Items13The creator’s order
  1. 1PugPugPugs are among the breeds most affected by airway disease in UK studies, so the parents' breathing grades from the Respiratory Function Grading Scheme come first; grade 0 or 1 is what you hope to see. The prominent eyes are prone to ulcers and pigment spreading across the cornea, which is why a…0i
  2. 2French BulldogFrench BulldogNarrow nostrils and an overlong soft palate leave a large share of French Bulldogs with some degree of breathing obstruction, so a breathing grade on both parents is the minimum the Royal Kennel Club recommends. Its best-practice list adds hip, elbow and eye scheme results and the DNA test for…0i
  3. 3BulldogBulldogThe Bulldog brings the airway problems of a flat face together with heavy skin folds, a tight tail and a broad, low frame, so the questions go beyond breathing. The Royal Kennel Club's minimum checks are a breathing grade and an eye certificate, as inturned eyelids and cherry eye are common. Hip…0i
  4. 4PekingesePekingeseIn a 2026 University of Cambridge study of 14 short-faced breeds, the Pekingese was the most affected: almost nine in ten dogs showed signs of airway disease, and only about 6% had open nostrils. That puts it on a par with the Pug and French Bulldog. Its breathing grade became a recognised Royal…0i
  5. 5Japanese ChinJapanese ChinEasy to file under low-risk toy breeds, the Japanese Chin was the second most affected breed in the same 2026 Cambridge study, with around 82% of dogs showing signs of airway disease and fewer than one in five having open nostrils. Ask for the parents' breathing grades, recognised by the Royal…0i
  6. 6Boston TerrierBoston TerrierThe Boston Terrier sits in the moderate group for breathing problems, but Cambridge researchers found it more likely than most breeds studied to have narrowed nostrils, so look at the parents' noses as well as their grades. Its large, forward-facing eyes are a frequent site of ulcers, and the breed…0i
  7. 7Shih TzuShih TzuThe flowing coat makes it easy to forget the Shih Tzu has a flat face, yet it sits in the moderate-risk group of the 2026 Cambridge study, where between half and three quarters of dogs showed some sign of airway disease. A breathing grade has been a recognised Royal Kennel Club test since August…0i
  8. 8King Charles SpanielKing Charles SpanielNot to be confused with the Cavalier, the King Charles Spaniel has a much shorter, upturned face and falls in the Cambridge study's moderate-risk group for breathing. It shares the Cavalier's skull-related problem: Chiari-like malformation with syringomyelia, where fluid-filled cavities form in the…0i
  9. 9Griffon BruxelloisGriffon BruxelloisThis small Belgian toy breed is in the moderate-risk group for airway disease, and Cambridge researchers found it more likely than most breeds studied to have narrowed nostrils. Its other major concern is neurological. Chiari-like malformation with syringomyelia, where the skull is too small for…0i
  10. 10Dogue de BordeauxDogue de BordeauxA giant breed is easy to leave off a flat-face shortlist, but the Dogue de Bordeaux's short muzzle puts it in the moderate-risk group for airway disease, and in a dog this heavy, overheating is a real concern. The Royal Kennel Club's minimum checks are hip, elbow and eye scheme results, reflecting…0i