Woof!
No other animal has aided humanity's rise to preeminence on this planet more than the canine. Domesticated thousands of years ago, dogs insured survival of the human organism by providing protection, hunting prowess, warmth, and companionship. Dogs are resourceful, and of all the animals on the planet, they are perhaps the most interlaced with humanity's development from cave-dwelling creatures into the settled tribes seen today.
For dogs, their history is one of continual genetic refinement. Humans have cross-bred and inbred animals over the millennia to achieve perceived perfection of form or to enhance desirable traits, such as longer hair or better herding capabilities. Unfortunately, if left unchecked, this inbreeding results in poorer animals because inbreeding increases the likelihood of mutations and other recessive defects becoming dominant in any given dog.
The quest for the "healthiest" dog is a fallacious one in the sense that there is almost no single breed that is the "healthiest" of all dogs. Inbreeding for show purposes has seen to that. In the past, what were typified as "working" dogs (herders such as collies, or sporting dogs such as retrievers) were healthier than other breeds. Although this is no longer generally true, there are still some dogs whose overall health is better than most, despite inbreeding.
The dogs noted have some of the fewest overall health issues, and all have better than average life spans (ranging from ten to sixteen years). An interesting correlative as a health indicator – the larger the dog, the more physical problems it is susceptible to. Size is the one trait that has a rather linear correlation with lifespan. Bigger dogs have shorter life spans, and suffer more frequently from crippling arthritis and hip dysplasia. At the other end of the scale, extremely small dogs (inbred to continually reduce their size) may suffer more disorders than their standard-sized counterparts (kidney and other organ failures).
Obesity, as with humans, is a growing problem with dogs as well. Obesity in a dog is the owner's fault, not the dog's. Overfeeding and improper exercise combine to shorten any dog's life. Proper diet is important. However, obesity in some breeds is a clear sign of Cushing's disease (a pituitary problem).
All the dogs noted here are wonderful animals; all have their fans and proud owners. Each has its special traits that make it desirable for whatever reason. This is not a "favorite" dog list. This is a practical recitation of popular breeds comparatively – these dogs overall exhibit fewer health issues than many others, and they are ranked comparatively. Thus, the number ten dog in the list is subject to more potential physical problems than the number two dog. Every dog in this list, however, is far and away healthier and less costly in vet visits than many other popular breeds.
For dogs, their history is one of continual genetic refinement. Humans have cross-bred and inbred animals over the millennia to achieve perceived perfection of form or to enhance desirable traits, such as longer hair or better herding capabilities. Unfortunately, if left unchecked, this inbreeding results in poorer animals because inbreeding increases the likelihood of mutations and other recessive defects becoming dominant in any given dog.
The quest for the "healthiest" dog is a fallacious one in the sense that there is almost no single breed that is the "healthiest" of all dogs. Inbreeding for show purposes has seen to that. In the past, what were typified as "working" dogs (herders such as collies, or sporting dogs such as retrievers) were healthier than other breeds. Although this is no longer generally true, there are still some dogs whose overall health is better than most, despite inbreeding.
The dogs noted have some of the fewest overall health issues, and all have better than average life spans (ranging from ten to sixteen years). An interesting correlative as a health indicator – the larger the dog, the more physical problems it is susceptible to. Size is the one trait that has a rather linear correlation with lifespan. Bigger dogs have shorter life spans, and suffer more frequently from crippling arthritis and hip dysplasia. At the other end of the scale, extremely small dogs (inbred to continually reduce their size) may suffer more disorders than their standard-sized counterparts (kidney and other organ failures).
Obesity, as with humans, is a growing problem with dogs as well. Obesity in a dog is the owner's fault, not the dog's. Overfeeding and improper exercise combine to shorten any dog's life. Proper diet is important. However, obesity in some breeds is a clear sign of Cushing's disease (a pituitary problem).
All the dogs noted here are wonderful animals; all have their fans and proud owners. Each has its special traits that make it desirable for whatever reason. This is not a "favorite" dog list. This is a practical recitation of popular breeds comparatively – these dogs overall exhibit fewer health issues than many others, and they are ranked comparatively. Thus, the number ten dog in the list is subject to more potential physical problems than the number two dog. Every dog in this list, however, is far and away healthier and less costly in vet visits than many other popular breeds.
#10 Border Collie
This dog, despite being number ten on this top ten healthiest dogs list, is regarded as the the most intelligent almost universally. The Border Collie is an older breed of work dog, and is the most widespread of the Collie breeds. It was developed along the Anglo-Scottish frontier for livestock herding, especially sheep. Anyone who has ever had the pleasure of watching one of these dogs in action herding a flock of sheep is amazed at the energy and genuine intuition the dog brings to the task. These dogs are almost prescient, and one Border Collie in early 2011 was discovered to have a vocabulary understanding of over 1,000 words of human speech. Hip dysplasia and epilepsy are common along with a breed-specific eye condition called "Collie Eye Anomaly" (affects the retina and sclera of the dog's eyes, leading to impaired vision). Also, many succumb to cancer.
#9 Alaskan Malamute
This beautiful animal, known by many as the typical "Eskimo" sled dog, is a real workhorse of a canine. They are often confused with Siberian Huskies. These dogs live and labor in some of the coldest climates on earth – consequently, an obvious problem for them and other trans-Siberian animals is extreme heat. Though they live many years, hip dysplasia can occur, and they also have a predisposition to hereditary cataracts.
#8 Shetland Sheepdog
Another herding dog, these little cuties (also known as "Shelties") are great favorites among small children (in a group of toddlers, Shelties have been observed attempting to "herd" them, an entertaining sight). Like all herding breeds they are energetic, but later in life are prone to arthritis and hereditary cataracts.
#7 German Shepherd
#7 German Shepherd
Sometimes called the Alsatian, the German Shepherd ranks third in intelligence (behind the poodle). It is one of the newest breeds of herding dogs, originating in 1899. A major dog health problem relating to spinal curvature has been noted more often in recent years, especially in the Americanized version of the breed (European German Shepherds, not subject to such draconian inbreeding, do not suffer this anomaly as often). As in larger dogs, they are subject to hip dysplasia. Also, German Shepherds can exhibit a neurological disorder called myelopathy. Overall, though, these dogs are durable, and they have served as watch dogs and rescue animals for decades.#6 Pembroke Welsh Corgi
This stumpy canine with the radar antennae ears is one of the smallest breeds of herding dogs, and yes, it originated in Wales. This dog has been a favorite of the British Royal family for over 70 years, and Queen Elizabeth II owns several of them. It is number eleven in intelligence. Most of the health problems these animals develop are related to aging: Von Willebrand's disease (which affects blood platelets), hip dysplasia, and myelopathy.
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