Dog breeds known for their health.....

that’s awful and so sad. They are cracking little dogs. I do remember something being mentioned now, in the last year or so, about kidney failure. I don’t suppose you could share what bloodlines your MT was from? By pm if you prefer.

as far as I’m aware though, most of them do live a fairly long life, 15-17 years seeming quite common

Ill pm it to you
 
Stanley is our third BT, our previous two were very healthy and trouble free. I'm hoping Stan will be the same. First one ruptured his cruciate in deep snow but made a good recovery and lived for years after went at 16, second one was pts with a tumour in his nose at 15 but up to that age had been totally well and sound.
 
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If you had to ask me what I thought was the healthiest breed in the world....

Greyhound most likely

Australian cattle dogs or Kelpies are pretty high on the list but hard work

Finnish lapphund :p

I think Finnish Lapphunds are quite healthy, but not immune to accidents.
Several years ago Blomma somehow ripped off a claw out in our garden. Not to mention the time when Beata was out of my sight on a walk for max 1 minute. Afterwards we found out that they had a barbeque at the shooting club the day before we walked by it, and we suspect that the pieces of net wrapping for meat, with small metal things attached in some places, which the veterinarian found when they opened Beata's stomach + the intestines in two places, was remnants from that barbeque.

So, regardless if a breed (or crossbreed) is considered to be healthy, I think owners should be aware that stuff can always happen, when you let dogs be dogs.

Anyhow, Finnish Lapphunds can carry the gene for a type of cataract, PRCD-PRA, but gene testing for it have been available for over 12 years, and they need to carry two copies of the gene to develop the eye disease, so as long as one, or both, parent is a non carrier, there is no risk for the puppies to one day develop inherited cataract.

Statistically, the majority of Finnish Lapphunds in Sweden lives to be 12 years old or older.
 
American Bullies, as they're called in the USA, are freaks of nature. There is no nice way to put it. I wouldn't touch a Frenchie or English bulldog with a 10 foot barge pole.
Canaan dogs are known to be healthy for the most part. A friend switched from Dobes to Salukis not realizing how much harder it is to train a Saluki. Nice woman but sometimes not the brightest.
The 3 GSDs I have now come from long lived lines so I'm hoping for the best. Before them the oldest one lived to be 12 years+ and I put him down because he had arthritis in his stifles and had some skin issues. He was a lovely dog.
Working hounds seem to be healthy for the most part. If it can't stay healthy or hunt they don't live long. Harsh but it works.
Malinois used to be healthy but now they're having seizure problems just like Tervs and Groendaals.
It seems hard to find even a good, healthy, generic mutt now days. They all seem to be "designer dogs" or lab or pit bull crosses and have those issues.
 
I may be biased, but Manchester Terriers have few health issues without the breed. Parents should be test for VWD (Same as dobes) but other than that they’re a pretty hardy lot.

Is that a lot to do with there being so few of them, tho? The co-efficient can’t be very high, despite the small gene pool, because there aren’t many registered annually. My breed has a huge co-efficient, they’re very common.

I love the idea of a a musnterlander, but the only litter I could see when I looked last week, (I am a BAD person) was in Anglesey. I’m also keen on English setters, but the OH wont budge on breed. He told me tonight he wants to choose the puppy that ‘calls to him’ ie the naughty one. He thinks Bear is boring. How very dare he! Bear is an easy, extremely affectionate dog, very trainable, ignores other dogs, which is my ultimate aim. We’re going to end up with another difficult bloody dog, aren’t we? ?

I could never go for a brachy dog, I want something fit for function that can motorbike round the woods and then snooze on my lap all afternoon.
 
Sorry, not read all the replies but I’ve always found a good old mutt tends to last longer, or at least run into less trouble!

We have 3 cross breeds. Our oldest is an 11 year old Dane x Husky. She’s slowing down a bit now but we’ve been so lucky with her that she’s had no real issues in her life.

My friend hasn’t had several German Shephards and they’ve had numerous health problems. The KC registered ones legs went and he struggled in his last few years. The non-KC registered one was diagnosed with dog lupus and died aged 7. He had suffered from health issues all his life as a result of the lupus- needed his toe amputated, suffered with ear infections and sores. He died from an undiagnosed tumour on his spleen that burst one morning. By the time my friend got him in the car and to the vet, he was dying. Fortunately they managed to end his suffering, but it was a very traumatic experience for the family.

