Scroll through any pet page in the Philippines and the same dogs keep showing up: wide, low “exotic bullies,” French Bulldogs in every new colour, and fluffy mixes sold as a husky in a smaller body. They are cute, they photograph well, and they often cost a great deal. But behind many of these “designer” dogs is a breeding trend where dogs are bred for looks above all, with little or no regard for health, and the dogs pay for it.
This isn’t about the owners who already love one of these dogs. Most of them chose in good faith and give their dogs wonderful care. It’s about how these dogs are being bred, and what future buyers should know.
Exotic bullies: when extreme becomes the goal
“Exotic bully” is not a recognised breed. It’s a label for dogs bred toward a more and more exaggerated look: very short legs, a massive chest, a flattened face and heavy skin folds. According to the UK Brachycephalic Working Group, a group of vets, scientists and dog organisations, the exotic bully draws mainly on the American Bully and the English Bulldog. The group lists exotic bullies, “toadlines” and “micro” bully types among new variants with “super-extreme conformations” that worry them most, and urges breeders to move toward less exaggerated dogs.
A former vice president of the British Veterinary Association, speaking to The Telegraph, described what vets see in these dogs: painful skin folds that get infected, lifelong eye problems because some can’t close their eyes properly, spinal and mobility problems, and breathing trouble from flat faces. She also noted that these dogs are often sold on social media as “glamorous, rare and desirable” rather than with honest information about their health.
Solid lifespan data for exotic bullies doesn’t exist yet, because the type is so new. In the Philippines, trainers and owners often see these dogs struggling with their health from a young age. The research on the breeds they come from helps explain why.
French Bulldogs: a popular breed under strain
French Bulldogs are one of the most loved breeds in the world, and many are gentle, funny companions. But they are also often poorly bred in the Philippines, where demand is high and health screening is rare.
The best data comes from the Royal Veterinary College’s VetCompass programme in the UK, which studies the records of dogs under everyday vet care:
- Breathing. In a 2021 VetCompass study of 2,781 French Bulldogs, they had about 31 times the odds of brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) and about 42 times the odds of narrowed nostrils compared with other dogs. Overall, they had higher odds of 20 of the 43 common disorders studied. The authors linked many of these problems to the breed’s extreme features and proposed moving toward a more moderate build.
- Spine. The same study found French Bulldogs had three times the odds of spinal cord disorders.
- Heat. A 2020 VetCompass study on heatstroke found French Bulldogs had about 6.5 times the odds of heat-related illness compared with Labrador Retrievers, and flat-faced dogs overall had about twice the odds of other dogs. In a hot, humid country like the Philippines, this matters every single day.
- Lifespan. A 2022 study of UK life expectancy estimated French Bulldogs’ life expectancy at birth at just 4.53 years, the shortest of the 18 breeds studied, against 11.23 years for dogs overall. The authors noted the data was from a young, fast-growing population, so the number may change, but flat-faced breeds clustered at the bottom of the list.
How the Netherlands is pushing back
Dutch law already bans breeding pets in ways that harm the health of the parent dog or its puppies (Article 3.4 of the Animal Keepers Decree). In 2019, Utrecht University’s vet faculty turned that into clear “traffic light” criteria for flat-faced dogs, and a 2023 Dutch policy rule now bars breeding from a dog with noisy breathing at rest, moderately or severely narrowed nostrils, a muzzle less than 0.3 times the length of its skull, a nose fold touching the eye, a lot of white showing around the eyes, or eyelids that can’t fully close. The rules cover all flat-faced breeds, Pugs and French Bulldogs included. In 2023 the Dutch food and product safety authority fined a French Bulldog breeder €3,000 for breeding from dogs with abnormal breathing and muzzles that were too short. The Dutch kennel club also allows controlled crossbreeding to bring back longer muzzles. Old photos show how much some of these breeds have changed.
