While no breed is guaranteed to be healthy, some dogs are simply healthier than others and less prone to certain health problems, particularly genetic disorders.
Below are some breeds known to have the fewest health problems and to be statistically the healthiest of all canine populations.
A lot of research has examined canine genetics and how it relates to health and lifespan in dogs, and we've investigated these studies previously in our article about canine health and dogs with the longest lifespans.
All findings suggest a direct correlation between a dog's genes (by breed) and the likelihood of developing a number of diseases, which are also correlated with a dog's lifespan.
ALSO READ: 15 Dog Breeds That Have the Longest Lifespan
15 Healthy Dogs with Least Health Problems
1. Australian Shepherd
This breed is well-known for being very active and overall healthy.
Australian Shepherds are less prone to skin, fur, and bone conditions than some other dogs. With good care, these dogs can live up to 15 years.
On the other hand, this breed isn't completely immune and is still prone to a few health issues, most notably Collie Eye Anomaly, which is a genetic congenital eye condition.
2. English Foxhound
Working breeds (with a few exceptions) are generally considered the healthiest, and the English Foxhound is no exception.
All Foxhound breeds are very healthy dogs, just like the English Foxhound, which has an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years.
However, they require regular exercise to keep their health at the optimal level and can sometimes suffer from leukodystrophy, a rare genetic disorder.
3. Australian Cattle Dog
This working breed has amazing agility and strength. They are also very intelligent and excel at problem-solving.
With proper care, they can live up to 13 years and rarely have major health issues. In fact, the longest-living dog in the world was an Australian Cattle Dog called Bluey, who lived 29 years and 5 months.
They are high-energy dogs that require constant mental and physical stimulation. However, they are prone to hip dysplasia and deafness, especially in their senior years.
4. English Springer Spaniel
English Spring Spaniels are known for their health because they rarely suffer from serious genetic diseases related to their breed.
However, they are prone to minor eye problems.
The average lifespan of the English Springer Spaniel is around 14 years. They are strong and muscular hunters and high-energy dogs that enjoy long walks, playing fetch, and swimming.
5. German Shorthaired Pointer
This prolific hunting breed is well known for its intelligence and prowess in hunting different types of game, and it is also one of the healthiest dog breeds. The average lifespan is 12 to 14 years.
German Shorthaired Pointers are high-energy and require plenty of exercise and mental stimulation.
While they are less prone to major health problems, they can often suffer from hip dysplasia or gastric torsion.
6. Border Collie
Everyone knows and likes the Border Collie, and it's another high-energy breed with good health.
Their average lifespan is 10 to 14 years, and they are extremely active and agile, which helps reduce major health problems.
However, they are prone to hyperthyroidism, epilepsy, and Collie eye abnormalities. If you have a Border Collie, make sure that he spends plenty of time outdoors.
7. Chihuahua
Chihuahua is one of the longest-living breeds.
In ideal conditions, they can live up to 18 years, which is an undeniable sign of good health.
They don’t require much exercise because of their size, unlike most other breeds.
Health conditions that often affect Chihuahuas include hypoglycemia and pulmonic stenosis, which is a disorder of the heart valve.
8. Siberian Husky
While Siberian Huskies can live up to 13 years, which isn’t as impressive a lifespan compared to some other breeds, they have an amazing physical profile and health.
Because they were bred as sled dogs, they are used to harsh conditions, which helps explain their good health in regular living conditions.
Their common health problems are mainly ophthalmological and include cataracts, corneal dystrophy, and retinal atrophy.
9. Havanese
This small dog breed, famous for its friendly demeanor, has an average lifespan of 12 to 14 years and rarely suffers from serious health problems.
Common issues in Havanese dogs include elbow dysplasia and deafness.
They aren’t high-energy dogs, so short walks are enough to meet their exercise needs.
10. Bichon Frise
Don’t be fooled by this cute breed's appearance; it is a resilient, tough dog.
While they can get overweight and are prone to cataracts, they are generally an extremely healthy breed. Their average lifespan is between 12 and 14 years.
However, Bichon Frise requires a lot of grooming to decrease the chances of certain infections.
11. Greyhound
One look at a Greyhound and its lean physique tells you a lot about its outstanding health.
They are one of the fastest breeds, and one of the oldest in the world, with origins dating back to ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia.
These intelligent dogs can live up to 13 years without serious illness. However, they are prone to elbow and hip dysplasia, as well as hypothyroidism.
12. Belgian Shepherd/ Belgian Malinois
Belgian Shepherd, also known as the Malinois, is one of the most versatile working dogs, which also makes it one of the healthiest dogs in the world, with an average lifespan of 12-14 years.
Since they were bred strictly for their performance, they have an exceptionally low predisposition to many degenerative and hereditary diseases, but they are prone to hip dysplasia and some ophthalmological issues.
13. Finnish Spitz
This small but fearless hunting dog is a great athlete and resilient to developing degenerative diseases.
Diabetes may be a concern with Finnish Spitz dogs, but a proper diet is usually enough to prevent this.
Hip dysplasia and Shaker syndrome are common health issues in this breed, especially in older dogs.
The Finnish Spitz has an average lifespan of 13 to 15 years.
14. Basenji
The Basenji is widely considered the oldest dog breed in the world, native to Africa. This feat is attributed to their remarkable physical strength and health.
Basenji is also one of the quietest dog breeds and is known as the ‘dog that never barks’ but instead “yodels.”
This breed lives up to 14 years. They are prone to progressive retinal atrophy and some kidney problems like the Falconi syndrome.
15. Mixed Breeds
There has been much debate over the claim that lovely mutts are generally much healthier than purebred dogs, including the lower rate of hip dysplasia and many heart diseases, as well as being less prone to most skin, brain, blood, kidney, and liver diseases.
While the debate continues over how much this is true, some studies show that mixed breeds have better health and are less prone to many genetic diseases.
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