How Long Do Dogs Live?

Dogs provide us with unconditional love, so we want our loved ones to be alive and healthy for longer periods. Generally, Small breeds live longer.

Small dogs average life expectancy is between 10 -15 years of breeds under 20 pounds.

While the larger dogs average life expectancy is around 8- 10 years breeds those over 90 pounds.

Middle-sized dogs average life expectancy is around 10 -13 years.

There is no specific answer to ” How long does my dog live?”. Given details are an overall average age for the breeds, sometimes your dog can live longer than that.

We have all gone through the pain of losing our dog at least once in our lifetime. It’s an irreplaceable asset, we can only adopt the other dog but we can’t get our dog back. I would suggest adoption is the right choice, it’s like giving life to an orphan dog. You know in return dog will give back unconditional love.

Top 10 Longest living dog breeds

List of top 10 longest living dogs along with their average lifespans :

  1. New Guinea singing dog
  2. Chihuahua
  3. Toy poodle
  4. Jack Russell terrier
  5. Cockapoo
  6. Lhasa apso
  7. Shih Tzu
  8. Australian Shepherd
  9. Beagle
  10. Maltese

1. New Guinea Singing Dog

Rarest breed found in New Guinea, Australia. Not an average domesticated dog and not recommended as a house pet as its closely related to the wild dog. Why is it called a singing Dog? It has the ability to vary the pitch of its howl. If properly socialized, then this can be a very good pet. But not an apartment pet. NGSD is an outdoor dog.
Average lifespan: 18 years

2. Chihuahua

Though this is one of the smallest dogs, these live a long beautiful and happy life. This doesn’t belong to Brachycephalic category (flat faced), so they are very less prone to diseases which all flat faced dogs face. They are famous as purse puppies. Most of the high-profile celebrities have them.
Average lifespan: 17 years

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3. Toy poodle

Toy poodles are a great outdoor dog. They are very good athletes. One of the most trainable and smarted of all breeds. Polite with strangers and sociable with other animals. Their peace of mind keeps them live longer.
Average lifespan: 16 years

4. Jack Russell terrier

Super active and super smart dog. Jack Russell terrier require any fulltime job like running in the backyard, playing with you, follow you for an outdoor job or hunting a rat. If it has nothing to do then the dog is very destructive. Requires a lot of consistent training and exercise to keep him sane.
Average lifespan: 16 years

5. Cockapoo

Cross between Cocker Spaniel and a poodle. The best of both breeds are in Cockapoo. They are happy, affectionate and are bred to be a companion dog. Cockapoo has a moderate energy level but still, require exercise for at least 15 minutes a day.
Average lifespan: 16 years

6. Lhasa apso

One of the oldest breed coming from Tibet. It was once a watchdog in monasteries and palaces. But now a family dog who crave a lot of cuddles.
Average lifespan: 15 years

7. Shih Tzu

Shih Tzu is a companion dog. Loves people to be around. Shih Tzu is affectionate with children. One of the most beautiful dog breed. Best breed for the people who live in an apartment.
Average lifespan: 15 years

8. Australian Shepherd

As the name suggests its good as a shepherd. Very active, more focused and Agile are characteristics. Perfect outdoor dog. Require a lot of exercises to keep him fit and busy.
Average lifespan: 15 years

9. Beagle

Though a small dog, they are very active and hardy. They love to hunt for new scents. Love the company of kids. They were initially bred as a hunting dog as they are good at tracking smell.
Average lifespan: 15 years

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10. Maltese

Maltese generally have white floor length coat. Loos beautiful and small. They are playful and charming. They are excellent watchdogs and very good runners.
Average lifespan: 15 years

There is no specific answer to ” How long does my dog live?”.

Large breeds

Lifespans for certain large dog breeds:

  • Great Dane (8-10 years)
  • Bernese Mountain Dog (7-10 years)
  • Irish Wolfhound (8-10 years)
  • Newfoundland (10-12 years)
  • Giant Schnauzer (10-12 years)
  • Dogue de Bordeaux (9-11 years)
  • Rottweiler (10-12 years)
  • St. Bernard (10-12 years)
  • Scottish Deerhound (10-12 years)
  • Flat-Coated Retriever (10-12 years)
  • Akita (11-15 years)
  • Anatolian Shepherd (11-13 years)
  • Irish Setter (12-14 years)
  • Belgian Malinois (14-16 years)

Medium sized dogs

Lifespans for certain medium dog breeds:

