Dogs with squashed faces have more health problems. The structure of the faces of pugs, boxers and in particular bulldogs make them prone to respiratory problems, dental trouble and other health issues.
However, small dogs live the longest.
Toy breeds can live 16 years or more. According to the Guiness Book of World Records, the smallest dog on record was a Yorkshire Terrier in Great Britain who, at the age of two, weighed just four ounces.
With larger dogs, the average life span is seven to twelve years, but the oldest dog, as quoted by the Guiness Book of World Records, was an Australian Cattle Dog who lived to 29.
The Kennel Club have made a number of improvements to its Interactive Breed Watch service so that the most accurate information about the visible health of every breed of dog can be recorded and analysed for the benefit of all dogs before they become detrimental to their health and welfare.
The RSPCA has asked the Kennel Club to take action to improve the health and welfare of pedigree dogs, due to the fact that many pure breeds endure bad health in order to look a certain way. The warning comes 5 years after a BBC documentary revealed the suffering and since then the Kennel Club developed DNA testing and screening for hereditary diseases.
From 2014 all judges at championship shows will have the opportunity to report on any visible conditions or exaggerations they consider detrimental to the health and welfare of any breed.