Different experiences, different views. I've had one crossbreed, which we had to euthanise when she was only around 2 years old due to inherited problems.
That made me decide to stick to purebred dogs, where the breed clubs have guidelines that I can check if the breeder have followed or not.
 
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but the OH wont budge on breed. He told me tonight he wants to choose the puppy that ‘calls to him’ ie the naughty one. He thinks Bear is boring. How very dare he! Bear is an easy, extremely affectionate dog, very trainable, ignores other dogs, which is my ultimate aim. We’re going to end up with another difficult bloody dog, aren’t we? ?
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No disrespect intended, I presume that he is otherwise a lovely man, but wanting to choose the puppy that "calls to him = the naughty one", makes me think that you should hit him in the head with a brick.
After all, if he wants to give himself a headache, there is no need for him to spend money on buying a naughty puppy to achieve the headache, when you can fix it for nothing with a brick.

You could also use a saucepan.
 
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Ah yes the kidney issues thing. That’s a fairly recent discovery if I remember rightly? Seem to recall some drama on the fb group, I left it not long after that so I’m not really in the loop any more.

OMG yours likes mud and water?! ? don’t get me wrong, Frank would pursue a ball or quarry through mud/water/fire - but when just walking/sniffing around he always chooses not to get his feet wet and finds a way round ? and good luck getting him to go outside to pee or poop if it’s raining ?

I'll PM you about the bloodline.

Mine may have just become a spaniel, she swims, she revels in mud and she pulls like a husky out doing Canicross n matter what's in front of her. Her last race was Dogs in the Bog ?
 
Different experiences, different views. I've had one crossbreed, which we had to euthanise when she was only around 2 years old due to inherited problems.
That made me decide to stick to purebred dogs, where the breed clubs have guidelines that I can check if the breeder have followed or not.

Fair enough. I can only speak from my experiences and those of friends and family.
I love a good mutt though!
 
No disrespect intended, I presume that he is otherwise a lovely man, but wanting to choose the puppy that "calls to him = the naughty one", makes me think that you should hit him in the head with a brick.
After all, if he wants to give himself a headache, there is no need for him to spend money on buying a naughty puppy to achieve the headache, when you can fix it for nothing with a brick.

You could also use a saucepan.

He wants a dog with ‘character’, whereas I like well-behaved, easy dogs that do as you ask. Apparently, this is boring. ?
 
He wants a dog with ‘character’, whereas I like well-behaved, easy dogs that do as you ask. Apparently, this is boring. ?

Sounds like you definitely need a MT then ;) bags of “character” - they have a great sense of humour, mostly at their owners expense, I’ve found! But to balance it out they're also highly trainable, loving, will as you say “zoom round the woods on your walk but then snooze on you all afternoon“. Seems the perfect compromise!

There you go I’ve found your next dog breed ?
 
We have a kennel full of very very bright working springers, they are all insane (obviously only my opinion!) Husband tells me they have character and train ability, unlike ‘thick and boring’ labs! They are all healthy though.
We also have a working clumber who is absolutely the funniest dog that has ever walked this earth! She snores, has itchy skin and is deaf but makes me laugh all the time!
 
Sounds like you definitely need a MT then ;) bags of “character” - they have a great sense of humour, mostly at their owners expense, I’ve found! But to balance it out they're also highly trainable, loving, will as you say “zoom round the woods on your walk but then snooze on you all afternoon“. Seems the perfect compromise!

There you go I’ve found your next dog breed ?

Sense of humour, stubborn, loving, independent, piss taker, adorable, demanding, far too clever for his own good, hilarious-it’s Zak!

I know people say springers are crazy, but I don’t find that at all, I’ve had working bred and pet bred, it’s the breed for me! MTs sound fabulous, but I think they’re too little for me, I’d probably fall over one!
 
We have a kennel full of very very bright working springers, they are all insane (obviously only my opinion!) Husband tells me they have character and train ability, unlike ‘thick and boring’ labs! They are all healthy though.

Ooh, blimey, hope you’ve got your tin hat on for when the lab owners see this! ? I like a challenge, but I think in 20 years, I’d want a less challenging but not boring dog. I’ve only met a few labs, one of which was boring. My aunt’s ate a whole tent one time, then my cousin’s veil for her first Communion. Possibly the greediest dog ever.
 
