Don’t Take Any Lip from Bulldogs

By SAM URETSKY

“Outside of a dog, a book is man’s best friend. Inside of a dog it’s too dark to read,” Attributed to Grouch Marx, but possibly written by S.J. Perelman

Kristi Noem, the governor of South Dakota and aspiring vice presidential candidate if Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination for president, wrote a book noting proudly that she had shot Cricket, a 14-month-old wire-haired pointer who was too excitable and untrainable. It set off a large number of editorials. Humans and dogs have had a symbiotic relationship for about 15,000 years, though some evidence suggests the relationship may date back as far as 36,000 years. Our species has been breeding dogs for specific purposes almost that long. After all, Carthage had elephants and the Romans opposed them with dogs. They were big dogs, but still not that big – and the Romans won.

It has been suggested (by Google’s Gemini) that “While there aren’t definitive statistics crowning a single champion, strong evidence suggests dogs are the most selectively bred animal species. Here’s why:

“Length of Selective Breeding: The history of dog breeding goes way back. Estimates suggest humans have been selectively breeding dogs for at least 9,000 years, possibly even longer [newrootsinstitute.org].

“Diversity of Breeds: This long history has resulted in an incredible range of breeds. The World Canine Organization recognizes over 360 distinct dog breeds, each with unique characteristics bred for specific purposes.”

In 2022, the Labrador Retriever, which had been the most popular purebred dog breed in the United States for 31 years, lost its title to the French Bulldog. The Lab was #2 both years. According to the American Kennel Club “The bright, affectionate Frenchie is a charmer. Dogs of few words, Frenchies don’t bark much, but their alertness makes them excellent watchdogs. They happily adapt to life with singles, couples, or families, and do not require a lot of outdoor exercise” The French Bulldog has also been recommended as a companion for the elderly. They are modest in size, no more than 28 pounds, and do not require extensive grooming.

The Frenchie’s natural charm and good looks should be enough to earn the breed a measure of popularity, but it seems increased dramatically by the number of celebrities who have chosen the French Bulldog as a companion. Probably the best known is Lady Gaga, who has three French Bulls, Koji, Asia and Gustav. The pages of Instagram are filled with pictures of the trio, from the New York Post and Rolling Stone.

Other celebs who have been seen with French Bulldogs are Reese Witherspoon, Megan Thee Stallion, Hugh Jackman who plays the Wolverine in the Marvel X-Men movies, and even Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson. David Beckham, Snoop Dogg, and Leonardo DiCaprio have posted pictures of their dogs on social media sites.

But as delightful as the French Bull and related breeds like the pug, the British Bulldog, the Boston Terrier, Shih Tzu, Pekingese, Lhasa Apso and several others may be unwelcome in much of western Europe and possibly in the state of New Hampshire. On March 24, Fox television reported, “First-of-its-kind bill could limit bulldog, pug breeding” “ New Hampshire could become the first state in the country to limit the breeding of certain flat-faced dogs, as well as any other animals that are bred with extreme physical deformities.”

The Bulldog was probably the first of the brachycephalic, canines. They were bred for Bull Baiting – where a tethered bull was attacked by a group of dogs. The short muzzles, undershot jaws or protruding lower jaw, and punched-in noses helped the dogs hold a vice-like grip on the bulls. Also, the nose was far back on the dog’s face, which helped the dog hold the bull while still being able to breathe.” This led breeders to selectively breed for the pushed in face trait, which has given the majority of brachycephalic dogs respiratory problems. The British Bulldogs appear to be in chronic pain because of their selective breeding.

There have ben records of breeds that were “ruined” by breeders focused on appearance rather than character and desirable traits. Brachycephalic dogs are prone to a collection of health problems:

• Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) :trouble breathing

• Eye Problems: Their protruding eyes are more susceptible to injuries, dryness, and ulcers.

• C-section Delivery: The large heads of brachycephalic puppies can make natural birth difficult, often requiring a C-section.

There are other problems with the skin and digestion – but the dogs are cute, and celebrities love them. As Americans, we love dogs, and Gov Noem didn’t get many fans for shooting her dog. In fact, Cricket may really have been incorrigible. There was a time when the Saint Bernard, the Gentle Giant, suffered from behavioral problems. The breeders were trying to get a show dog appearance and neglected to breed for behavior. In this case the proposal to ban breeding of Bulls, French Bulls, and Pugs, is intended to protect the dog, not humans. The term of breeding is called “torture breeding.” The dogs should be protected from the breeders, not the other way around.

Sam Uretsky is a writer and pharmacist living in Louisville, Ky. Email sam.uretsky@gmail.com

From The Progressive Populist, July 1-15, 2024

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