Brachycephalic is the scientific term for your English bulldog’s short muzzle. It literally means “short head.” Brachycephalic canines, which include other breeds, might suffer the consequences of various disorders attributable to their anatomy.

The Bullmastiff is a brachycephalic breed. The term is describes a flat faced, shortened muzzled dog. The Bullmastiff head is not as extreme as some other breeds, such as the pug however, and it is not common for the Bullmastiff to have any breathing issues like some other flatter faced breeds.

All Boston Terriers have brachycephaly. They have flat n

oses, long palates, and a narrow airway. Like other brachycephalic dogs, such as Pugs or French Bulldogs, Bostons are more likely to suffer from respiratory problems than other dogs. They are prone to overheating from hot weather or strenuous exercise.

In 2017, the American Kennel Club listed two brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs and Bulldogs) in its top 10 most popular breeds, and eight brachycephalic breeds (French Bulldogs, Bulldogs, Boxers, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Shih Tzus, Boston Terriers, Mastiffs, and Pugs) are in the top 31 most popular breeds.

The term applies to all breeds of dog (and cat) with short heads. Among the brachycephalic breeds are: pugs, English bulldogs, French bulldogs, Pekinese, Lhasa apsos, Shih tzus, and Boston terriers. … The brachycephalic head shape is due to an inherited defect in development of the bones of the skull (Stockard 1941).

Shih Tzus are a brachycephalic breed. Brachycephalic dogs have small, uniquely-shaped heads. Shih Tzu’s airways are small and their nostrils are shallow. As a result, they are more likely to develop respiratory problems than other dogs.

The head of the Lhasa Apso is brachycephalic, meaning that the dog has a shortened and pushed-in muzzle and face. However, this trait is very moderate in the Lhasa Apso, and the face of a Lhasa Apso looks nothing like that of an English Bulldog or Pekingese.

Brachycephaly is the term used to describe animals that have greatly shortened upper jaws and noses. Decreased depth of the orbits (the bony eye sockets) is also common. Of the dog breeds, the Pekingese has an extreme brachycephalic head shape, with large, prominent eyes and almost complete lack of muzzle.