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Larger animals tend to live longer than smaller ones… most of the time. Think about it. A human lives longer than a cat, which lives longer than a rat, which lives longer than a fly. But why isn’t this true when it comes to animals within their species?
A person who weighs 150 pounds will most likely live longer than a person who weighs 300 pounds. This is because of increased health risks for the person who weighs 300 pounds.
When it comes to the life expectancy of dogs though, how can you compare a Great Dane to a Chihuahua? Their anatomic builds are completely different and their lifespans reflect this. But, beyond size, is there an average age of a dog based on breed or other factors? Yes. Let us explore this subject further.
What Determines A Dog’s Lifespan?
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Dog Care
As the owner, you can affect the care you provide for your dog. A dog with a proper, nutritious diet and exercise can live longer than one without. In addition, taking your furry friend to annual wellness exams at the veterinarian and getting its booster shots can result in a healthy dog with a longer lifespan.
Dog Size
Research shows that larger dogs live for a shorter period of time when compared to smaller ones. For example, an Irish Wolfhound (average 115 lbs) has an average lifespan of 7 years, while a Jack Russell Terrier (average 15 lbs) can live up to 13-16 years.
Inbreeding vs Cross Breeding
Inbreeding can reduce the lifespan of canines. Cross breed dogs have a longer lifespan in comparison. Inbred dogs have a risk of carrying genes for illnesses that are common to that specific breed. Further, “mutts” who have at least two breeds and commonly more, tend to have the least health problems and live longer than their purebred counterparts.
Not sure of your dog’s breed mix? Order a DNA test kit to find out
Spayed/Neutered
Spaying and neutering a puppy at a young age can positively affect a dog’s lifespan. Studies suggest that these surgeries can help reduce the risk of some types of cancer in dogs. Especially cancers affecting the ovaries, breast and testicles. Recent studies show that these benefits may or may not completely accurate but there is no question that your life will be easier without a litter of puppies in your life and this will also be less stress on your pup, which could mean a longer life.
Learn How To Calculate Dog Years To Human Years
Dog Breed Life Expectancy Chart
Below is a dog life expectancy chart sorted by the most popular registered breeds from the past decade1. The top 25 are included from the AKC list from 2017.
2017 Popularity Rank | Dog Breed | Average Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
1 | Labrador Retriever | 11 Years |
2 | German Shepherd | 11 Years |
3 | Golden Retriever | 11 Years |
4 | French Bulldog | 8-10 Years |
5 | Bulldog | 8-12 Years |
6 | Beagle | 12-15 Years |
7 | Poodle | 12 Years |
8 | Rottweiler | 9 Years |
9 | Yorkshire Terrier | 13 Years (possibly up to 20 years) |
10 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 12-14 Years |
11 | Boxer | 9-10 Years |
12 | Siberian Huskie | 12-15 Years |
13 | Dachshund | 13-15 Years |
14 | Great Dane | 6-8 Years |
15 | Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 12-15 Years |
16 | Doberman Pinscher | 10-13 Years |
17 | Australian Shepherd | 12-18 Years |
18 | Miniature Schnauzer | 12-14 Years |
19 | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 9-14 Years |
20 | Shih Tzu | 12-16 Years |
21 | Boston Terrier | 11-15 Years |
22 | Pomeranian | 14 Years |
23 | Havanese | 14-16 Years |
24 | Shetland Sheepdog | 12-13 Years |
25 | Bernese Mountain Dogs | 6-8 Years |
Source: CanineJournal.com
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10 Dogs With Short Life Expectancies
You’ll notice that most dogs in this chart are larger breeds. As mentioned above, larger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller ones. Some believe this is because large breeds age quicker. For example, a Great Dane can gain 100 pounds from its day of birth to its first birthday, whereas a Shih Tzu can weight up to 15 pounds in its entire lifespan. Below is a table of ten dogs with short lifespans.
Dog Breed | Average Lifespan |
|---|---|
French Mastiff | 5-8 Years |
Great Dane | 6-8 Years |
Bernese Mountain Dog | 6-8 Years |
Irish Wolfhound | 6-10 Years |
Neapolitan Mastiff | 7-9 Years |
Leonberger | 8-9 Years |
Newfoundland | 8-10 Years |
Saint Bernard | 8-10 Years |
Scottish Deerhound | 8-10 Years |
Bloodhound | 9-11 Years |
What Is The Longest Living Dog Breed?
Chihuahuas are normally referred to as the breed with the longest lifespan. They average 15-20 years and are one of the smallest dog breeds. The oldest Chihuahua on record2, Megabyte, died at the age of 20 years and 265 days.
The Australian Cattle Dog is known for having one of the longest life expectancies. There are records of Australian Cattle Dogs living past 20 years old. In fact, the longest living dog recorded is an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey who lived 29 years and 5 months3.
How old is your dog and what breed is it?
