The Breed Files

Welcome back to The Breed Files! What exactly does it mean for a dog to be brachycephalic? And does having a flat face automatically mean a dog is unhealthy? This week, we're taking a closer look at brachycephalic dogs and going beyond the stereotypes. We'll break down what “brachycephalic” actually means, hear different perspectives from owners who live with these breeds, and dive into BOAS (the breathing disorder that has become one of the biggest concerns surrounding flat-faced dogs). But we're also tackling a complicated question: Can brachycephalic dogs be ethically bred?Tune in for a deeper look at the dogs behind the controversy and the future of responsible brachycephalic breeding.Sources: Accessed 7/11/20267/11/2026https://evolution.berkeley.edu/lines-of-evidence/artificial-selection/https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787814000616https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC7380493/https://www.humanevma.org/brachycephalichttps://www.researchgate.net/figure/Craniofacial-ratio-CFR-of-the-dog-which-is-obtained-by-dividing-the-muzzle-length-by_fig1_378707023https://melbournebulldogclinic.com.au/important-info/cranio-facial-ratio/https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nasal_conchahttps://www.cancer.gov/publications/dictionaries/cancer-terms/def/frontal-sinushttps://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Frontal_sinushttps://www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/frontal-sinushttps://www.nationwidechildrens.org/conditions/noisy-breathing-stridorhttps://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK499965/https://www.youtube.com/shorts/0u-44Z0rm14https://crest.com/en-us/oral-care-tips/pregnancy/what-is-ptyalism?srsltid=AfmBOoqNZbcMs4LbyIgeDzb4wn6Hgn-28fMJorvX4ZbVwi9yi3eXihthhttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/22376-nasopharynxhttps://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/body/24278-epiglottishttps://archaeology.org/news/2023/04/18/230419-brachycephalic-dog/https://www.nationalgeographic.com/premium/article/flat-faced-brachycephalic-roman-dog-frenchie-pug-bulldoghttps://www.cam.ac.uk/research/news/no-simple-way-of-predicting-breathing-difficulties-in-pugs-french-bulldogs-and-bulldogs-fromhttps://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0181928https://ofa.org/diseases/rfgs/https://ofa.org/diseases/rfgs/https://www.vet.cam.ac.uk/boas/about-boas/recognition-diagnosishttps://www.royalkennelclub.com/health-and-dog-care/health-dog-care/health/getting-started-with-health-testing-and-screening/respiratory-function-grading-scheme/https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11264736/https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0340604https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S000334729690370Xhttps://avmajournals.avma.org/view/journals/ajvr/79/2/ajvr.79.2.170.xml

Welcome back! This week, Seaira travels back in time to meet Jim the Wonder Dog, an English Setter whose life helped define the breed and earn their place in history.Sources: Croft, August. “Jim the Wonder Dog Responded to Morse Code, and Scientists Couldn’t Explain How.” A-Z Animals, May 17, 2026. Accessed July 25, 2026. https://a-z-animals.com/articles/jim-the-wonder-dog-repsonded-to-morse-code-and-scientists-couldnt-explain-how/.Figley, Marty Rhodes. The True Story of Jim the Wonder Dog. Oklahoma City, OK: The RoadRunner Press, 2017. Accessed July 25, 2026. https://www.amazon.com/True-Story-Jim-Wonder-Dog/dp/1937054411.Jim the Wonder Dog. “About.” Accessed July 25, 2026. https://www.jimthewonderdog.org/about.“Jim the Wonder Dog.” Wikipedia. Accessed July 25, 2026. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_the_Wonder_Dog.Missouri Secretary of State. “Missouri State Wonder Dog: Jim the Wonder Dog.” Accessed July 25, 2026. https://www.sos.mo.gov/symbol/wonderdog.Reddit. “Unresolved Cryptid: Jim the Wonder Dog (Statewide).” Reddit, September 2018. Accessed July 25, 2026. https://www.reddit.com/r/UnresolvedMysteries/comments/9bgw0g/unresolvedcryptid_jim_the_wonder_dog_statewide/.

Welcome back to The Breed Files! Think English Setters are just pretty, feathered dogs? Think again. In this episode, Kelsey Kryszak and Kendall MacKenzie, two people with extensive experience with English Setters, join us to uncover what makes this elegant bird dog so special. From their history as hardworking hunting companions to their affectionate, playful personalities, we explore the breed’s purpose, temperament, trainability, exercise needs, and what it’s really like to live with one. Are you looking for a beautiful, easygoing companion, or does this athletic bird dog need more than you’re ready to give? Tune in to find out!Sources:American Kennel Club. “English Setter.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-setter/American Kennel Club. “English Setter Breed Standard.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Breed StandardAmerican Kennel Club. “English Setter History: Where the Breed Originated.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter HistoryAmerican Kennel Club. “English Setter Study Guide.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Study GuideAudubon Animal Clinic. “English Setter.” Audubon Animal Clinic. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Breed InformationBritish Small Animal Veterinary Association. “New DNA Testing Schemes for the English Setter.” BSAVA, August 15, 2019. Accessed July 9, 2026. New DNA Testing Schemes for the English SetterEmbark Veterinary, Inc. “English Setters: Dog Breed Info, Photos, Common Names, and More.” Embark. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Breed InformationEnglish Setter Association of America. “English Setter Association of America.” Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Association of AmericaGundog Journal. “English Setters.” Gundog Journal. Accessed July 9, 2026. English SettersMayo Clinic. “Hashimoto’s Disease: Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 9, 2026. Hashimoto’s DiseaseOrvis. “English Setter.” Orvis. Accessed July 9, 2026. English SetterOrthopedic Foundation for Animals. “Thyroid.” Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Accessed July 9, 2026. OFA Thyroid InformationPetMD. “English Setter Dog Breed Health and Care.” PetMD. Updated August 28, 2023. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Health and CareRyman Setters. “What Is a Ryman-Type Setter?” Ryman Setters. Accessed July 9, 2026. What Is a Ryman-Type Setter?University of California, Davis, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. “English Setter.” Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Genetic InformationWestminster Kennel Club. “English Setter.” The Westminster Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter

