Unhealthy breeds

Would you own a breed that is notoriously known to have a bazillion health problems?

Thinking about Cavs today made me question if I will ever have another one after Truffles, especially reading on the Cav forum of all the people with their heartbreaking stories.

The same holds true for Dobes, I love them..but maybe never.


What about if your breed became one of these "unhealthy" breeds? Would you still own your breed despite all the issues?


One of the reasons I picked Papillons (and now Border Collies for the future) is that they are relatively healthy. There aren't too many health problems in the breed compared to a lot of toy dog breeds and their average lifespan is 12-15 for both BCs and Paps for the most part.

Compared to the 7 years avg I see for Cavs...I don't know what to think. It's really really sad.

English Bulldogs. I have NEVER met a single one that didn't have a mish mash of alergy and just structural issues...

If supposedly you like their temperament and looks, would you own one despite the health problems?

No. Can't say that I would I do like them and find them awfully cute!.. but just couldn't go out and buy one..
Same goes for very large breeds with short life spans.. why set myself up for heart break?

For me, HEALTH is one of the first things I look at when looking at potential breeds.
Things happen, if I adopted or really fell in love with a dog, then so be it. but I wouldn't go to a breeder and BUY a dog of a breed known for bad health problems.

Everything is relative.. all breeds (mostly) have their problems health wise. but I just try to look along the healthier side of the breed matchup

Well would you rather have a myriad of health problem or one big one?

Because, for instance, Flat-Coats tend to be very healthy dogs...right up until they die of cancer, many by 8 years old.

Though to be honest if it's a pick-your-poison I'd rather have that than a breed plagued by HD, elbow degen, skin allergies, and all the other issues that don't kill a dog but which can make their life painful or unpleasant.

Obviously I would much prefer a breed that is healthy and long-lived...but I own a FCR knowing when I got into it that they are a heartbreak breed.

Well I have owned a breed that has health problems, a Rottweiler mix but she was pretty healthy besides her hips being bad. Would I own one again? Hell yes, I love them and Jenny was the best dog I have ever owned. She lived with me for 10 and a half years.

I love pugs, I really do. I am not sure if I'd own one because of their health issues but if I get a well bred one I would own one. They are the sweetest little dogs, though but most I have met have such a hard time breathing. We have a 10 year old pug at my shelter who has so many health issues and breathing problems. It's sad, he is so sweet too. Him being obese doesn't help either.

Hmmn...

Chow Chows can be unhealthy. They went through a huge boom phase that really screwed them over, allergy issues, I think 50% hip dysplasia rate (but I heard that by word of mouth, so I'm not sure the accuracy), etc.

But I would still own one. One thing that is becoming incredibly important though is the ability to be an all-weather dog- which chows aren't.

Still one of the breeds I will definitely come back to time and time again.

I have always wanted a Frenchie. Despite knowing that they can have a plethora of health issues, if I had the chance, I'd jump on owning one.

I guess it would depend on what the issues were. My friend has a cocker spaniel and is always dealing with ear infections, skin infections, allergies etc.... those may be annoying to deal with, and a financial burden, but I think I would rather deal with those than tumors, cancers, heart problems etc.

She did not know cockers were so unhealthy, until she got her first one. And now she's kind of torn because she loves the breed, but hates the problems they come with.


Boxers are not exactly the healthiest breed... I personally haven't experienced much trouble with mine, but the boxer forum is just filled with dogs with MCTs, cardiomyopathy and other heart problems, cancer... it's depressing but I enjoy the breed enough that I'm willing to risk it.

Would depend on my plans for the dog and the health issues that cropped up in the breed.

For example, if BC's had a lot of joint issues I might stay away because I like to play dog sports. But could probably deal with deafness.


I've been lucky that we havn't had a dog with serious health issues yet and havn't had to deal with the heartbreak of it.

To be honest, I would probably prefer one big health problem but have the dog happy and healthy without any other problems until the point where the big health problem hits. And the dog passes away.

