#5 Labrador Retriever
These are very popular dogs for families with children; the dogs are gentle and patient. The Labrador Retriever is also very active and playful. And, as its name clearly states, it loves to play fetch. They were bred as retrievers of waterfowl; the undercoat is wiry and water-resistant. Labradors have webbed paws for swimming – its original function was retrieving fishing nets! By official registration numbers the Labrador is the most popular dog in Canada, the UK, and in the US (since 1991). They have relatively few health problems; two common ones are hereditary (myelopathy and retinal atrophy).
#4 Siberian Husky
This stunning dog was bred in the north of Siberia, and it is a member of the Spitz family of dogs. Its best-known feature is its ice-blue eyes, but these dogs can also have amber or brown eyes, or even eyes of two different colors. They have the thick musculature of the Alaskan Malamute, and are similarly strong work dogs. They were bred to pull heavy loads long distances through difficult conditions. During Alaska's Nome Gold Rush (1899-1909) they were imported from Asia as sled dogs; they later spread into Canada and the US. These dogs have few issues of poor health – the two most common are hereditary (eye defects and seizures). This dog is one of the few to be almost free of incidence of hip dysplasia (less than 2% incidence rate).
#3 Whippet
Despite its fragile appearance this racing dog is surprisingly hale. Their lightweight structure, considering they are in the larger breeds of dogs, assures them of no hip dysplasia problems. They also live an average of 13 years. They are not subject to any of the common problems of dogs. Undescended testicles in the breed are common, however. Another problem in some animals is called "athletic heart syndrome". These dogs were bred to race – their hearts are very large, and at rest beat very slowly. Sometimes, the heartbeat may be arrhythmic or intermittent.
#2 Rottweiler
This lovable lug was developed as a herding dog in Germany. They were called "Rottweil butcher's dogs" because they herded livestock and pulled carts loaded with butchered meats for market. Rottweilers are now used in search and rescue, as guide dogs for the blind, and as guard or police dogs. These dogs have almost no health problems, but because of their larger size they can (rarely) develop hip dysplasia. Overall, they are extremely low maintenance.
#1 Heinz 57
It may seem as if a cheat has been perpetrated, but the mutt or mongrel is the overall healthiest dog breed on the planet. This canine, which is just plain "dawg" through and through, has a richly diverse genetic background in his or her makeup, and that diversity is what keeps the mutt healthy. Mutts rarely develop the consistent genetic disorders some breeds are known for simply because those undesirable traits don't always get a chance to pass from generation to generation. They are also highly resistant to parasitism and communicable diseases. A mutt, can be as great a companion as any registered breed, and most have inherent intelligence. As with all dogs they are not resistant to accident, mistreatment, or obesity – owners need to take as good care of their mongrel as they would the most pampered poodle (the dog breed with one of the highest rates of health problems, by the way).
