What is the healthiest pedigree dog
22 Healthiest Dog Breeds With the Least Health Problems
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Australian Cattle Dog
Known to help ranchers keep herds in check, Australian Cattle Dogs love being outdoors. There's no doubt that their athleticism contributes to their health. An ACD named Bluey holds the Guinness World Record for being the oldest dog; he passed away at 29 years old.
RELATED: 40 Top Medium-Sized Dogs
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Australian Shepherd
With historical ties to the Wild West, Australian Shepherds thrive on being put to work alongside farmers. Their active lifestyle ensures a long, happy life living anywhere from 12 to 15 years.
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Basenjis
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Beagle
Small but mighty best describes this breed well. Being part of a hunting pack comes naturally to them and they succeed, thanks to their excellent sense of smell. Living between 10-15 years, beagles make loyal companions.
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Belgian Malinois
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Bichon Frise
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Border Collie
The need to move keeps Border Collies young at heart, well into old age. With an average lifespan of 12 years, they stay busy herding livestock and winning first place at dog shows with their agility.
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Chihuahua
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Dachshund
Named an "icon" by the American Kennel Club, this dog's long body and short legs earned it the nickname "wiener." Daily exercise could help yours stay healthy for its 20th birthday.
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German Pinscher
Often described as elegant, the German Pinscher is always poised and ready for any adventure. This muscular breed has a lifespan of 12-15 years.
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German Shorthaired Pointer
Spot a German Shorthaired Pointer in a sea of dogs by their unique patterned fur. Leave one outdoors and it could run for days. Their drive keeps them young.
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Greyhound
Originally from Egypt, Greyhounds are admired for their perfect form and quickness during a chase. Hereditary health issues are rare in this breed.
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Havanese
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Miniature Schnauzer
Part of the terrier group, Miniature Schnauzers do well in a quiet family home or on a farm. Its muscular body and fearless attitude contributes to its 15-year lifespan.
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Pomeranian
Pomeranians don't let their small bodies keep them from being the life of the party. Their furry coats help them stay warm during short walks. If it's too cold, they can exercise indoors instead.
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Poodle
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Pug
Despite their wrinkly face, pugs are an energetic breed and can live up to 15 years with the right diet. They prefer places that aren't too hot or too cold, and don't mind having company.
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Shiba Inu
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Shih Tzu
Its long mane disguises 16 pounds of strength underneath it. Well known for its affection toward children, the Shih Tzu can live 18 happy years.
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Siberian Husky
Don't let a Siberian Husky's graceful walk fool you. This powerful dog is used to running in a pack and needs open space to release its energy. The average husky can live to be 14 years old.
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Best and worst dog food brands
There are hundreds of dog food options available, from dry to grain-free to raw, but which ones will have your furry friend licking the bowl clean?
We surveyed 2,304 dog owners about the pet food they buy to uncover the brands that customers (and their dogs) love and which offer the best value for money.
See how brands such as Burns, Harringtons and Royal Canin are rated by customers, as well as supermarket options from the likes of Aldi and Lidl.
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Dog food brands rated
Our top-scoring dog food brand achieved an impressive customer score of 82%, and five-star ratings for how much pets liked it, as well as their wellbeing when eating it.
At the other end of the scale, two brands scored less than 60%, with just two stars out of five each for how healthy the dog seemed when eating food from that brand.
Which? members can log in now to unlock the full results. If you're not yet a member, join Which? today to get instant access to this and thousands of other reviews.
Table notes: Survey of 2,304 Which? Connect members who owned a dog in July 2023. Customer score is based on overall satisfaction with the dog food and how likely people are to recommend it to a friend. n/a means not enough responses to include a star rating.
Make sure your furry friend is covered see our guide to the best pet insurance for your dog
How to choose the best dog food for your pet
Deciphering all the pet nutrition information on the internet can seem like an impossible task. It can range from confusing to completely contradictory.
We spoke to real pet nutrition researchers to understand what actually matters. Good news: it isnt as complicated as it seems.
The most important part of choosing a food is actually monitoring your pet, said Dr Teresa Hollands, senior lecturer in veterinary nutrition at the University of Surrey. If you're feeding your pet a particular brand of food, and they have plenty of energy and seem well in themselves, then you are on the right track.
Dr Nigel Kendall, lecturer in nutrition at the University of Nottingham, agreed: If your pet is on completely the wrong diet, then there will be physical signs.
Signs that your pet is eating a nutritious diet, and the right food for their needs, include:
- good overall health
- plenty of energy
- good sleeping habits
- regularly passing firm stools
- maintaining a healthy weight.
Also a cat owner? See our guide to thebest and worst cat food brands
How to feed your dog the best and healthiest diet
As well as choosing the right food, you can also maximise the nutritional value of your pets diet by feeding them in the right way.