  • Australian Shepherd (12-15 years)
  • Chinese Shar-Pei (12-14 years)
  • Cocker Spaniel (13-15 years)
  • Poodle (12-15 years)
  • Whippet (12-15 years)
  • Puli (10-15 years)
  • Welsh Springer Spaniel (13-15 years)
  • Bulldog (10-12 years)
  • Boxer (10-12 years)
  • Chow Chow (11-13 years)
  • Curly-Coated Retriever (11-13 years)
  • French Bulldog (11-13 years)

Small breeds

Lifespans for certain small dog breeds:

  • Chihuahua (15-17 years)
  • Chinese Crested (15-17 years)
  • Smooth and Wire Fox Terrier (13-15 years)
  • English Toy Spaniel (13-15 years)
  • Pomeranian (14-16 years)
  • Rat Terrier (13-15 years)
  • Russell Terrier (12-14 years)
  • Lakeland Terrier (12-14 years)
  • Manchester Terrier (12-14 years)
  • Yorkshire Terrier (12-15 years)

A complete list of dog breeds and their lifespan

Breed Average Lifespan (Years)
Affenpinscher12-14
Afghan Hound12-14
African Boerboels9-11
Airedale Terrier10-13
Akbash10-11
Akita10-13
Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs13
Alaskan Klee Kai14
Alaskan Malamute10-13
American Bulldog12-14
American Eskimo Dog12-14
American Foxhound10-13
American Staffordshire Terrier12-14
American Water Spaniel10-12
Anatolian Shepherd Dog10-13
Australian Cattle Dog10-13
Australian Kelpie12
Australian Shepherd12-15
Australian Silky Terrier11-14
Australian Terrier12-14
Basenji12-14
Basset Hound11-14
Beagle12-14
Bearded Collie12-14
Beauceron10-12
Bedlington Terrier12-14
Belgian Malinois10-12
Belgian Shepherd Dog10-12
Belgian Tervuren10-12
Bernese Mountain Dog6-9
Bichon Frise12-15
Black and Tan Coonhound10-12
Black Russian Terrier10-11
Bloodhound10-12
Border Collie10-14
Border Terrier12-15
Borzoi10-12
Boston Terrier14
Bouvier des Flandres10-12
Boxer8-10
Briard10-12
Brittany12-13
Brussels Griffon12-15
Bull Terrier11-14
Bullmastiff8-10
Cairn Terrier12-14
Canaan Dog12-13
Cane Corso11
Cardigan Welsh Corgi12-14
Carolina Dog13
Catahoula Leopard Dogs12
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel9-14
Central Asian Ovtcharkas12
Cesky Terrier14
Chesapeake Bay Retriever10-13
Chihuahua14-18
Chinese Crested13-15
Chinese Foo11
Chinese Shar-Pei8-10
Chipoo14
Chow Chow8-12
Clumber Spaniel10-12
Cocker Spaniel12-15
Cockapoo14-18
Collie8-12
Coton De Tulears15
Curly-Coated Retriever8-12
Dachshund12-14
Dalmatian12-14
Dandie Dinmont Terrier11-13
Doberman Pinscher10-12
Dogue de Bordeaux5-7
English Bulldogs8-12
English Cocker Spaniels12-14
English Foxhound10-13
English Setter10-12
English Shepherd15
English Springer Spaniel10-14
English Toy Spaniel10-12
Estrela Mountain Dogs11
Field Spaniel12-14
Fila Brasileiros10
Finnish Spitz12-14
Flat-Coated Retriever10-13
Fox Terrier (Smooth)10-13
Fox Terrier (Wire)10-13
French Bulldog9-11
German Pinscher12-15
German Shepherd10-12
German Shorthaired Pointer12-14
German Wirehaired Pointer12-14
Giant Schnauzer10-12
Glen of Imaal Terrier10-14
Golden Retriever10-13
Goldendoodle14
Gordon Setter10-12
Great Dane7-10
Great Pyrenees10-12
Greater Swiss Mountain Dog10-12
Greyhound10-13
Harrier12-14
Havanese12-14
Hungarian Vizsla10-14
Ibizan Hound12-14
Irish Setter12-14
Irish Terrier12-15
Irish Water Spaniel10-13
Irish Wolfhound5-7
Italian Greyhound12-15
Jack Russell Terrier13
Japanese Chin12-14
Keeshond12-14
Kerry Blue Terrier12-15
Komondor10-12
Kooikerhondje13
Kuvasz9-12
Labradoodle13
Labrador Retriever10-12
Laekenois12
Lakeland Terrier12-16
Lancashire Heeler14
Lhasa Apso12-14
Löwchen13-15
Maltese12-14
Maltipoo13
Manchester Terrier15-16
Maremma Sheepdog12
Mastiff9-11
Miniature Bull Terrier11-14
Miniature Pinscher12-14
Miniature Poodle12-14
Miniature Schnauzer12-14
Neapolitan Mastiff8-10
Newfoundland8-10
Norfolk Terrier13-15
Norwegian Buhunds11-13
Norwegian Elkhound10-12
Norwich Terrier13-15
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever11-13
Old English Sheepdog10-12
Otterhound10-13
Papillon12-15
Parson Russell Terrier13-15
Peekapoo13
Pekingese12-15
Pembroke Welsh Corgi11-13
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen11-14
Pharaoh Hound11-14
Pit Bull12-14
Plott11-13
Pointer11-15
Polish Lowland Sheepdog10-14
Pomapoo13
Pomeranian12-16
Poodle (Standard)12-15
Portuguese Water Dog10-14
Pug12-15
Puli10-15
Rat Terrier16
Redbone Coonhound11
Rhodesian Ridgeback10-12
Rottweiler8-11
Saint Bernard8-10
Saluki12-14
Samoyed10-12
Schipperke13-15
Schnoodle13
Scottish Deerhound7-9
Scottish Terrier11-13
Sealyham Terrier11-13
Shetland Sheepdog12-14
Shiba Inu12-15
Shih Tzu11-14
Siberian Husky11-13
Silky Terrier11-14
Skye Terrier12-14
Snorkie12
Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier12-14
Spinone Italiano12-14
Staffordshire Bull Terrier12-14
Standard Schnauzer12-14
Sussex Spaniel11-13
Swedish Vallhund13
Thai Ridgeback12
Tibetan Mastiff11-14
Tibetan Spaniel14
Tibetan Terrier12-15
Toy Fox Terrier13-14
Toy Manchester Terrier14-16
Toy Poodle12-14
Treeing Walker Coonhound12-13
Vizsla10-14
Weimaraner10-13
Welsh Springer Spaniel12-15
Welsh Terrier12-14
West Highland White Terrier12-14
Whippet12-15
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon12-14
Xoloitzcuintle13
Yorkie-Poo14
Yorkshire Terrier14-16

