As of: February 17, 2024, 5:45 a.m
By: Larissa Strohbusch
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Dachshunds and terriers stay by your side until old age: these dog breeds have a longer life expectancy than others.
Do you want to adopt a puppy and are you looking for a breed that will grow up with your children?
Or maybe you are already a senior yourself and want to know which dog you will be suitable for in the long term?
Dog breeds differ not only in whether they like to hunt or herd, whether they are quiet companions or particularly active, huge or mini - life expectancy also differs greatly from Chihuahua to Irish Wolfhound.
Is it true that small dogs get older?
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A dog's life expectancy depends on its size
Jack Russell Terriers and Border Collies are among the dog breeds that live particularly long.
© Pond5 Images/IMAGO
Dog breeds are roughly divided into three categories: small dogs, which weigh up to 15 kilograms, and medium-sized dogs, which weigh between 15 and 45 kilograms.
Anything above that is considered a big dog.
This division is also reflected in life expectancy: smaller dogs get older.
Small dogs have an average life expectancy of ten to 15 years.
Up to 20 years are also possible.
Medium-sized dogs live up to 13 years on average.
Large dogs only live eight to twelve years.
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From dachshunds to toy poodles – these are the dog breeds that live the oldest
This table of dogs with the longest life expectancy mainly contains small to tiny specimens.
But there are also a few larger dogs there.
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beagle |
12-15 years |
Border collie |
13-15 years |
Chihuahuas |
13-15 years |
dachshund |
13-15 years |
German Wirehaired Pointer |
12-14 years |
Doberman |
12-14 years |
Golden/Labrador Retrievers |
12-14 years |
Jack Russell Terrier |
14-16 years |
Maltese |
12-14 years |
pug |
12-15 years |
poodle |
12-14 years |
Miniature Schnauzer |
13-16 years |
It's true: Big dogs don't live as long as young ones
On the other hand, there are unfortunately some dog breeds that cannot be expected to live long.
First and foremost are giant breeds such as the Great Dane.
On average, this only lives around eight to ten years.
The situation is similar with the St. Bernard, Rottweiler and Giant Schnauzer.
The Irish Wolfhound brings up the rear with a life expectancy of six to ten years.
But smaller dogs are also affected.
The English Bulldog rarely lives past ten years.
The reason for this is breeding: the bulldog's stocky build makes it difficult for him to breathe.
In addition, these animals quickly become too fat, which endangers their health.
These factors increase the chances of a long, healthy life
If you want to enjoy your four-legged friend for a long time, you should choose a small breed and avoid animals that could be affected by overbreeding.
In order for your dog to stay healthy for a long time, it is crucial that you meet his needs.
Terriers or herding dogs like the Border Collie in particular are very active and need a lot of exercise.
With the right diet you can avoid dangerous obesity and provide your animal with the necessary nutrients.
Make sure that seniors need different food than juniors.
Neutered male dogs also have a longer life expectancy than unneutered ones.
If you take your aging companion to the vet regularly for check-ups, the chances of a long life are good.
By the way, the formula “dog years times seven equals human years” is only partially correct.
Remember: Larger dogs age faster than smaller dogs and need to be retired sooner.
New study on dog life expectancy
Small dogs with elongated snouts, such as miniature dachshunds, have the highest life expectancy, scientists report in a study
published on February 1, 2024 in the
journal Scientific Reports .
The data from 150 dog breeds and 580,000 furry friends were evaluated.
Male medium-sized breeds with flat snouts live the shortest lives.
According to the experts, small purebred dogs with elongated skulls such as the miniature dachshund or the Shetland sheepdog had the highest average life expectancy of 13.3 years.
Medium-sized dogs with flat skulls, such as the English bulldog, had the lowest average life expectancy at 9.1 years for males and 9.6 years for females.
Overall, female dogs live a little longer on average at 12.7 years than male dogs (12.4 years).
In addition, according to the evaluations by the British research team, purebred dogs have a higher median life expectancy of 12.7 years than mixed breeds (12.0 years).
The group of mixed breeds includes both purebred crosses such as the Labradoodle from a Labrador and a Poodle as well as dogs of unknown ancestry.