Breed registration statistics from the UK's Royal Kennel Club (RKC) suggests registrations of French Bulldogs, Pugs and Bulldogs are in decline.
Experts are hopeful these results reflect an increased awareness of the health problems of these breeds.
An end to demand
Breed statistics showed a 34% drop in Bulldog registrations in the first 3 months of 2026, compared to the same period of 2025. Pug registrations fell from 10,408 in 2016 to 834 in 2025 and French Bulldog registrations fell from a high of 54,074 in 2021 to just 7,750 in 2025.
The surge in popularity had caused serious concern among veterinarians, with health issues ranging from skin disorders to eye ulcers to breathing difficulties.
Shifting trends
Professor Dan O'Neill, of the Royal Veterinary College suggested the decline in registrations reflects a change in trends, with some data suggesting the public has been moving towards owning Poodle-cross designer dogs.
"After a decade of evidence generation and campaigning by the Royal Veterinary College along with the RKC, charities and veterinary organisations and many other welfare groups, to show the dramatically shortened lives and high health burden in dog breeds with extreme flat faces, the British public are now responding by rejecting ownership of these breeds, despite the dogs themselves having lovely temperaments" he explained.