How much dogs live

Scientists have long been baffled about why small dog breeds tend to live longer than large dog breeds. In the rest of the animal kingdom, size seems to positively correlate with longevity. Elephants and whales are some of the largest and longest-lived mammals, with some whale species living more than years.

The same cannot be said of dogs. Small dogs live significantly longer than their larger counterparts, in many cases up to several years longer.

Scientists are not entirely sure why this occurs, although there is speculation that larger dogs develop age-related diseases sooner than smaller dogs. This could be because the larger breeds grow from puppies to adults at an accelerated rate, which may increase the likelihood of abnormal cell growth and death from cancer. Regardless of the reasons behind why some dogs live longer than others, there are similar characteristics among small, medium, and large dog breeds that help determine the longevity of each group.

The average lifespan for small dog breeds ranges from 10 to 15 years, with some breeds living as long as 18 years. In general, small dogs live longer than their larger counterparts, with the shortest living breeds still exceeding the average lifespan of most large breeds. This makes them a good choice for owners who want a long-lived companion.

While variability among breeders and statistical evidence makes it difficult to determine an exact age range for any breed of dog, here are the average lifespans of the longest-lived small dog breeds and the shortest-lived breeds.

Medium-sized dog breeds range from smaller companion breeds such as French Bulldogs , to larger, active working breeds such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherd s. The average lifespan for medium-sized dog breeds is 10 to 13 years, with some breeds living even longer. As with small dogs, exact age ranges for medium-sized dog breeds are hard to determine, but there are general lifespan guidelines for each breed. Clubs Offering: Training Classes.

Back To General Health. Sponsored by Dogswell Sep 30, 4 Minutes. Human Vs. Size Matters Although large mammals tend to live the longest, small body size within a species is associated with longer life and slower aging. Breeding Another factor researchers have studied is the size of the breeding population, and its impact on health and longevity. Cognitive Development Another study asked a very interesting question about dog cognition. The Search Goes On These findings are just the tip of the iceberg in our understanding of canine lifespans and what determines them.

We can help our dogs live longer higher quality lives by: Feeding a healthy diet Helping maintain a healthy weight. Encouraging breed- and age-appropriate physical and mental exercise. Taking our dogs for annual veterinary checkups and vaccinations. Providing preventive dental care. Administering heartworm, flea and tick preventatives. Keeping them safe from accidents. Providing love and affection. Create a personalised ads profile. Select personalised ads. Apply market research to generate audience insights.

Measure content performance. Develop and improve products. List of Partners vendors. Tip As with any animal, a high-quality diet , exercise, maintaining a healthy weight , and monitoring a dog's routine care can maximize their years.

Toy Poodle. Jack Russell Terrier. Continue to 5 of 10 below. Shih Tzu. Yorkshire Terrier. Continue to 9 of 10 below. Shiba Inu. Australian Cattle Dog. Featured Video. Breeds to Avoid Generally speaking, the larger the dog, the shorter the lifespan. Read More. Your Privacy Rights. To change or withdraw your consent choices for TheSprucePets. At any time, you can update your settings through the "EU Privacy" link at the bottom of any page. Chihuahuas usually are referred to as the breed with the longest lifespan.

They average years and are one of the smallest dog breeds. The oldest Chihuahua on record 2 , Megabyte, died at the age of 20 years and 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 five months 3.

If you could give your dog medication to help keep her in your life longer, would you buy it? Loyal is a team of vets, scientists, and dog lovers striving toward reducing underlying causes of aging in dogs and delaying disease by developing a drug. There are other ways to help keep your dog healthy and help her live a longer life. What's Covered? What Makes A Good Vet? Is your dog chewing up shoes and destroying your furniture? We review the best dog crates.