He wants a dog with ‘character’, whereas I like well-behaved, easy dogs that do as you ask. Apparently, this is boring. ?

Making a rod for one's own back, is highly overrated in my opinion. Well-behaved, easy dogs can also have plenty of character, but in a way that doesn't drain you of your energy. If he thinks an easy dog is boring, why not add difficulty by trying to do more challenging types of training with the dog?
 
Making a rod for one's own back, is highly overrated in my opinion. Well-behaved, easy dogs can also have plenty of character, but in a way that doesn't drain you of your energy. If he thinks an easy dog is boring, why not add difficulty by trying to do more challenging types of training with the dog?

Believe me, I think Zak could immediately join Customs and Excise! We do nothing but train when out, he needs occupying. We have the time to train and we spend a lot of time with them. They’re rarely left for more than 4 hours. He’s a very responsive dog.

We have in no way made a rod for our own backs. Zak was chosen on the basis of his intelligence. His only issue is the da. Otherwise, he is highly entertaining. He’s not naughty, just attention seeking.

He loves to play but after an exciting morning-a cat tried to get in the cat flap in the conservatory behind the table leg in the pic and there were 2 dogs bombing round the park-we made a sharp exit and went elsewhere-he is snoozing with his brother.
1586084856178.jpeg
 
Making a rod for one's own back, is highly overrated in my opinion. Well-behaved, easy dogs can also have plenty of character, but in a way that doesn't drain you of your energy. If he thinks an easy dog is boring, why not add difficulty by trying to do more challenging types of training with the dog?

This did make me smile - this is me exactly ? (not the extra training ? but wanting an easy dog not a challenging one....)

I could never have a springer or a cocker for example, it would drive me absolutely nuts living with a dog that is constantly on the go all the time.... my greyhounds and I suit each other perfectly being lazy sloth-like beings, with short bursts of intense energy and fun ?

That’s the joy of dogs though, everyone can find a dog type that suits them ???
 
I’m biased but papillons tend to be healthy and long-lived. My dog’s breeder had papillons into their late teens. The known issues are luxating patellas and an eye condition which can be tested for, so relatively easy to avoid if you do your homework. They are still relatively uncommon over here so not so many backyard breeders, though like all these things you have to do your research on the breeder! My dog has had no issues at all except caused by the attack on her; her own health is very good. She comes from show lines but the breed appearance has stayed pretty much the same since they first appeared in the 16th century or so, which has definitely helped with their health.
 
This did make me smile - this is me exactly ? (not the extra training ? but wanting an easy dog not a challenging one....)

I could never have a springer or a cocker for example, it would drive me absolutely nuts living with a dog that is constantly on the go all the time.... my greyhounds and I suit each other perfectly being lazy sloth-like beings, with short bursts of intense energy and fun ?

That’s the joy of dogs though, everyone can find a dog type that suits them ???

Yes, definitely, and now we've agreed that most breeds are unhealthy (and only some are very very unhealthy) there's still plenty of choice!
 
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Believe me, I think Zak could immediately join Customs and Excise! We do nothing but train when out, he needs occupying. We have the time to train and we spend a lot of time with them. They’re rarely left for more than 4 hours. He’s a very responsive dog.

We have in no way made a rod for our own backs. Zak was chosen on the basis of his intelligence. His only issue is the da. Otherwise, he is highly entertaining. He’s not naughty, just attention seeking.

He loves to play but after an exciting morning-a cat tried to get in the cat flap in the conservatory behind the table leg in the pic and there were 2 dogs bombing round the park-we made a sharp exit and went elsewhere-he is snoozing with his brother.
View attachment 43567

Now you've made me confused. I thought we where talking about a potential new puppy, not Zak.

ETA To me, there is a difference between choosing an intelligent puppy, and choosing a naughty puppy.
 
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ETA To me, there is a difference between choosing an intelligent puppy, and choosing a naughty puppy.

8 weeks old: faraway look in his eye, constantly looking off into the middle distance, marches purposefully out of buildings and away from people into the great blue yonder, acts like he owns the place, resource guards, screams when restrained or curtailed in any fashion....

11 weeks old: He's for sale? I'LL TAKE HIM!! ????
 
