Your dog is a beloved and cherished family friend, no doubt. He’s a companion, a playmate, loyal to a fault and a fierce protector. Friendship doesn’t get any better than that. So, of course you want to know the answer to, “How long do dogs live?” But thinking about the inevitable when it comes to your dog is as difficult as it would be with any close friend or family member. There is an upside to this line of thought, however: You can learn how to keep your canine companion by your side as long as possible. As they say, knowledge is power, so here’s the 4-1-1 on what to expect when it comes to your dog’s lifespan and how to keep her healthy and happy.
How Long Do Dogs Live?
Just as with humans, dogs’ life spans can vary widely based on a number of factors. “Where the dog lives, his diet, lifestyle and overall physical fitness all play a part in how long he may live,” notes Dr. Maryam Alemzadeh, an associate veterinarian at A Breed Apart Animal Hospital in Pasadena, California. “Life span also depends on the breed of the dog, as well as the size,” she adds.
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What Are Some Other Contributing Factors?
“Just as with people,” continues Dr. Alemzadeh, “pets need to have routine medical care and preventative treatments.” Dr. David Waters, a professor emeritus at Purdue University College of Veterinary Medicine agrees. “Regular checkups can help pet owners become alerted to health issues in their pets more quickly, and consequently, they can address problems in a timely manner.”
Dr. Waters, who has done numerous studies on exceptional longevity in pets, notes that resistance to disease is a huge factor in why some dog breeds may live longer than others. “Pet dogs that are advanced in age typically have a reduced risk of age-specific cancer mortality as compared to dogs that die at younger ages,” he explains.
How Can You Prolong a Dog’s Life?
Other than the aforementioned exercise, healthy diet and preventative care, there is not much that pet owners can do to ensure their dogs’ longevity. That being said, female dogs do tend to outlive their male counterparts, says Dr. Waters. In a study of extreme-aged rottweiler dogs, the veterinarian noted that, “Females outnumbered males 2 to 1.” However, he goes on to say that, “For both genders, there was an indication that dogs who were neutered at an early age tended to have longer life spans than those who were neutered later.”
Ultimately, besides gender, it seems that size, breed and resistance to disease are the largest determinants of a dog’s longevity.
Life Expectancy Estimates by Breed
Here are the general life expectancy rates for some of the most popular dogs in America, as ranked by the American Kennel Club:
- Labrador Retriever
10 to 12 years
- German Shepherd
10 to 12 years
- Golden Retriever
10 to 13 years
- Bull Dog
9 to 11 years
- Beagle
12 to 14 years
- Yorkshire Terrier
14 to 16 years
- Poodle
12 to 15 years
- Boxer
8 to 10 years
- French Bulldog
9 to 11 years
- Rottweiler
8 to 11 years
- Dachshund
12 to 14 years
- German Shorthaired Pointer
12 to 14 years
- Siberian Husky
11 to 13 years
- Doberman Pinscher
10 to 12 years
- Great Dane
7 to 10 years
- Miniature Scnauzer
12 to 14 years
- Shih Tzu
11 to 14 years
- Australian Shepherd
12 to 15 years
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
9 to 14 years
- Pomeranian
12 to 16 years
- Shetland Sheepdog
12 to 14 years
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
11 to 13 years
- Boston Terrier
14 years
- Chihuahua
14 to 18 years
- Havanese
12 to 14 years
Tisha Berg is a mom, wife, blogger, cat owner and serial dog sitter. Catch up with her around the web and read her articles on family lifestyles, parenting and travel on Working Mother magazine, LifeScript, Kids in the House or on her famility activities blog, Biz Mommy.
