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According to the Guinness Book of World Records, the oldest dog to ever live was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who lived to be 29 years old. This would make Bluey around 151 years old in human years, but Bluey has not been the only Australian cattle dog to live so long. Another pup of this breed named Chilla lived to be 32 years old in Queensland, Australia,
The Icelandic Sheepdog has minimal health conditions while being great with families and children. They typically live between 12 and 14 years, making them one of the healthiest dog breeds.
German shorthaired pointers are full of energy and are commonly used in hunting. With such short fur that they rarely shed, this breed makes a great indoor dog, but they do need a substantial amount of exercise.
One of the rarest dog breeds out there, English foxhounds are natural hunters and very easy to care for. They were raised to hunt in packs with tons of athleticism and the stealth needed to run for hours.
These little herding dogs originated in the French Alps and were bred to herd flocks across difficult terrain for many hours a day. Pyrenean shepherds are quite rare in the United States and Canada but fairly popular in Europe.
Look at those big ears! Belgian Malinois are guard dogs and high-energy working dogs that can be very intense for the average dog owner. Nevertheless, they are one of the healthiest dog breeds with endurance and strong athleticism.
Like many of these other healthiest dog breeds, Basenjis are used as hunting dogs, but also serve as wonderful family dogs. Believe it or not, these pups don’t bark! But they do share their thoughts and feelings with a sound described by many as a yodel.
Chihuahuas, the smallest dogs in the world, are also one of the healthiest dog breeds. Typically weighing around six pounds, these tiny pups are full of energy and are certainly not little when it comes to personality.
“Poodles tend to live longer than other large breeds and are highly intelligent,” claims Dr. Barrack. They can be extremely active and love to be athletically challenged by their owner.
The healthiest dog breeds are typically those that have been cross-bred. “This is because their genetic pool is wider and they are less prone to hereditary health issues such as hip dysplasia, progressive retinal atrophy, or congenital deafness,” says veterinary surgeon Dr. Linda Simon. With the larger gene pool, mixed breeds are less likely to have a recessive disorder.