Overview

• Brachycephalic head shape is directly linked to greater calmness, boldness, and weaker recall in short-nosed dog breeds even after accounting for size and owner factors.
• Mediation analyses reveal that the poor trainability of flat-faced dogs stems primarily from their small body size and lack of structured training rather than facial morphology.
• Once the effects of size, training deficits, and pampering are controlled, flat-nosed breeds are less prone to jumping on people, leash pulling, and overreacting to guests.
• Survey data show typical owners of short-nosed breeds are first-time, young female caregivers who often keep their dogs indoors, allow them on the bed, and invest little in formal training.
• Researchers stress that consistent, structured training is essential for brachycephalic dogs to express their innate positive traits despite chronic health challenges.