We spoke with Dr David Gardner, professor of physiology at the University of Nottingham, to find out more:
Choosing a complete food
Start by making sure you are feeding your pet a complete food, he said. Thats really important, but it isnt always clearly labelled.
Complete foods are designed to give your pet all the nutrients they need, so you can feed them the same thing every day without causing a nutritional imbalance or deficit.
Weighing your pet food
David also highlighted the importance of weighing your pets food every time you feed them.
Remember, you may not notice that you're overfeeding your pet if you increase the size of their feed very slightly each day.
Varying your pet food
If you want to take additional steps to ensure your pet is getting the best nutrition, David also suggested varying the food you give them, provided that this doesnt upset their stomach.
These changes could be as small as varying the flavour of food that you give to your pet.
If you buy a bag of lamb dog food one month, try the chicken next time, David suggested.
If you do want to try changing the type or brand of your pet food, remember to do so gradually. Your pet's meal should be no more than 25% new food for the first couple of days, increasing over the course of a week.
Dogs can be fussy, so know that varying your pet food is not essential. The main thing is that they eat and enjoy their food and that it's nutritionally complete.
Best dog harnesses see our pick of the best and worst as tested by dog owners
Is wet or dry dog food better?
Both wet and dry foods can be nutritionally complete, meaning that they should contain all the nutrients your pet needs. That means there is no significant advantage to either food type.
David recommended feeding your pet a mixture of wet and dry food.
Evidence suggests that there are slight differences in the nutritional composition of wet and dry food. That means you are going to cover more nutrients if you mix them together.
If you want to feed your dog exclusively one type of food, then wet food does tend to be more appealing. However, it is often more expensive and it can predispose pets to dental disease.
In contrast, dry food is beneficial to dogs teeth and gums, and it is usually easier and cheaper to use and store. Just make sure that your dog has access to plenty of fresh water, as they will not be getting hydration from their food.
Best food and drinkwe've rated the tastiest food for humans too. Discover our top picks, from chicken soup to red wine
Can dogs be vegan?
Yes, provided you are careful about the type of food you give them.
There are commercial dog foods available that are vegetarian or vegan and nutritionally complete.
Some people may want to prepare homemade vegetarian or vegan meals for their dog, which is not typically recommended by experts.
This is because evidence suggests that homemade food (including meat-based diets) is typically not nutritionally complete even when people follow recipes labelled as such.
Is raw food good for dogs?
Raw pet food has become more popular over the past few years, especially for dogs, but experts don't generally recommend it.
I would not recommend a raw food diet due to the risk to human health, says Dr Heather Bacon, dean of veterinary medicine at the University of Central Lancashire.
Bacteria present in raw meat can include salmonella, listeria, campylobacter and E-coli. These cause significant illness in humans and animals, particularly young, old and immune-compromised individuals.
These can be spread around the house during food preparation and eating. They can also be passed from animals to humans if your pet kisses your face after eating.
All of these bacteria are destroyed when meat is correctly cooked.
How much should my dog weigh?
According to a 2022 survey by UK Pet Food, 50% of dogs (and 43% of cats) are overweight or obese.
Your pet being overweight can have a huge impact on its quality of life, including limiting their ability to exercise or sleep properly. According to the RSPCA, it also predisposes them to illness including:
- diabetes
- heart disease
- cancer.
How to if tell your dog is overweight
Dr Teresa Hollands recommends an easy method for checking your pets weight.
Create a fist with your hand, and feel your knuckles with your fingers, she said. If your pets ribs feel like that, they are underweight.
Then lay your hand flat, and feel your knuckles again. If their ribs feel like that, they are the perfect weight.
Finally, keep your hand flat, turn your hand over, and run your fingers over the pads on your palm at the base of your fingers. If their ribs feel like that, they are overweight.
Physical signs that your dog is overweight
- Very thin(more than 20% below ideal body weight) Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen (in short-haired pets), obvious loss of muscle bulk, no fat can be felt under the skin.
- Underweight (10-20% below ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones easily seen, obvious waist and abdominal tuck, very little fat can be felt under the skin.
- IdealRibs, spine and hip bones easily felt, visible waist and abdominal tuck, small amount of fat can be felt.
- Overweight(10-15% above ideal body weight): Ribs, spine and hip bones are hard to feel, waist barely visible, broad back, layer of fat on belly and at base of tail.
- Obese (more than 15% above ideal body weight)Ribs, spine and hip bones extremely difficult to feel under a thick layer of fat, no waist can be seen and belly may droop significantly, heavy fat pads on lower back and at base of the tail.
How we rated dog food brands
To uncover the best and worst dog food brands, in July 2023 we surveyed 2,304 Which? members who had bought dog food recently, and asked all about their experiences with their chosen brand.
We asked them to rate the brand on various attributes including value for money, how their dog responded to the food, and its perceived wellbeing on the food.
Overall customer scores are based on how satisfied customers were with the brand overall and whether or not they would recommend it.
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