Healthiest dog breeds

[Whatalife88]

Now we know that French bulldogs have a short life span and we know that all the flat face breeds struggle and shouldn't be bred from for clear ethical reasons, which dogs are the healthiest, throw me the researched facts or tell me what breed your dog is/was and how long they lived for? One day we will get a dog and I want our buddy for as long as possible whilst also suitable for our lifestyle.

Jack Russell’s are known for health and longevity. I’ve had 3 and they are cracking, energetic and loveable little dogs that rarely need the vets. None of mine were the bitey stereotype.
Most terriers and terrier x breeds are quite hardy and long lived. Borders, patterdales etc.
Working type dogs are generally healthy and robust but you have to have the right lifestyle for them of course.

I’d get a young rescue terrier any day also have working spaniels and they are great too but not as tough as the terriers!).
If getting from a breeder make sure any health tests for the breed are done.

Terriers and sighthounds (greyhounds, lurchers, whippets) are among the healthiest... although pretty much every breed has SOMETHING they are prone to, so always sensible to have a plan for covering vets bills!

Oh and it's not true to say that a crossbreed is healthier than a purebred - you can end up inheriting the problems from either or both sides...

mongrels stop going for pure breads I have two terrier crosses. One is 13 one is 11 still going strong and very energetic like they are puppies still. They don’t bite and are pretty chill apart from one who likes to bark at cats . I get told that one is so cute he is Bonny lol .

I was going to say mixed breeds. Mixed over crosses in case the pups from the crosses carry over the worst of tge health probs. Mix up the genes as best you can!

I read somewhere that Pomeranian Spitz and Yorkshire Terriers last a long time...Happy for someone to correct me.

I agree, a 'proper' Heinz 57 dog that has multiple breeds present is more likely to be healthy IME. *Not a crossbreed of two pure bred dogs.

A dog that’s been bred to do a job and hasn’t changed for generations - Some sighthounds, some terriers, some gun dogs.

Lurchers generally seem to be very healthy.

I would say the working version of a breed will be healthier than kennel club breed standards. The version that's bred to do a job will be bred to be healthy rather than looks.

We have a breed where I despise the show standard and what the kennel club pedigree has done to it. There's no way the show version could work in fields all day.

It really does vary dog to dog. My last golden retriever lived to 13.5 years old and he was happily doing 2 miles + without stopping even the day he died (and we only didn't go further because that was enough of a walk for me!).

I'm golden retrievers it's much more common to have 'dual purpose' dogs which is my preference. Ones who's parents have done well in the show ring and out on the field.

My mum's Jack Russell was 17 when PTS.

I have heard that the gentleman who 'invented' the labradoodle wished that he hadn't 'invented' it. He originally bred a dog for its non-shedding abilities for his wife who was allergic but hadn't realised the monster that he'd unleashed ie cavashitpoos etc... and all the problems related to these cross breeds that are being done by back yard breeders.
Vets are very busy.

A terrier cross breed (a few crosses not just one) or a Labrador. Labs are great as long as they don’t get fat, fat labs become unhealthy very quickly. Working lines rather than show lines. I think collies are very healthy just hard work though.

I read somewhere that Pomeranian Spitz and Yorkshire Terriers last a long time...Happy for someone to correct me

yep our yorkies have always lasted til late teens. You quite commonly find them in rescue because they outlive their owners 🙁.

despite their small size they’re robust little dogs. Main health risks are luxating patella, as with all small dogs, and tracheal collapse. Easily avoided by finding a decent show breeder- as one once said to me you don’t win with a limping or coughing dog in the show ring.

although mine was bred for show he is terrier through and through. Catches more mice than the cat.

My jack russell is 17 and shows no signs of decline yet. I'm sure she's got at least another year or 2 in her. She's lost a few teeth and is a bit deaf but that's all so far

*I have heard that the gentleman who 'invented' the labradoodle wished that he hadn't 'invented' it. He originally bred a dog for its non-shedding abilities for his wife who was allergic but hadn't realised the monster that he'd unleashed ie cavashitpoos etc... and all the problems related to these cross breeds that are being done by back yard breeders.

Vets are very busy*

so are dog groomers 🙁. Doodle coats are a lot of work.

the labradoodle breeder did indeed regret it. His logic was to try and reduce the shedding and allergenic qualities of traditional guide dog breeds- labs and retrievers.

if you aren’t sight impaired and don’t need a dog capable of meeting guide dog standards there are plenty of other breeds that don’t shed and are less likely to trigger allergies.

but the general public seem to have grabbed and run with the idea that if you want a hypoallergenic dog it must be a poodle cross. I saw someone insisting they wanted a yorkipoo, because they wanted a yorkie but were allergic to dogs 🙄. Couldn’t get through to them that yorkies don’t shed and are low allergy due to not having undercoats and hair rather than fur. Nope, it had to be a poodle cross because someone had told her they’re best if you’re allergic 🙄

Our Patterdale was16 and could do a 12 mile hike up until just before her death.
Great dog with loads of character.

Terriers generally.

But they are often quirky/independent/obstinate/stubborn/bloody-minded so only get one if you're prepared to put in lots of assiduous training (for really quite average results)

I have had Shelties all my life the youngest one passed away at 12 but the others were all 16 and two lived to 18 with very little in the way of health issues. Worth checking the pedigrees to make sure there's no inbreeding ( the one who went at 12 had such a pedigree...)

In general, smaller breeds outlive larger breeds.
Mongrels and crossbreds of unrelated breeds tend to be healthier, firstly because their immune systems tend to be more robust. Secondly, pedigree dogs are bred within the same gene pool and are almost inevitably closely related. As a result, they share a lot of genetic material with each other. This means that they are more likely to get two copies of the same dodgy gene and develop a recessive genetic disorder.

These are averages, though, and tell you nothing about your individual dog. You can get very healthy pedigree dogs who live into their mid-late teens, and crossbreds who die young.

I have a 16 yr old Westie who is still up for the chase.
Very hardy long lived breed and heaps fun.

Secondly, pedigree dogs are bred within the same gene pool and are almost inevitably closely related. As a result, they share a lot of genetic material with each other. This means that they are more likely to get two copies of the same dodgy gene and develop a recessive genetic disordeR

the KC has a good tool on it’s website to calculate the inbreeding coefficient. Fortunately many breeders are outbreeding as much as possible now, bringing in dogs from abroad etc.

I’ve only ever had Jack Russells and mongrels ( 2 of each) and they’ve all lived to be 16 or 17 years old with very few trips to the vet needed.

I've got a 16 year old jrt still going strong. And also a working Lakeland terrier that 🤞🏼 in the last 8 years has never had any health issues.

Also my Dobie lived to be 12 and only needed the vet for accidents - catching herself on barbed wire etc - which she always did on a Sunday or bank holiday.