8 weeks old: faraway look in his eye, constantly looking off into the middle distance, marches purposefully out of buildings and away from people into the great blue yonder, acts like he owns the place, resource guards, screams when restrained or curtailed in any fashion....

11 weeks old: He's for sale? I'LL TAKE HIM!! ????

Yeah but we all know you are a little.... ahem.... unusual ???
 
And back then all the dogs ran in a pack and had surnames ? and lived on brown bread and black tea.

'Rex Wilson, get away back to your own house now!'

We had a Rex when I was growing up and he was black and tan too. He was Border Collie/ GSD, BC mother, GSD father and he had a long coat. I never remember him needing the vets and he died at 15.5yrs old. He nearly died twice but that was not health issues. We had a black mongrel that died prematurely in an accident and a lab that was rehomed when we moved to the continent so can't say how their health would have held up. The lab came from a good kennel( so I've been told, Sandylands)

The most unhealthy dog I have owned myself was a JR. He was always requiring vet treatment, he did live to 19 though. My collies have been put down before 7 due to accidents not health issues, One bearded collie/ border collie cross who dropped dead at ten of a suspected stroke. He was healthy but accident prone and had an allergy to penicillin. My Dalmatians have been healthy but accident prone, living to 14,15.
 
I had a mutt with numerous health issues including grand mal epilepsy and multiple allergies. She had other health problems I won't bore you with. She dispelled any myths regarding hybrid vigour.
 
Sense of humour, stubborn, loving, independent, piss taker, adorable, demanding, far too clever for his own good, hilarious-it’s Zak!

I know people say springers are crazy, but I don’t find that at all, I’ve had working bred and pet bred, it’s the breed for me! MTs sound fabulous, but I think they’re too little for me, I’d probably fall over one!

Haha, that made me smile.

I actually wanted a Dobe originally; but after a lot of thought and research decided in the end they were too big for my little house and car. The MT was the compromise - and now I’m not sure I’d want a Dobe after all! They are probably the smallest breed I’d go for though - but they’re big dogs in a small dog’s body!

Anyway, we’ve all got our “own” breed that gets us right in the feels ? and that’s a good thing!
 
Lurchers bred by a fast diminishing population of 'dogmen' who worked them, knew their lines and, either culled substandard ones or removed them from the hunting community.

My friend had a gorgeous brindle whippet lurcher from the Dogs Trust. She was at a Game Show in Devon where someone came up to admire him and was gutted to find out he was castrated, wanted to use him on his bitch. She also took on a really stunning tan lurcher and at the same show was told it was a kelpie x by someone who bred them. Both were very sound healthy dogs who lived to very good ages with no problems, other than bogging off chasing game. Lovely sane dogs with brilliant temperaments.
 
Foxhounds, harriers or beagles from a proper hunt. Not that you would want to live with them, but they’d stay sound!

This!! My retired trailhound, and most of her relatives in the wider seem ridiculously robust and healthy dogs. My old girl, now 13 is still hugely energetic and apart from greying ears and a few old dog warts looks fab. She did have a mast cell tumour removed at 2 - shortly after I acquired her but that hasn't troubled her since and she hasn't brought any other vet bills at all. She is a lovely dog to live with as long as I remember that she was bred and trained to be a working hound. She has been a fantastic family dog for us tbh and I would happily have another till I remember the youthful recall issues, the youthful 'wandering' tendency, the ongoing stealing habits and the vagueness of response to 'normal' dog/owner discussions about here, now and 'no'!! I do love her very dearly and I may take on another like her in good time. I hope that my Irish terrier is as healthy as he is supposed to be too. Not much 'wrong' in the breed and testing has helped enormously with more general terrier type problems I think.
 
My friend breeds Cavaliers her seem to live long acive lives often making mid to late teens still fit and healthy mind you they are all health tested, eyes hearts joints etc even have MRI for syrinx problems so I guess her crusade to rid the breed of ts awful reputation will one day be rewarded. I like gundogs and mostly have never had much go wrong upto about 12. The dog with the greatest longevity was my Newfoundland bitch she lived until she was nearly 17 one of the oldest if not the oldest newfie ever She had a lot of puppies always big litters and was never spayed

That is amazing for a Newfoundland windandrain!! We had them at home when I was young and they were wonderful dogs in lots of ways - ours (Merrybear lines) made about 10 and 12 respectively though which is reasonable I think for such big dogs. :)
 
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