Sources: [1] www.akc.org, [2] ChihuahuaWardrobe.com, [3] mnn.com
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Hello! My dog is a LouLou spitz. It’s an uncommon breed and I think she might be a mutt (unless you know of this breed). She looks a lot like a Japanese spitz, but she’s a bit bigger and less fluffy. Any chance you know the average life span? She’s currently 11.
Hi! We are unfamiliar with that breed and do not want to give you incorrect information. We recommend you speak with your vet for the average life span.
Hello, my name is Travis. I have a rat terrier/schnauzer mix dog. He is 11 currently. I was wondering how long he would be expected to live. This post relating to this email gave me no clarification to my question. Please someone answer me.
The average life expectancy of a schnauzer is 12-15 years. The average life expectancy of a rat terrier is 15-18 years. However, that is not including many factors including illness, accidents, or any genetic factors that may occur. I hope this answers your question.
July 20, 2020, our mixed breed 60 lb dog will be 17 years old! He lives for multiple walks every day, even though his back legs are weak and shaky at times. If we try to tell him he needs a day off, he will pace and pace until we take him with his much younger brothers. Love him so much. We adopted him in 2003 as a pup.
My boy Jack is 3/4 Labrador and 1/4 Flat Coated Retriever. He turned 3 last month. He’s my best friend, I never want to see him take his last breath but everything happens for a reason. Just gotta make sure he continues to have the best possible way, with me by his side the whole time.❤️
We have a 15 year old Chow/shepherd mix. His back legs (hips) give him some trouble so he is on an non-steroid anti inflammatory meds no but he seems happy and is active (between his long naps).
My chihuahua just turned five this year. Her birthday is February first. She loves everyone. My pittbull is 8 her birthday is Halloween she will be nine this year.
We have a 16 year old Rat Terrior, Mr. Bean. He is my husband’s therapy dog, and still enjoys car rides and daily short walks. Still has most of his teeth, but his appetite has slowed to one meal daily. We also have a 13 year old Chiuaua, MooMoo. He still has good energy, and is always hungry.
Rufus and Tinky were born in December of 2004. They are, what one might call twin Pomeranian runts born numbers 4 and 5 of the litter of 5. My husband died in December of 2014 and ever since then, these two babies of ours have been waiting for my husband to walk through the door. As the years go by they have lost almost all their teeth. I hand feed them every day. They spend the day sitting by the kitchen door waiting for the one that will never be back. People aren’t the only ones who hurt.
I lost my pitbull/american bulldog/mastiff mix, Bruno, at 7:45 Am on September 27th, 2019 from lung cancer. My family rescued him as a 5 week old puppy who was taken from his mom and siblings way too early (he sucked on his blanket and my blankets up until the day he passed) and he quickly became my dog, my companion and my best friend. He was the best boy, always knew what time i was coming home everyday, always gentle with the farm animals (including the little baby chicks!), wonderful with my neighbors cats and the best hunter (he rescued our farm animals by scaring off foxes and coyotes when him and i did perimeter checks!). Every night he would sleep in my bed and right up until the last month and a half, he would hike 3 miles with me everyday. I started giving him massage therapy and we did our range of motion exercises before hiking, but as he started getting older, he could no longer get on my bed and started using his orthopedic dog bed i bought him. Soon he started struggling to breathe, couldnt make our walks and i took him in to do chest xrays to figure out what was wrong. The vet called me and told me he stopped breathing on the table during the xrays and they were able to resuscitate him but with bad news. He had 2 weeks to live and was diagnosed with lung cancer (i was informed that chemo and radiation would not fix it). He made it three weeks and EVERY SINGLE NIGHT until the day i brought him in to be put to sleep, he slept in my bed and we spent as much time together as possible. I loved him so much, he was my life, and the center of my universe. He was so well behaved he was allowed to go into some of my college classes, into stores that didnt generally allow dogs and an apartment complex with strict rules (he never really barked!). I miss you so much old man, i have done so much research when he was alive on how to “make dogs live longer lives” 🙁 i wish i could have spent 80 years with my boy. Bruno, you were the best dog and I wish more than anything that i could bring you back to life
This broke my heart.
Emma is a 2 year old Corgi and spaniel mix
My dog will be 16 years old in May and he is very active !
I have a schnauzer/ jack Russel mix. He is very smart, he is 6 yrs old. He’s very active, loyal, protective, and spontaneous. I love him so much.
I have a Shepard mix of Shepard /border collie and is so benign, it’s crazy.. trained by me 3 hand jesturs and 4 sounds and is almost 12. Still walks every day, eats and drink normally.. hope to get 13-14 years
I have a female mini foxy x chihuahua she’s 15 months old & is very active & very smart , before crossing the road Holley will sit & wait till I say OK , not fussed on meeting new people but we’re working on it , a little picky with her food she eats what we eat , chicken steak ect & sleeps with us love her bits
Chihuahua she is 4
We have a part Ridgeback, Shepard, pitbul mix we think. She is 15 now and has been the best dog in the world! She is vary arthritic
and full of fatty cysts, but still really pretty , sharp as ever, walks slow still has all her functions, eats well, truly amazing we cherrish everyday with our “girl” SCOUT.