Factors determining Dogs lifespan

  1. Dog Size
  2. Inbreeding vs Crossbreeding
  3. Diet
  4. Neutering
  5. Exercise
  6. Oral hygiene
  7. Vet checkup
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1 . Dog Size

As we see from the above chart the Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs up to several years more. There are a few reasons behind this. One of the reason is the larger breeds grow at a faster pace from puppies to adults. The abnormal cell growth results in various diseases, which will hinder the life expectancy.
Inbreeding vs Crossbreeding
Inbreeding reduces the lifespan of dogs. The health issues and genetically carrying diseases will be more visible in inbreeding puppies, these will hider the life expectancy. In contrast, Crossbreeding is good and the live longer life in comparison.

2 . Diet

The overfed dog will have a lot more problem and reduce life expectancy. Dogs need a proper nutritious diet, consult your Vet if you are not sure about the diet of your dog.

3 . Neutering

Neutering is a small procedure which will prevent dogs to make puppies. The minor surgery has to be done at a young age. This positively affects the dog’s lifespan. The risk of ovarian, testicle cancers can be avoided. If you not planning on breeding, then Neutering is the best option to improve your dog’s lifespan.

4 . Exercise

Dogs require a lot of exercises to keep them fit and healthy. Dogs require a normal long walk or running and fetching toys. Also, dogs do need exercise mentally too. Spend time with your dog as much as possible. Do not ever me a reason for their depression or mental illness. A happy dog will live for more years than a sad one.

5 . Oral hygiene

Most of the oral diseases are pretty severe for the dog in their old age. For example plaque buildup, gingivitis. A good toothpaste with a soft brush is pretty much needed for keeping dogs oral hygiene up to the mark. Do not ever neglect the oral care, during old age dog will have a hard time to break down his food.

6 . Vet checkup

Take your dog to Veterinarian at least twice in a year for a general checkup. As humans, we can communicate if we are facing any slight problem in our health but for dogs even if they show signs to us. We can hardly get those subtle signs seriously nor we don’t understand. So its good to visit the vet for their peace of mind. Giving treatment at early stages solves some of the major disorders or diseases.