little bit more than a dog with a longer muzzle would. When you look to pick out a puppy from a litter check it's nostrils and make sure there is a fair opening and that the nostrils are not pinched etc.

I obviously don't get that scared, I have a bulldog for heavens sake and they hold the trophy for breed health problems. Mine is 6 months and has been very healthy *fingers crossed* but we have a long road ahead as well.

P.S...Thanks Zoom. I am so happy to hear that you are a converted pug fan, LOL!

 

[girlbuffalo1]

What about

What if you keep an eye out for adopting/rescuing a mix of these breeds. Of course with mixes you are never sure what you are going to get--but you could get a lot of the qualities you want if you find the right dog--and not as many of the issues if they happen to be mixed with something with a longer snout. I am pretty sure Wrigley is a shih/schnauzer/lhasa mix--he has a short nose but it isn't pushed in and he breathes just fine! LOL (I'm biased though)

 

[oc_spirit]

Its because they were bred mainly as companions therefore they must have that sweet disposition or else..well...logically...they wouldn't make as good of a sweet little lap dog. Now the larger "squishy faced" breeds, that's a whole other story.

 

[Dolly]

showpug ~ thank you for your thoughtful reply and the advice; I am officially impressed by your doggies! It is wonderful to see that you have so many adorable, healthy pugs. You're proof it can be done! Thinking about it, I know our pug was from some sort of puppy mill or huge kennel, from what vague memories I have of the place (LOTS of dogs). My idea of dog grooming at the time was a very simplistic: brush, bathe + wash face, and dry. It never occured to me to clean a dog's eyes! And boy do I feel silly now looking back at what we fed him -- I now know that science diet is NOT top of the line, lol.

I hope you baby bulldog grows into as healthy an adult as his pug siblings!

girlbuffalo1 ~ I'm not planning on getting a dog like these, but I really like your idea! If you cross a dog with a squished nose and one without, the nose is almost always more moderate. And btw, Wrigley is so cuuute!

oc_spirit ~ good point! If you're going to laze around on a lap you'd better be a sweetie! I just didn't get why companion dog = squished in face, lol.

 

[puppydog]

Try a toy pom. Mine loves to laze about on my lap and cuddle but can also handle a romp around the garden very well. Besides, her cute turned up little button nose slays me!

I LOVE pugs tho, I have fallen so in love with them and my next toy doggie is definately a pug!

 

[~Jessie~]

There is no such thing as a "toy pom." A pomeranian is a toy breed, yes, but there is only one variety of pomeranian- the pomeranian

 

[miss_missy]

Dodger

I have a Lhasa Apso he is about 5 months and everyone refers to him as, " oh you mean the dog that look likes he ran into a truck." Poor baby but he is still so very cute. In fact when i saing he starts going crazy, It is so funny. i will be posting pics soon.