How much time will you share with your dog?
If we know the average life expectancy of dogs according to their breed, large variations exist according to country and genetics.
Indeed, each of the 344 breeds of domestic dogs listed in the world by the Fédération Cynologique Internationale belongs to a particular country.
And the “owner” country sets the standard, explains France Inter.
As large and relevant as it is, since it covers more than 30,000 pet dogs of 18 different breeds, the British study by the Royal Veterinary College, published in the journal Nature, is therefore valid in the United Kingdom, not necessarily in France.
Previous studies have for example proven that a golden retriever lives on average 14.1 years in Japan against only 10.5 years in Denmark.
According to this study, conducted on dogs that died between January 1, 2016 and July 30, 2020, the Jack Russell is the longest-lived canine.
It has an average life expectancy at birth of 12.72 years.
Follow the Yorkshire, with 12.54 years and the border collie, with 12.10 years.
The spaniel and the Labrador follow in their footsteps, with more than 11 years of life expectancy, ahead of the Staffordshire, the cocker spaniel and the shih tzu.
Females live longer than males
At the bottom of the table, a small and massive dog yet very trendy: the French bulldog.
Its average longevity peaks at… 4.53 years.
It shares its low life expectancy with other flat-faced dogs, such as the pug.
As for the German shepherd, it is placed in the average (10 years) and the crossed dogs a little above (11.82 years).
And, as with humans, females live longer than males, unless neutered.
Read alsoIn dogs, the breed does not make the behavior!
But these indicators are not everything: a well-monitored dog, with a healthy lifestyle, will logically have a greater life expectancy.
As with humans too, a part of luck and mystery comes into play. If certain breeds are known to be victims of such genetic disease, such respiratory problem or skeletal problem, which limits their longevity, some dogs within the same race can have a more or less long life.
Among the subjects studied, the researchers had to deal with a particularly old bulldog (he had reached 11 years old) and a 19-year-old Jack Russel!
Finally, it is in the Chihuahua that we find the greatest difference: between 1.5 and 16 years of longevity.