The Shar Pei: when wrinkles become the point
The traditional Chinese Shar-Pei, often called the “bone-mouth” type, has tighter skin and fewer folds. In the West, breeders strongly selected for thick, heavily folded skin and the padded “meat-mouth” look. A 2023 VetCompass study of 1,913 Shar Pei found that in-turned eyelids (entropion) were the most common diagnosis, affecting almost one in five Shar Pei (17.9%) each year. The Royal Veterinary College notes that this compares with about one in 200 other dogs, and is caused by loose folded skin around the eyes. Research has also linked the gene change behind the heavy folds to a higher risk of “Shar Pei fever,” a recurring fever and inflammation, though later work suggests several genes are involved.
The Pomsky: a small husky that is still a husky
Then there are the mixes made to fit a lifestyle. The Pomsky, a Pomeranian crossed with a Siberian Husky, is often sold as a husky “small enough for an apartment.” It’s a tempting pitch, but it solves nothing.
The Siberian Husky was developed, as the American Kennel Club puts it, as a sled dog “of great endurance,” bred to work in packs over long distances. Making the body smaller doesn’t remove that drive. A Pomsky can still have a husky’s energy, curiosity and need for plenty of daily outdoor walks. And because it is a cross, buyers can’t know which parent a puppy will take after.
A small dog with a big working dog’s needs, kept mostly at home, often ends up bored and frustrated. That isn’t the dog’s fault. It’s what happens when a dog is sold on size rather than on what it truly needs.
Hip dysplasia, even in small dogs
Trainers in the Philippines are seeing an alarming number of puppies with hip dysplasia, including small breeds that usually aren’t thought of as prone to it.
Hip dysplasia is a malformed hip joint, and it is largely inherited. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) describes it as a polygenic disease caused by many genes interacting with the environment, and says selectively breeding from dogs with normal hips is the only way to lower its frequency. OFA also warns that some small breeds and mixed breeds have as high a rate of hip dysplasia as large breeds, so the idea that it only affects big dogs is “misleading.”
The good news is that screening works. A 2017 study of OFA records from 60 breeds found that decades of breeding from screened parents improved hip and elbow health across breeds. When breeders skip hip checks on the parents, as many fast-trend breeders do, the problem is simply passed on to the puppies. If a puppy limps, sits oddly or tires quickly on walks, it’s worth seeing a vet early.
Why these dogs often cost so much
“Designer” dogs usually come with a high price tag at the start, and the costs often keep going. Breathing surgery, skin and eye treatment, spinal care and hip problems can all add up over a dog’s life. Many owners only learn this after bringing the puppy home.
What the world is doing about extreme breeding
Europe has started to act. Under the EU’s new Regulation (EU) 2026/1818, Article 8 bars breeders from breeding from dogs with “excessive conformational traits” that carry a high risk to the welfare of the dog or its puppies. Article 19 keeps such dogs out of shows and competitions. The law doesn’t apply in the Philippines, but it shows where international standards are heading. More on that in a separate article on humane standards for dogs.
What future owners can do
- Choose a dog for its health and temperament, not its trend or colour.
- Prefer moderate builds: an open nose, a visible muzzle, legs the right length for the body and no heavy skin folds.
- Ask breeders for the parents’ health checks, including hips, and meet the mother.
- Pick a dog whose energy fits real daily life, with time for daily outdoor walks on a leash.
- Be wary of words like “exotic,” “micro,” “pocket” or “rare.”
FAQs
What is a “designer” dog?
It’s an informal term for dogs bred for a fashionable look or a specific mix, such as exotic bullies or Pomskies. Many are bred for appearance rather than health.
Are exotic bullies healthy?
Vets and welfare groups warn that the extreme features many exotic bullies are bred for are linked to breathing, skin, eye, spine and mobility problems. Long-term data on the type is still limited.
Why do French Bulldogs struggle in the Philippines?
Their flat faces make breathing and cooling down harder. UK research found they have much higher odds of heatstroke than many other breeds, and the Philippine heat adds to that risk.
Can small dogs get hip dysplasia?
Yes. Hip dysplasia is largely inherited, and some small and mixed breeds have rates as high as large breeds. Health screening of the parents is the best protection.
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