The toughest, healthiest dog breeds are those carefully bred with love and attention to detail. These pups tend to grow up strong and free from common genetic health issues. With the right diet, plenty of exercise, mental stimulation, and a happy lifestyle, purebred dogs like these can be true champions of good health.
What makes them even more appealing to pet lovers? They come with fewer hassles! Less frequent vet visits mean more savings, and you won’t have to stress over expensive insurance or constant upkeep.
In this article, we’ll dive into some of the hardiest and healthiest dog breeds you can welcome into your home — pups that bring joy without the fuss!
Hardiest and Healthiest Dog Breeds
1. Australian Cattle Dog
With an average lifespan of around 12-16 years, the Australian Cattle Dog is one of the healthiest dogs out there.
Britannica calls it tough and rugged!
As they are active dogs, they need plenty of exercise to stay healthy. If you have a yard with your home, the dog will stay content playing outdoors most of the day. However, if you live in an apartment, you’ll have to give it enough space and opportunities for physical activities.
This healthy breed of dogs also comes with a friendly demeanour. This makes it quite a suitable dog to bring home as a pet.
Three things that can really help in ensuring this dog’s health and longevity are a balanced diet, frequent exercise, and consistent training. By eating right and working out properly, this loving pet will surely live the longest.
Some Tips For Your Dog’s Health
Provide it with at least one to two hours of exercise daily
Brushing weekly to maintain its double-layer coat
Give it some supplements to support healthy cartilage and joint health
2. Beagle
Did you know that a Beagle can live for as long as 12-15 years?
Well, this is true! It is one of the healthiest and longest living dog breeds.
This dog breed tends to stay healthy for a large portion of its life, until and unless it gets very old and weak.
A healthy Beagle has a straight back, soft coat, and a well-proportioned body structure.
However, when this hunting dog grows, it becomes prone to certain health issues, including Epilepsy, Meningitis, and even some ear infections.
PetMD suggests it’s a good idea to keep a check on your dog’s ears and their cleanliness, as it is prone to getting ear infections.
Some Tips For Your Dog’s Health
Give it a well-balanced diet
Regularly bathe your dog to maintain its healthy coat.
Routine ear cleaning is necessary to prevent ear infections
3. Border Collie
When developed by a reputable breeder, a Border Collie lives a healthy, hardy life without any frequent vet visits.
This hardy and healthy breed is an absolute gem. It is highly intelligent and super easy to train.
Known for their herding abilities, obedience, and agility, these dogs are exceptional family dogs when raised by considering their essential requirements.
Their social skills are also exceptional!
With proper training or consistent mental stimulation, they are great family dogs. Make sure to give them appropriate activity options so they don’t get bored or annoyed.
Some Tips For Your Dog’s Health
Provide it with at least 1-2 hours of daily exercise
Trim their nails regularly to avoid outdoor injuries
Be careful and detect early signs of an illness and a change in behavior
4. Australian Shepherd
This ranch dog is not only lean, but it is also quite sturdy in appearance.
Though some dogs are genetically predisposed to certain health concerns, these problems lessen when you get the Australian Shepherd from a reputable breeder.
These herding dogs come with an easy-going temperament. Hence, they turn out to be exceptional family pets and wonderful companions.
Owing to being active, these dogs prefer an active lifestyle. This is why dogs’ parents need to be careful when the dog gets too active in order to avoid injuries and mishaps.
Some Tips For Your Dog’s Health
Give your dog regular walks and runs to keep it healthy
They are prone to weight gain, so watch out for their diet
Give them swimming sessions to help them keep strong muscles and healthy joints
5. Siberian Husky
When given an active lifestyle, the Siberian Husky turns out to be quite healthy and robust with minimal health conditions.
This dog breed, native to Northeast Asia, has an average lifespan of 12 – 15 years.
It surely has the healthiest and longest life in the dog world. Also, it can perform some really tough physical tasks quite easily!
As much as they like socializing and being around people, they also like having a job to do. Without an assigned task, they tend to get bored quite easily.
These dogs require an adequate diet, a proper exercise routine, and an active living environment. If you give them what they need, they can surely turn into the healthiest and hardiest breeds out there.
Though these alert dogs don’t bark excessively, they love to howl when they feel energetic.
Some Tips For Your Dog’s Health
Pick a reputable breeder
Provide them a diet high in protein and moderate in fat
Make sure to give it regular vet check-ups and required vaccinations
6. Chihuahua
A Chihuahua is a healthy dog, provided you maintain its healthy weight and ensure provision of a balanced diet.
They are energetic and bold, WebMD says!
This dog has lots of energy packed into it. It means it asks for extended playtime and activities so it doesn’t get bored.
A balanced diet that has all the required proteins and vitamins is necessary for this dog to thrive. However, make sure you do not over-feed it, or else it will get bulky. This energetic breed is prone to obesity, possibly leading to various health issues.
As they grow old, there may be some health concerns, which is why you would need to embrace pet insurance.
Overall, this purebred breed of dogs is a somewhat low-maintenance breed.
Some Tips For Your Dog’s Health
Provide them with daily exercise and 20-30 minutes of walking
Brush their teeth at least 2-3 times a week to avoid dental issues
Offer them regular vaccinations and parasite prevention treatments
7. Havanese
These healthy dogs have 14 to 16 years of life, making them one of the longest living dog breeds.
This very energetic breed may be prone to some hereditary health issues, but their chances of getting serious health problems are reduced to a minimum if you get them from a reputable breeder.
Havanese is a robust little dog. It would just require the pet parents to take it for annual check-ups, and it would keep this dog healthy.
However, just like many other animals, it may also have a few health issues once in a while. For instance, eye disorders, hearing problems, and joint issues.
Some Tips For Your Dog’s Health
Offer them proper mental stimulation opportunities
Don’t let them overexert themselves while playing
Choose a reputable breeder
Conclusion
Some dogs are naturally healthier than others. They are physically active and have a robust immune system, which keeps them away from regular health issues. Also, when they are adopted from a reputable breeder, they tend to be healthy and hardy, having a great zest for life. The German Shorthaired Pointer is also a hearty breed that you can consider having!
They make dog ownership quite hassle-free.
