Breeding programs could alter heritable dog characteristics to reduce the rates of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS), a breathing disorder common in dogs such as Bulldogs, French Bulldogs and Pugs—according to a new study led by Dr. Joanna Jadwiga Ilska of the Royal Kennel Club, published May 13, 2026 in the open-access journal PLOS One.
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Well, yeah. We selectively bred for shorter snouts, so of course we’d be able to do the opposite. I believe I remember reading about a European breeder trying to reverse this in French Bulldogs a few years ago.
The problem is that people want dogs with the flattest faces possible. The physical problems that come from extreme breeding aren’t a secret. Too many people simply don’t care.
