Why Do Some Dogs Have Short Snouts and Others Long Snouts?

Whether dogs have long or short snouts is determined by breeding. The first breeding of dogs dates back to around 15,000 years ago. Humans began breeding wolves to develop so-called working dogs. From breeding dogs to aid in war, we have now bred adorable traits into our best friends. Man’s best friend is thus ‘homemade’.

The Short-Snouted Dog aka Babyface

Today, there is not much wolf left in our pets. We have, among other things, bred the so-called ‘babyface’ in some of our dog breeds. The characteristics of the short-snouted dog breeds, also known as brachycephalic dogs, include short nose bones, underbite, and large eyes. Although they are cute, these distinctive facial features have some drawbacks for the dog’s quality of life. Unfortunately, the cute face has, among other things, resulted in breathing problems and poor physical condition as a consequence. Additionally, there is a risk that breeding may cause infections in the eyes and skin folds of flat-snouted dogs. Therefore, as an owner, you must take extra good care of your little friend and expect to pay additional vet bills.

The Long Snout

Dogs with ‘long’ snouts have a better sense of smell than the short-snouted and therefore do not suffer from the same breeding problems associated with brachycephalic dogs. Although both their coat and body shape are bred, dog breeds with long snouts still have the wolf’s excellent sense of smell and, not least, conditioning, as they do not have breathing problems. Consequently, they do not face the same necessary surgeries that their flat-snouted counterparts often encounter. However, there are still breed-specific diseases that an owner must consider before adding a dog to the family. Snouts are not a concern with long-snouted friends.

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