Bulldogs
This dog owes its popularity to its lovable nature and adorable appearance – who can resist the squashed, wrinkly face? Their flattened noses, however, make them susceptible to overheating in warm weather, since rather than sweating dogs cool off by panting or breathing in and out. With a shorter snout there’s less surface area over which heat exchange can take place.
Though extremely affectionate now, the bulldog gets its name due to its connection with bull baiting in the British Isles. As a result of occupational hazards, the first bulldogs had to be ferocious and nearly insensitive to pain, according to the AKC. Once bull baiting became illegal in England in 1835, dog fanciers decided to get rid of the bulldog’s “bite.” Within just a few generations, the bulldog became the epitome of sweetness.