Welcome back to The Breed Files! Think English Setters are just pretty, feathered dogs? Think again. In this episode, Kelsey Kryszak and Kendall MacKenzie, two people with extensive experience with English Setters, join us to uncover what makes this elegant bird dog so special. From their history as hardworking hunting companions to their affectionate, playful personalities, we explore the breed’s purpose, temperament, trainability, exercise needs, and what it’s really like to live with one. Are you looking for a beautiful, easygoing companion, or does this athletic bird dog need more than you’re ready to give? Tune in to find out!Sources:American Kennel Club. “English Setter.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/english-setter/American Kennel Club. “English Setter Breed Standard.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Breed StandardAmerican Kennel Club. “English Setter History: Where the Breed Originated.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter HistoryAmerican Kennel Club. “English Setter Study Guide.” American Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Study GuideAudubon Animal Clinic. “English Setter.” Audubon Animal Clinic. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Breed InformationBritish Small Animal Veterinary Association. “New DNA Testing Schemes for the English Setter.” BSAVA, August 15, 2019. Accessed July 9, 2026. New DNA Testing Schemes for the English SetterEmbark Veterinary, Inc. “English Setters: Dog Breed Info, Photos, Common Names, and More.” Embark. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Breed InformationEnglish Setter Association of America. “English Setter Association of America.” Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Association of AmericaGundog Journal. “English Setters.” Gundog Journal. Accessed July 9, 2026. English SettersMayo Clinic. “Hashimoto’s Disease: Symptoms and Causes.” Mayo Clinic. Accessed July 9, 2026. Hashimoto’s DiseaseOrvis. “English Setter.” Orvis. Accessed July 9, 2026. English SetterOrthopedic Foundation for Animals. “Thyroid.” Orthopedic Foundation for Animals. Accessed July 9, 2026. OFA Thyroid InformationPetMD. “English Setter Dog Breed Health and Care.” PetMD. Updated August 28, 2023. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Health and CareRyman Setters. “What Is a Ryman-Type Setter?” Ryman Setters. Accessed July 9, 2026. What Is a Ryman-Type Setter?University of California, Davis, Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. “English Setter.” Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter Genetic InformationWestminster Kennel Club. “English Setter.” The Westminster Kennel Club. Accessed July 9, 2026. English Setter

Welcome back to The Breed Files! Today, we’re taking a closer look at pet obesity, not just from a medical perspective, but from a cultural one. We all know that carrying extra weight can lead to serious health problems, but why has it become so common for dogs and cats to be overweight in the first place? From oversized treats and endless snacking to the way we use food to show love, we’re exploring how our relationship with our pets, and with food, may be shaping the way we see their bodies. When does a well-fed pet become an overweight pet? Why can it be so difficult to recognize obesity in our own animals? And why do we sometimes celebrate or laugh about a pet being “chonky” instead of recognizing that something may be wrong?Sources:Eastland-Jones, Rebekah C., Alexander J. German, Shelley L. Holden, Vincent Biourge, and Lucy C. Pickavance. “Owner Misperception of Canine Body Condition Persists Despite Use of a Body Condition Score Chart.” *Journal of Nutritional Science* 3 (2014): e45. https://doi.org/10.1017/jns.2014.25. Accessed June 27, 2026.Kluess, Heidi A., and Rebecca L. Jones. “A Comparison of Owner Perceived and Measured Body Condition, Feeding and Exercise in Sport and Pet Dogs.” *Frontiers in Veterinary Science* 10 (2023): 1211996. https://doi.org/10.3389/fvets.2023.1211996. Accessed June 27, 2026.Muñoz-Prieto, Alberto, Liza Rosenbaum Nielsen, Roman Dąbrowski, Charlotte Reinhard Bjørnvad, Josefin Söder, Elsa Lamy, Ingrida Monkeviciene, et al. “European Dog Owner Perceptions of Obesity and Factors Associated with Human and Canine Obesity.” *Scientific Reports* 8 (2018): 13353. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-018-31532-0. Accessed June 27, 2026.White, G. A., P. Hobson-West, K. Cobb, J. Craigon, R. Hammond, and K. M. Millar. “Canine Obesity: Is There a Difference between Veterinarian and Owner Perception?” *Journal of Small Animal Practice* 52, no. 12 (2011): 622–626. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1748-5827.2011.01138.x. Accessed June 27, 2026.Gille, Sanna, Hanna Fischer, Sanna Lindåse, Linda Palmqvist, Julia Lärka, Sara Wolf, Johanna Penell, and Josefin Söder. “Dog Owners’ Perceptions of Canine Body Composition and Effect of Standardized Education for Dog Owners on Body Condition Assessment of Their Own Dogs.” *Veterinary Sciences* 10, no. 7 (2023): 447. https://doi.org/10.3390/vetsci10070447. Accessed June 27, 2026.