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By Allison Wasieleski Fawn Pug Puppy Laying on Ground | Photo by JC Gellidon on Unsplash Although it is easy for pugs to win over our hearts with their undying affection, squishable faces, and silly snorts, there is an upsetting truth lying underneath their adorable exteriors. Selectively breeding pugs to get this adorable look has resulted in pugs experiencing debilitating medical issues at the hands of humans. Selectively breeding pugs to the point of deformation and persistent medical issues is both unethical and irresponsible. Pugs’ current appearance has been made possible through generations of selective breeding that focuses on aesthetic appearance over medical wellbeing. Pugs are easily recognizable because of their wrinkled skin, large eyes, and flat faces, but pugs didn’t always look this way. Originally, pugs had long legs, longer noses, straight tails, and a slim build. Over time, the presence of baby-like and enlarged features on dogs gained popularity, so people began selectively breeding pugs to enhance these qualities. While the breed’s flat face, bulging eyes, wrinkled skin, and tendency towards obesity are often considered cute by the public they pose serious health concerns. Luckily, there is growing awareness of these severe health problems, but there is still not enough being done to minimize these issues. As pugs’ appearances continue to stray further from their original features, their health degenerates as a result. Pug caretakers claim to love their furry friends, but their demand for these disfigurements reflects sentiments of harm rather than affection.
Some people may argue their pug is relatively healthy and doesn’t suffer exponentially, but outlying cases like this do not speak for the majority of pugs and the statistics of their agony. Although non-pugs can suffer from similar issues, it is almost never to the same extent and is not nearly as common as it is in pugs’ cases. A study by the Royal Veterinary College at the University of London compared the health of pugs to non-pugs and found that of the 40 most common disorders across pug and non-pug groups of dogs, pugs had a higher risk of 23 out of the 40 (57.5%) disorders compared with a lower risk of only seven out of 40 (17.5%) disorders. Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, which results in difficulty breathing, was the disorder with the highest risk in pugs, with the breed almost 54 times more likely to have the condition. The study also found that pugs are at higher risk of a shocking number of other conditions compared to non-pugs, including:
Another claim made to justify the current state of pugs’ appearances is the idea that they wouldn’t be as desired if they weren’t bred this way. Like many other dogs, pugs aren’t loved solely for their looks, but for their temperament and personality traits as well. Pugs have been described as sturdy little dogs with big personalities, a sweet temperament, good-natured spirits, spunk, and adaptability. Pugs do well in many different living situations, including homes with kids, older adults, other companion animals, in the city, or in the country. There is so much more to both human and non-human animals than their appearance! By prioritizing the adoption of companion animals based on their individual personalities and needs rather than superficial characteristics, companion animal caretaking will become much more ethical and appropriate. When you shop for a pedigree or specific breed of dog, that dog often comes from a store, which sources from mass breeding facilities. These facilities are often unclean, crowded, and inhumane, and studies published during the past 23 years have suggested that dogs sold through stores and/or born in high-volume, commercial breeding establishments show an increased number of problem behaviors as adults. If you agree that the selective breeding and selling of pugs should stop, but you still find yourself wanting to adopt a dog with the personality traits of pugs, you are in luck! The most common dog breeds found in shelters, which are pit bulls, Labrador retrievers, German shepherds, dachshunds, Chihuahuas, and boxers, have many personality traits in common with pugs; such as being good with kids, their friendliness, high trainability, loyalty, and countless other qualities. Settling for cruelty is never your only option. If you still have your heart set on getting a pug, you can work directly with a reputable pug rescue, such as Tiny Paws Pug Rescue, but be prepared to pay for their long-term medical care. The selective breeding of pugs resulting in deformation and chronic health issues is not only unethical, but also irresponsible. In order to live in harmony with our companion animals, we must reassess our treatment and standard of care for them, as we are the stewards of their well-being. For years we have realized how detrimental our breeding practices have been to pugs, and it’s time for us to stand up for other animals who don’t have a voice and end their unnecessary suffering. ReferencesBest, Shivali. “What Your Pedigree Dog Breed Looked Like Centuries Ago: Dachshunds, Bulldogs and Basset Hounds Have Been Cruelly Overbred to Have Floppier Ears and Tiny Legs – as Vets Warn Obsession with Flat-Faces Has Left Pugs Enduring a ‘Lifetime of Suffering.’” Daily Mail Online, Associated Newspapers, 18 May 2022, www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/article-10828681/Vets-reveal-pugs-USED-look-like-amid-warning-breed-cruelly-overbred.html. “Finding Pugs: Tiny Paws Pug Rescue.” Finding Pugs | Tiny Paws Pug Rescue, www.tinypawspugrescue.org/. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024. McMillan, Franklin D. “Behavioral and Psychological Outcomes for Dogs Sold as Puppies through Pet Stores and/or Born in Commercial Breeding Establishments: Current Knowledge and Putative Causes.” Journal of Veterinary Behavior, Elsevier, 28 Jan. 2017, www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1558787817300102. “New Research Shows Pugs Have High Health Risks and Can No Longer Be Considered a ‘typical Dog’ from a Health Perspective.” RVC, www.rvc.ac.uk/vetcompass/news/new-research-shows-pugs-have-high-health-risks-and-can-no-longer-be-considered-a-typical-dog-from-a-health-perspective. Accessed 11 Apr. 2024. Stregowski, Jenna. “Learn about the Loving and Charming Pug.” The Spruce Pets, The Spruce Pets, 15 Dec. 2023, www.thesprucepets.com/pug-dog-breed-profile-1117989#:~:text=Pugs%20generally%20have%20a%20very,the%20yard%20with%20their%20families. “The 6 Most Common Dogs in Animal Shelters - and Why You Should Consider Taking Them Home.” PEDIGREE®, 12 May 2023, www.pedigree.com/dog-care-articles/6-most-common-dogs-animal-shelters-and-why-you-should-consider-taking-them-home. Author Bio
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This is a website about nonhuman animals, written by human animals taking a Society and Animals class at Minnesota State University, Mankato. Archives
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