Snub nosed dogs make better guard dogs

Besides their owners finding them cute, short-nosed dogs are more affectionate and make better guard dogs than long-nosed dogs, a new study suggests.

The research, published recently in the journal PLOS ONE may help explain the growing obsession in some countries, including Australia, with short-nosed dogs. Animal welfare experts are concerned about evidence that such dogs suffer health effects and are more likely to die younger than dogs with longer noses.

Dogs are given breed awards for extreme features such as flat faces, but the flatter the faces, the more breathing problems, said Professor Paul McGreevy, an animal behaviour and animal welfare expert at the University of Sydney, who co-authored the new study. He said, “Yes the dogs look cute, but I think it’s their beguiling behaviour that compensates for the disadvantages of owning them.”

Data from over 60,000 dogs There are more than 400 recorded dog breeds of all shapes and sizes, ranging from Chihuahuas that are just 20 centimeters high and two kilograms in weight, to Newfoundlands that can reach 70 centimeters and weigh 60 kilograms. Skull length varies from seven to 28 centimeters in length. At the short and wide end of the spectrum are the pugs, bulldogs, French and British bulldogs — the so-called brachycephalic dogs. Then there are the dolichocephalic dogs, with long narrow heads, whippets and Afghans.

In a previous study of 8,000 dogs, McGreevy and colleagues found that small dogs are more likely to be aggressive and prone to ‘humping’ compared to larger dogs. In their latest research, they have analysed data over 60,000 dogs, covering 45 breeds, to examine the relationship between a dog’s physical characteristics and its behaviour.

Short vs long-nosed dogs Confirming some of the results of the earlier smaller study, the researchers found that, independent of a dog’s size, the shape of its skull also influences behaviour. The latest study found short-nosed dogs were more likely to be affectionate and follow commands than dogs with pointy faces. They were also more likely to chase a toy being lured around the ground, which meant they could be easier to train.

But when threatened by a strange presence, short-nosed dogs were more likely to have the characteristics of a good guard dog — demonstrating defensive aggression such as biting, barking and lunging at a human standing under a sheet, or a cardboard cut-out of a human. By contrast, dogs with long pointy faces were likely to be shy and cautious and less aggressive towards strangers, Professor McGreevy said.