My toy Fox terrier Stuby is 12yrs will be 13 on Nov 30. Still gets around but not like he used likes to sleep and gets annoyed with 2yr old my mix Jack Russell/boxer which is understandable since Jack has a lot of JR tendency.
Our furbaby (Misty}. A chihuahua/ rat terrier mix is 21years 4months old. She is in pretty good shape. Still gets what we call is the zoomies, LOL. She runs all over the house at high speed, chasing the cats or just by herself every night for 5 to 10 minutes. She is turning pretty gray and is almost blind and deaf. She only has her front teeth left. We love her so much. Her aunt passed at 24years 5months old. Her name was Buttercup.
My dogs name is Teak he belonged to a builder hence the name you know like the wood. Any way I think he (the dog) is about 18. He has been fixed. Big N in his place. Sorry he never had sex. well what I’m getting at is how long can he go?I think he is a mix golden he cant see too well and dose not hear to well ether. Im buying cooked chickens and pull the meat off the bones. He seems too likes it. He didnt like Blue buffalo even when I mixed cooked chicken liver. I think he got tired of it! Now he sleep a lot and has a hard time getting up. His rear legs dose not seem to have the strength. Love the guy, been the only being that came to me, good or bad. If he goes before me I would like to have him cremated. Im in western NC. dont know were to go for that. Hes the best friend I every had.
Our local vets can have the pet cremated, but we found out that the Humane Society will have it done for a lot less cost and we have used them. The vet returns the ashes in a small but nice wooden box, the HS in a metal one, but the ashes are in a plastic bag inside, so you can get your own box and transfer the ashes easily.
so cute i feel so bad for her
Hi Jason is your misty crossed with a mini foxy, how awesome to how a fur baby for that long, I have a 15 month old mini foxy x chihuahua , named Holley & I love her to bits , she loves the car & walks swimming in our pool your lovely Misty sounds a beautiful doggie
We have a Labrador/ Shiba dog mix that we adopted as a 9 week old puppy from G.A.I.N (the shelter in Guam) 13 years ago this November. Our boy has started slowing down over the past year or so, but still loves his daily walks and eats just fine. But his pace has slowed and getting up has become hard. Not ready for the day he crosses the “Rainbow Bridge”.
I have had my Great Dane for 7 1/2 years now and I think her time is slowing starting to dwindle as she doesn’t want to get up and go outside as much or eat or basically do anything. Shes the first dog I’ve ever owned, this is going to be tough on my granddaughter and myself.
I am a boxer owner, or rather I am owned by boxers. My first lived 10 yrs 5 months. My second 12 yrs 5 months. (He lived 20 months past what I was told to expect after they found an inoperable mass on his spleen.) I have one now that is 12 yrs 7 mos. I was hoping she would make 13, but she was recently diagnosed with a brain tumor, so I don’t think that will happen. I also have a 6 yr old, and if the pattern holds true, he will make 13. With each one I learn more about nutrition and supplements.
Why didn’t your dog age chart list theBasenji
Breeds listed are the most popular registered from the past decade. The top 25 are included from the AKC list from 2017.
My Chihauzer (chihuahua schnauzer) I pronounce it Chi-wow-zer :), is going to be 13 this summer and is my forever puppy. She’s still full of life and energy. She has adapted well to my human child over the last 2 years of his life (she actually knew I was going into labor before I did). She did seem a bit depressed when my son first came into the world, but now she loves him and is playful and protective. I actually have to separate them at times because my son will try to sneak her snacks and she love it and him for it!
My dog is a shaggy haired jack Russell terrier, I adobted her when she was 3 years old, when my daughter turned 6 yrs old. My daughter is now 22 yrs old, that makes our Sugar 19 yrs. Old!!! Her eyesight is going, but she still eats well,go to the potty, walks, and because her sense of smell is Great, she can go outside on our 4 acres, and do fine. I do however limit her time to 15 mins:). She does sleep more than she used to.
My girl who is German Shepard mixed with Husky is 14 1/2 years old. She currently has mobility problems with her hind legs..I know her time is getting closer. I dread the day when she must be put down due to pain or mobility problem. That will certainly be a very sad day for me!!
Hi to all of you dog lovers. My 110lb Great Dane cross English Mastiff is 13years,6mth. Shadow has been the love of my life since a puppy. My gentle giant. I think she is on the downhill slope now though. Is being treated for her arthritis and now a urinary tract infection. She still enjoys her daily walk and has a good appetite. I started her on Sashas Blend daily at 4y.o. Maybe this has helped with her health and longevity. I will miss her greatly when she goes to doggy heaven.