Hawbucks itself acknowledges this point. On its website, the breeder argues that muzzle length is only one part of a much more complicated anatomical picture involving the nostrils, throat, palate, tongue, airway and other structures.
Veterinary research supports the broader idea that BOAS cannot be predicted from a single visible characteristic.
However, research also provides evidence that increasingly extreme shortening of the muzzle is associated with increased risk.
A major study published in PLOS ONE examined 700 dogs representing 97 breeds in one population and another 154 brachycephalic dogs in a second population.
Researchers found that BOAS risk increased sharply as relative muzzle length became shorter.
In the first study population, more than 80 percent of dogs whose muzzle length was less than one-tenth of their cranial length were affected by BOAS. Conversely, BOAS was not observed in dogs whose muzzle length reached at least half their cranial length in that population.
The researchers concluded that breeding toward more extreme brachycephalic conformation increases the risk of chronic airway obstruction and that selecting toward relatively longer muzzles could help reduce risk within affected breeds.
But muzzle length was not the only factor.
Thicker necks and obesity were also associated with increased BOAS risk.
Cambridge researchers likewise identify factors such as stenotic — excessively narrowed — nostrils and obesity as important contributors.
So the scientifically responsible message is not simply:
Long nose = healthy dog.
It is more nuanced:
Less extreme conformation, combined with appropriate health testing and selection for functional anatomy, may reduce important health risks.
French Bulldogs Face More Than Breathing Problems
Respiration is only part of the wider discussion about French Bulldog health.
In a major VetCompass study, researchers from the Royal Veterinary College compared veterinary records from 2,781 French Bulldogs with records from 21,850 dogs that were not French Bulldogs.
The differences were substantial.
French Bulldogs showed different risk levels from other dogs for 42 of the 43 common disorders evaluated in the study. Among the conditions for which French Bulldogs had substantially elevated risk were narrowed nostrils, BOAS, skin-fold dermatitis and several other disorders.
The researchers concluded that many of the health differences identified in French Bulldogs were closely associated with the breed's extreme body shape and suggested that moving toward more moderate conformation could potentially reduce some of those problems.
The spine is another concern.
French Bulldogs are among the breeds associated with spinal abnormalities, and selection for traits such as very short or coiled tails can be associated with abnormal vertebral development in brachycephalic breeds.
The Kennel Club notes that abnormally shaped vertebrae can sometimes contribute to spinal deformity and, in affected dogs, compression or damage to the spinal cord and associated nerves.
This demonstrates why responsible breeding cannot concentrate on one feature alone.
A dog could have a somewhat longer muzzle and still suffer from orthopedic, spinal, eye, skin or hereditary problems.
Health has to be considered as a complete system.
Hawbucks' Different Approach
This broader philosophy is central to the breeding program described by Hawbucks French Bulldogs.
The Dutch kennel publicly states that it wants to produce a more athletic French Bulldog — one capable of running and playing without being limited by breathing difficulty or an excessively compact body.
The kennel also describes a health-testing program for dogs intended for breeding and says it publishes test results to improve transparency. Its materials discuss screening involving the spine, hips and other areas of health rather than evaluating breeding animals only by appearance.
Flint came from one of Hawbucks' litters born on March 4, 2017.
The kennel's own records identify him as Hawbucks Valar Morghulis “Flint” and state that puppies from the litter were scheduled for spinal X-rays as puppies, followed by further spine and hip screening at around one year old.
This provides important context for the famous comparison photograph.
Flint's appearance wasn't simply an accident.
It reflected a deliberate breeding philosophy aimed at producing a less exaggerated French Bulldog.