As a responsible and ethical dog breeder, you will likely have specific reasons for why you have chosen your dog breed. It might just be as simple as being a dog breed you connect with or have extensive experience with; it could be that you need a dog that is a working breed or comes from championship lines, for example. As a good dog breeder, you will want to ensure that you are breeding puppies to breed standard or even to improve on the breed standard, and that is important for AKC (American Kennel Club) membership.
Over centuries, dog breeders have confidently linked dog breeds to specific functions and working roles, such as Border Collies, which tend to herd, Labradors, which retrieve items, and Greyhounds, which race. And it’s long been understood that the anatomy of a dog, from its legs to the shape of its skull, is a reflection of generations of breeding to enhance the breeds and purposefully breeding, each feature enhancing its ability to perform a task.
However, recent studies have cast doubt on the assumption that a dog’s physical appearance is directly tied to what it's "bred for." And this is especially true for the dog breed's head shape. So for breeders, trainers, and dog experts, it raises an important question of whether or not dogs are truly bred for function, or if aesthetics and human preference played a bigger role than we think.
Studies have explored the link between skull shape and breed-specific behavior in modern dog breeds. Are there correlations between dog breed function, such as herding, guarding, and hunting, and the shape of a dog’s skull?
It has been found that dog skull shape varies greatly within breed groups that have been bred for the same function. And some dogs who have similar skulls can have very different traits. This is especially the case where modern breeding practices prioritize appearance at the expense of function.
Basically, we can’t tell a dog's function by the size and shape of its head or skull. For example, dolichocephalic or long-nosed dogs like Salukis were believed to have a wider field of vision, which is seen as perfect for hunting in open areas. Brachycephalic or short-nosed breeds like Bulldogs were thought to have powerful jaws suited for gripping tasks. Mesocephalic, or medium-nosed dogs, like most retriever and herding breeds, were considered to be middle ground breeds of dogs.
But due to breeding, with artificial selection at work over the last 150 years, many of these features are now a result of human influence rather than natural, and this is the case especially in competitive show breeding.
Breed standards have become particularly important with the development of kennel clubs and dog shows over the last couple of centuries. It was not just about what the dog did but also how closely its appearance matches breed standards. An example of this is English Bulldogs, which were originally bred for bull baiting but have now been bred into extreme brachycephaly, making them less capable of physical exertion than they were in the past.
German Shepherds have seen a divergence between working-line and show-line dogs, with the latter often bred for sloped backs and exaggerated gaits, which are not necessarily helpful for police or military work. And although Border Collies are great at herding, show lines often prioritize coat and symmetry over drive and stamina.
For those breeders focused on performance like search and rescue, hunting, or agility, they often turn away from purebred dogs and favor crossbreeds instead that retain working ability without the impact of anatomical exaggerations.
For dog breeders today, we can understand that skull shape, and therefore appearance, don’t reliably predict behavior or ability. What should today’s dog breeders focus on?
As a responsible and ethical breeder, you must select dogs for breeding based on their having a good temperament, good obedience training skills, stamina, and instinct. If you are breeding for AKC registration, then you will, of course, want to follow their guidelines, but it is still important not to just breed for head shape or conformation.
Dogs bred for actual working roles should be selected for trainability, stamina, and instinct, not just head shape or conformation.
Some extreme skull shapes have been linked to serious health problems such as brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) in flat-faced breeds, dental crowding and jaw misalignment, and neurological issues in breeds with overly domed skulls. It’s a good idea as a responsible dog breeder to select breeds and dogs with a more moderate skull shape to reduce health risks while preserving functional ability.
If you are breeding working dogs, then you should select dogs to breed that have competed in field trials, passed working tests, and also have good obedience training and temperament, instead of just selecting for the breed name, pedigree, or temperament. This will help you make choices for your dogs that are trustworthy and will also help you build a good reputation for the quality of your dogs.
One problem with breeding for appearance is that there might be a loss of genetic diversity. And this can mean an increase in inherited diseases and reduced fertility. Making sure that dogs have genetic testing for inherited diseases is essential for being a responsible breeder because you want to make sure that the puppies you produce have the best chance in life.
Many dog breeders are trying to combine both working and show dogs so they achieve a breed standard, but are also still able to function in the role they were originally designed for. So in gun dog committees, Labradors and Spaniels must pass working tests, and this is the same for herding breeds that are still involved in farm work. In service dog training, temperament is more important than appearance as well.
If you are a dog breeder, then you will want to make sure that you are selecting your dogs for your dog breeding business responsibly. And it is now clear that it is not possible to assume a dog will perform in a specific role due to the shape of its skull. It’s essential to choose working dogs based on their abilities, like passing field tests rather than just their pedigree.
You should also choose dogs who have not been bred in such a way that they’re skull shape affects their long-term health, and also focus on selecting dogs with good temperaments, obedience, and stamina. This will help you build a strong dog breeding business that is ethical, responsible, respected, and trusted.
13 November, 2025