Dog breeds known for their health.....

My auntie had a black and tan mongrel when we were growing up, I can't work out what she might have actually been

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Levrier said:
Hmmmm a faint breed bias there possibly? ???

I could also name health issues with pretty much every breed going, it always surprises me how much some breeds have a ‘reputation’ which can be repeatedly shared by those who clearly have little or no knowledge or exposure to that breed when other breeds with just as many issues are deemed to be ‘ok’ ?

I’m on greyhound numbers 6 and 7 now (I think? Could be 7 and 8??) and sadly I don’t think of them as a healthy breed at all ?
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Partly breed bias for the lappies definitely they are my choice to own and breed :p ....partly as It took me a very very long time to find a breed I felt comfortable being involved in breeding so health was on my list of non negotiable requirements. Thankfully the scandi's have been into health testing their breeding animals for a very long time!

All dogs have to die of something so I do also judge regards the ages that we see issues as well as size and shape related ones.

The big thing I judge a breed on is how often we are seeing them die young of genetic disease or dealing with chronic lifelong health issues....particularly when they are seen as a norm within a breed.

I think your mother sounds like she breeds amazing Cavaliers....But as a overall breed they have the reputation for a reason. They are the number one dog breed for mitral valve disease and it's genetic. Its a pity because they are actually cracking little dogs and make great family pets....But when I listen to one over 7 and don't hear a murmur ...it's a surprise...as its the exception to the norm. I'm glad there are still lines out there making old bones. I can think of 3 Cavy patients off the top of my head at the moment I'm managing for advanced cardiac disease...none of them are over 11...and I work in a small practice and they are not a very common breed here versus the uk and Ireland. That's not ideal.

This is often the issue with popular breeds though....the excellently bred ones from reputable responsible breeders are often world's apart from the overall standard production model(for want of a better way to explain that).
 
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Surely the only way to try to ensure healthy dogs is to have all the recommended tests done and consider the breeding co-efficients? Even then, nothing is 100%.

Whilst I’d prefer a pup from health tested lines next time, lots of working lines don’t bother with them. I’d never go back to the current boys’ breeder, but I can’t fault their intelligence, trainability and bar the werewolf’s horrible da, they have fabulous characters. They’re incredibly affectionate, proper velcro dogs.

Meowy Catkin said:
When I was young ;) I can remember that a lot of people had very attractive mongrels that were black and tan (like a chunky, courser furred Doberman, although what breeds were in them I have no idea). I can't remember any of those dogs struggling to breathe or dying young.

Where have the b&t mongrels gone? I haven't seen one for years.
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A friend had one about 15 years ago, proper Black and Tan lad, lovely temperament. She’s now switched to rescue greys, one died recently of cancer. ? I’m hoping her new one stays healthy.

Meowy Catkin said:
Oh yes they had all the scraps (riding school was on a farm) and loved it when the farrier came for the ponies. They pretty much stood over the farrier to eat the clipped off bits of hoof as it was trimmed off and hit the floor!
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Our yard dogs just pick through any bits the farrier leaves, as soon as he trims a hoof, the pieces are gone.
 
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Aru said:
Partly breed bias for the lappies definitely they are my choice to own and breed :p ....partly as It took me a very very long time to find a breed I felt comfortable being involved in breeding so health was on my list of non negotiable requirements. Thankfully the scandi's have been into health testing their breeding animals for a very long time!
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I think pointy-eared spitzy type things are generally a safe bet (not smug at all...) :p
 
blackcob said:
I think pointy-eared spitzy type things are generally a safe bet (not smug at all...) :p
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The main problem with them...is having to live with them ?? I like to describe mine as the couch potato version of the husky at times.

The eye issues in some of the Spitz types particularly the huskys and malamutes are a growing concern though :(

I'm bias in my love for the primitive style breeds though. Fit for original function does matter imo.
 
