Mabel the Rescue Dog

6 min read (Articles narrated by Mabel)

Molly and I love all dog breeds. They’re all equally adorable, but not everyone sees it that way. Many humans become so obsessed with a certain breed that they don’t want to even consider other breeds. And oftentimes, these breeds are the ones that breeding is the most dangerous and inhumane for. So, we’ve compiled a list of dog breeds that you should avoid getting from a breeder more than others.

Now, this list doesn’t mean you should never have these dogs. It just means you should adopt them instead of buy them. Because until these breeding problems are fixed, dogs will only get more hurt by these breeds being bred.

#1 – American Pit Bull Terrier

If you read my blog regularly, then you probably know that we love Pit Bull breeds, but we don’t want them to be bred more right now. While the American Pit Bull Terrier is not a breed recognized by the AKC, they’re one of the most common Pit Bull breeds out there. The term “Pit Bull” is an umbrella term for any dog with a muscular build, so it’s not a specific breed. Yet, a lot of dogs are hurt because of it, and American Pit Bull Terriers are one of the most overpopulated breeds today. In fact, Pit Bull breeds have a 93% euthanasia rate, which means only one in 600 of them find a forever home. That’s because humans keep breeding them, but not enough people want to adopt them due to false stereotypes.

#2 – Pug

Pugs are adorable without a doubt, which is why they’re probably so popular. Many humans breed them simply for appearance, but a dog’s breed should never be your priority when choosing a dog. The reason we don’t want people to breed Pugs so much is very different than Pit Bulls. Instead, it’s because Pugs are bred to purposely have health problems. People adore a Pug’s short snout, so breeders keep breeding them with snouts as short as possible. Because of this, most Pugs suffer from uncomfortable and potentially life-threatening breathing problems, especially as they age. While your Pug might be perfectly healthy, the business of breeding Pugs is dangerous for the dogs. If we want to make breeding flat-faced dogs safe, then breeders need to start making a change and breeding them with healthier traits, not just attractive ones. So, we believe that humans shouldn’t support this type of breeding until this happens. Please adopt instead!

#3 – American Bulldog

Not only is the American Bulldog a brachycephalic breed (flat-faced breed) like the Pug, but they can also be considered Pit Bulls. So, not only are they prone to health concerns that were likely caused by breeding, but they’re also likely to be overlooked at shelters. So, if you adore this breed, please consider adopting one.

#4 – English Bulldog

English Bulldogs are an unusual breed, but like Pugs, people love them because of their flat faces. These dogs are also short and round, which many humans can’t resist. But even though humans pay big bucks to breed these lazy pups, they have more health concerns than almost any other breed. Essentially, humans are paying thousands of dollars to breed dogs who are prone to having severe breathing problems and are also prone to skin conditions due to their cute wrinkly skin. So, these dogs are going to be much more work than they seem, and they should probably have higher breeding standards to avoid these critical health problems.

#5 – French Bulldog

French Bulldogs have the same problems as any other Bulldog. In fact, their faces are one of the flattest of all the dog breeds. Luckily, some countries have already cracked down on correcting breeding standards for flat-faced dogs, especially French Bulldogs. But here in the United States, people keep breeding dogs just because they’re cute without worrying about how it affects those dogs and all the dogs in this world.

#6 – American Staffordshire Terrier

The American Staffordshire Terrier is another Pit Bull breed that very closely resembles the American Pit Bull Terrier, only it’s actually recognized by the AKC. Like every other Pit Bull breed, these dogs have lots of negative stereotypes around them, which makes finding homes for them harder. Many of them die in shelters because no one is willing to adopt them, so breeding more of these dogs is simply unforgivable.

#7 – Staffordshire Bull Terrier

Staffordshire Bull Terriers are a smaller Pit Bull breed, and they’re known for their lovable instincts. They’re often referred to as “nanny dogs” because they’re especially gentle around children. Yet, when many humans see these dogs, they don’t see them for this sweet nature. Instead, they only see what the media wants them to see. In fact, these dogs were actually rated one of the highest on the American Temperament Test, right after Labrador Retrievers. So, more people should consider adopting these sweet pups.

#8 – Shih Tzu

Yes, I know I’m a Shih Tzu, but too many people are breeding Shih Tzus right now. I was a rescue, and I’ve seen many other Shih Tzus available at rescues too. Shih Tzus have a lot of the same problems as other small flat-faced breeds like Pugs and French Bulldogs. We’re prone to breathing problems, eye problems, and ear problems. If humans would breed our snouts a little longer, our breed would soon become healthier. But until that happens, it’s important to adopt the Shih Tzus already looking for a home.

#9 – Pekingese

Pekingese are very similar to Shih Tzus, and their snouts are even flatter. People adore Pekingese for their adorable appearance, but these dogs are often more stubborn and independent than other small dogs. So, not only are they being bred to be unhealthy, but many people buy them without doing enough research first.

#10 – Labradoodle

Now, Labradoodles aren’t a real breed, they’re really just a mutt. But they’re one of the most popular and most expensive dogs out there right now. This is also true for many other designer dogs, such as Goldendoodles, Teddy Bears, and Puggles. People are paying ridiculous amounts of money to get a mixed breed even though mixed breeds are very common at shelters. Plus, mixed breeds are often less predictable than a purebred dog, so humans often surrender them if they don’t behave as expected.

Adopt, Don’t Shop

If you have bought one of these dogs from a breeder in the past, I don’t want it to seem like I’m shaming you. I just want you to understand why it’s not a good idea in today’s society. And, I hope it can help encourage you to adopt in the future. A lot of dog lovers don’t know all the dark sides of the breeding industry, but if you truly love dogs, you should do what you can to help all dogs find a home. The sooner all humans start caring about a dog’s personality and health instead of just looks, the sooner more dogs can be saved.

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