A question for you though, for FCRs, is the cancer, one of a certain area? or it shows up anywhere? Also does it usually take quite a long time for it to spread? Or it's really different with every dog?

Pretty much. LOl the health issues in Dalmatians haven't turned me away from them. I am more picky on what health problems I'm willing to deal with though.

Nope, I would not get a "heartache breed". There are some ethical issues for me with these things. But honestly I mainly just don't want to deal with a breed that routinely dies at a young age. I keep thinking about that... Summer is 7 1/2 and that would be nearing the end of quite a few breeds' average life expectancy. That thought honestly breaks my heart.

I have enough bad luck with relatively healthy breeds. I know neither is a guarantee you'll end up with a healthy dog. I know I'm not guaranteed 16 years with Summer but I just can't do it.

There are several breeds I like but probably won't have solely because of health and/or short life-expectancy. Flat Coats, Dobes, Cavs... I love them all but will stay away just because of health.

At one point, I would have said I could/would never do it. But...always a but. I like some of them; Cavaliers in particular. Ten years is average for them right now; the breeder I know is trying to work her lines up to 12 years. Not ideal, of course. Everyone wants to think of their dogs living to 15 or longer. But 10 or 12 years wouldn't make me immediately say no. If I found the right breeder who was really striving to work on health and had a breeding program I liked, I think I would do it. Without the right breeders, the health issues aren't going to improve, so I don't find it ethically wrong.

American cockers aren't all that unhealthy a breed. I would question where are the dogs sourced from. Yes cockers were over bred.. Terribly popular for bybs and popular mill dogs in the US and those cockers are often unhealthy. Breeders who health test and care.. less likely to have issues. Yes, issues can happen. American cockers are less healthy than English, but it seems the people with the most problems have sourced them from less desirable places or rescued them.

Oh the list of things I'll never own because of the health issues and in some cases other reasons.
Frenchies, pugs, griffons, bulldogs, pekes, golden retrievers, cavaliers, dobes (if they don't get their cardiac issues sorted), show dachs, berners, bull and neo mastiffs. I'm sure the list is longer if I think about it.

To me there is an ethical quandary that goes with breeding dogs where there is a reasonable risk that there will be a likely innate serious issue which will significantly impact the length and quality of life that dog can have. Any breed incapable of living to double digits as a norm pretty well falls into this group for me, any breed where I'll likely have to staple it's face so it isn't rendered blind by the weight of it's eyefolds, any breed where a seemingly healthy dog is likely to drop dead either from cardiac arrest or cancer by 8, any breed where breathing problems seem to be the norm. I have no interest in this or supporting the continuation of such standards.

I love Shar-peis as well, but probably would never have one because of their health issues. I never used to like them until I met one at my shelter. She was so darn sweet.

Nope.

I hate to say it.. but as heart breaking as the potential big deal late set health issues are (cancer etc..), what would probably turn me off to a breed just as much as that are those breeds that seem to practically require bi-weeky trips to the vets office for minor problems

ears infections, eye infections, skin infections, allergies.. IT WOULD DRIVE ME BONKERS!
One of my neighbors has an Bulldog and a cocker spaniel (both poorly bred from what it seems) and every time I see her she is either a) on the way to the vets office or b) talking about going because there is a new issue to report.

I of course would deal with it if it were MY dog. but I certainly wouldn't go looking towards a breed that would have me most likely dealing with these.. annoying minor health annoyances.

I have a Shar Pei and there is a definite possibility for heartache in this breed. I think though what Menchi has to offer would be sad to miss out on. She is a simply amazing little dog. We will deal with the potential troubles as they come.

On the other hand I also have Watson and basenji's are actually a fairly healthy breed as long as you have a good breeder that has done all the health testing. I can reasonably expect for him to be with us for 15-17 years

My cocker had several general health issues, but he was okay with treatment and lived to 15 1/2.

So I would have to say that for me it would really depend on what exactly the issues are and what are the merits of the breed that make me want these particular dog and weight them.