8 Dog Breeds that Used to be Cuter

[dropcap letter=”A”]ll puppies are created cute in the eyes of their owners. If I had 20 pesos for every time a cute puppy video saved my day, I’d, well, have a lot of money (hehe). While some people care a whole lot about purebred pups and all that, I am of the personal opinion thatPuggles (pug + beagle) andPorkies/Yorkipoos (poodle + yorkshire terrier) are god’s gift to man. While some dogs have benefited from cross-breeding and evolution, some have gone out of hand over the last century or so.

In honor of World Puppy Day, here’s a couple of dog breeds that used to be cuter (but mostly still are):

Via netdna-cdn.com

, pinterest.com

Bulldogs will always have a special place in history and our hearts. Unfortunately, thanks to years of bad breeding to achieve a certain “bully” look, nowadays they are barely a quarter of their formerly athletic counterparts, and prone to practically every disease a dog can get.

Via retrieverman.net

, petpaw.com.au

These big ole lugs have always been sought-after for their moderate-to-large sizing and temperament. No thanks to human intervention, breeding them to achieve the signature folds of skin has gone the way of Frankenstein. Sure, all those Michelin Man folds are cute when they’re puppies, but as they get older it’s impossible not to feel bad for them.

Via chestofbooks.com

, tullyvet.com

While I’m sure taking a cute photo of your Dachshund between two pillows is great Instagram fodder (“Hi guys, check out my hot dog!”), the modern Dachshund shouldn’t be this long or low to the ground. The breed was originally meant to aid in hunting – not to spend half its life immobile from spine problems or obesity.

Via wikimedia.org

, ddmcdn.com

Initially bred for dog races and sport, the Bedlington terrier has evolved into a dog-show favorite. We honestly aren’t sure why – it makes us think of the monster from Alien’s offspring with a sheep.

Via chestofbooks.com

, champdogs.net

This Russian sight dog almost went extinct due to it’s close association with royalty and nobility. While we’re glad that the breed wasn’t completely lost to time and slaughter, it’s repopulated form has begun to look similar to the Bedlington with its overly compacted chest and elongated legs.

Via pugalug.com

, dailymail.co.uk

Having gained notoriety in recent years for being ugly-cute, the pug wasn’t always so…smoosh-faced. These dogs used to have actual snouts, and typically had long and lean bodies – a far cry from their boxy, muscle-turned-fat modern counterparts. Pug owners will be the first to tell you that it’s a struggle to care for them, as due to their shorter snouts they’re prone to respiratory problems and a number of other illnesses due to their present, more compact size and their now-signature bug eyes.

Via redboysamstaffs.com

, hondenrassenmetfoto.nl

Popularized in modern culture for being the Target mascot, Bull terrier skulls weren’t always egg-shaped, and were traditionally leaner than they were stocky. Due to bad breeding, a number of modern Bull terriers are prone to deafness and supernumerary teeth (yikes!).

Via bestdogbreeds.net

While the Chinese crested has changed little over the centuries, we can imagine how to some people these dogs can look like horses that you can fit in your pocket. We can even imagine how they can seem like little baby unicorns, given the right grooming. Bad breeding, will, however, eventually rear it’s ugly head and give you puppies that look like this:

Via theage.com.au

Good luck falling asleep next to that at night!

Have more photos of ugly-cute dogs? Post them in the comments!