A recent study out of Hungary reveals that flat-faced dogs – such as French bulldogs, the most popular breed in the US – have difficulty sleeping because of an unusual attribute: their head shape.
French bulldogs specifically suffer from increased daytime sleepiness, probably due to not getting enough night-time sleep. Sleep apnea in Frenchies and other flat-faced dogs including pugs, English bulldogs and Boston terriers is attributable to their shortened heads, or brachycephaly, a condition where the ratio of the skull length to its width is lower than normal.