Cinnamontoast said:
Surely the only way to try to ensure healthy dogs is to have all the recommended tests done and consider the breeding co-efficients? Even then, nothing is 100%.
.
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It definately helps. The other thing that actually matters quite a lot is being willing to open the studbook to add new blood if they meet the criteria to reduce inbreeding.
Again only able to go from my own breed knowledge but the Lapphund registration in Finland still are accepting new blood to the breed if they pass a panel to prove type. There also does need to be better control on the popular sire issues (again though the scandi's are ahead of us there to and have rules on that!)
We are bottle necking a lot of breeds and increasing the genetic risk issues but being to strict and unyielding when it comes to pedigree lines/ conformation versus health. Look at the dalmations for an example of what careful outcrossing can do for example they bred out the gene that cases bladder stones by adding anorher breed.......and that was massively controversial when it initially occurred.
The Doberman is a sad example of this. They do not have the diversity to remove heart issues from the breed by breeding it out alone.

But the main issue is.....responsible breeders are quite rare :( backyard and commercial breeding is more common.
 
meleeka said:
I think terriers are less prone to things than a lot of other breeds. Our old JRT was 21 when he just laid down and died I’d I’ve known a few live to over 18.
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Yeah I was going to say jrt. Every yard had one when I was younger (though I suppose they were just considered mongrels then), and most had been in a lot of scrapes, given precious little veterinary care and all seemed to get to late teens. My current Jack russelly thing is under strict instructions that she is to live until she is 20.
 
The breeds with a "sporting" requirement and no split between working/show types are the most healthy in my experience. You couldn't pay me to own a Boxer - preordained cancer

@Cinnamontoast there's not many but they do exist - Quincegrove and Sgurr kennels spring to mind. I've also got a littler of FTW x FTW pups from fully tested parents on the ground (all sold)
 
Levrier said:
Yep - George paces constantly as well, but then he is the most appallingly constructed dog I’ve ever seen ? (apart from maybe that grotesque one posted further up the thread!!!)
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Paces because he has epilepsy?

I can't visualise the skipping reference...?
 
My childhood JRT skipped, he also had a magnificent set of Queen Anne legs. The show type JRTs you get in the ring now make me smile, they look lovely wee dogs but are so far removed from the (and I say this with the greatest affection, in remembrance of that childhood dog!) bow-legged, block-headed, short-legged, merrily skipping terriers that everyone has round here as to be a completely different breed.
 
blackcob said:
My childhood JRT skipped, he also had a magnificent set of Queen Anne legs. The show type JRTs you get in the ring now make me smile, they look lovely wee dogs but are so far removed from the (and I say this with the greatest affection, in remembrance of that childhood dog!) bow-legged, block-headed, short-legged, merrily skipping terriers that everyone has round here as to be a completely different breed.
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Anyone would think the kennel club had got involved ???

I find George fascinating I have to admit, I’ve never seen a dog with such puny tiny little legs and such a massive body! My mum kept lecturing me that he was far too fat (from photos) until she met him for the first time - he has a massive spring of rib and is shaped like a little barrel ? Anyone remember the Moog from Willo the Wisp?

https://images.app.goo.gl/cYpSGTZAnmnade549
 
Also Westie Lung Dz and Pug Dog Encephalitis...!
I think Im tainted, not sure I can think of a healthy breed I’ve come across any number of...!

Loads of pocket Americans bulldogs in Essex now, they’re the new frenchie :(

Add dental disease and atopy to the luxating patellas of JRTs!
 
druid said:
@Cinnamontoast there's not many but they do exist - Quincegrove and Sgurr kennels spring to mind. I've also got a littler of FTW x FTW pups from fully tested parents on the ground (all sold)
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I thought Sgurr had stopped breeding? Or was that another kennel? One that produces tris?

Im definitively not looking for a pup until the current two have gone. We need a hard re-set, I don’t want a pup seeing Zak’s behaviour and imitating him. They’re only 10 and seem very healthy still.
 
rara007 said:
Also Westie Lung Dz and Pug Dog Encephalitis...!
I think Im tainted, not sure I can think of a healthy breed I’ve come across any number of...!

Loads of pocket Americans bulldogs in Essex now, they’re the new frenchie :(

Add dental disease and atopy to the luxating patellas of JRTs!
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Haha, yes I already added dental problems.
 
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