Flat-faced dog breeds are prone to a host of health conditions, say experts, who warn that events may raise their popularity and fuel trend for unhealthy breeds

A growing craze for pug-themed social events has drawn criticism from experts who fear they could help fuel the fashion for the squashed-nosed dogs.

Flat-faced breeds, including French bulldogs and pugs, have soared in popularity in recent years, with data from the Kennel Club in the UK revealing that annual registrations of pugs alone rose from 2,681 to 10,408 between 2006 and 2016. The two breeds are now the third and fourth most popular in the UK respectively, with Labradors remaining top dog at almost 34,000 registrations in 2016.



But the trend has raised concerns among experts who warn that brachycephalic breeds like pugs are prone to a host of health conditions, from breathing difficulties to skin and eye problems, which experts say are down to selective breeding for ever-more exaggerated physical traits. As a result, vets say many of the dogs are permanently suffering. Last year the British Veterinary Association called on would-be owners to shun short-nosed canines for healthier breeds.

Now veterinarians say they are worried that the recent craze for pug-themed social events, from pop-up cafes offering “puguccinos” – shots of cream in an espresso cup – for the dogs to venues serving “pugtails” for the dogs’ owners, could make matters worse.

“People are drawn to these dogs based on appearance while completely pushing aside all of the health issues,” said Rowena Packer, a researcher at the Royal Veterinary College. “If you are putting on a fun environment where everyone is very excited to have them there, and there is no health message behind that whatsoever, then it is just fuelling this appearance-based desire to spend time with them.”

“It is just irresponsible to be having these events where [these dogs] are celebrated [for] their looks without any serious educational message alongside it,” she added.

Paul McGreevy, a professor of animal behaviour and animal welfare science at the University of Sydney, agreed. “[Pug clubs] may be fun at first glance but it overlooks how easily we have dismissed and normalised what amounts to a diseased state,” he said.

Gudrun Ravetz, senior vice-president of the British Veterinary Association, was also worried. “Anything that popularises these dogs we would have a concern about,” she said, “because we may get again a growth in their numbers, therefore you have a number of animals that have significant health and welfare problems.”

Ravetz also said the motivations of owners attending such social events needed to come under scrutiny. “I think we need to question whether people are going to these cafes because they enjoy it, they want to be seen with their pug. It is all about the human owners, rather than the health of the pet,” she said.

The health problems of pugs can also be exacerbated by obesity, Ravetz added, pointing out that taking dogs to cafes might mean they end up being given inappropriate or unhealthy food. “A lot of the pugs that we see are obese,” she said.

But organisers of the pug-themed events say they are a fun way to bring pugs and their owners together.

“Our guests have a great time chatting, making friends and getting to know each other’s pugs while they play and enjoy some wholesome doggy treats,” said Anushka Fernando, organiser of the Pug Cafe pop-up events that have taken place around the UK, including in Brighton, Guildford and London.



Fernando stressed that dog welfare was considered. “We encourage anyone thinking of getting a dog to research the breed – not just pugs – very carefully, take out comprehensive pet insurance and where possible adopt rather than shop,” she said.

Aida Martinez of cafe Pugs & Pals said that she and co-founder Bartosz Kołodziejczyk came up with the idea of a pug cafe after becoming owners of their puppy, Mia. A pop-up weekend in Brick Lane for pugs and French bulldogs is set for 26-29 October with the cafe expected to become permanent in December, when other breeds will also be allowed over the threshold, Martinez said.

Martinez, too, said pug welfare was of concern. “Our take is that we think these breeds are popular anyhow, so what we are doing is we are reaching out to dog shelters,” she said, adding that possibilities include bringing fostered pugs into the cafe to raise awareness of rehoming and give would-be owners a chance to ask questions about the breed.

But Packer said promoting rehoming is not enough. “It doesn’t get to the root of the matter, which is that people are buying these animals in a really frivolous, materialistic way,” she said. .”



Rather than pug cafes, Ravetz said it is better to embrace the outdoors. “We would much rather people go out, enjoy their dogs, go for a lovely long walk with them and let them do normal dog behaviour things” she said.