When you bring a dog into your life, one of the first things you want to know is how long he or she will be around. Unfortunately, there is no easy answer to that question. Dog breeds and lifespan can vary by dog living conditions, and even within a breed, individual dogs may have shorter or longer lifespans. In this article, we will take a look at some of the most common dog breeds and their average lifespan. We will also discuss factors that can shorten or lengthen a dog’s life expectancy.
Which breed of dog lives the longest?
The average life span of a dog is approximately 12 years. However, this figure varies based on the size, breed, and general health of the animal. Smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger ones.
5 Dogs with the highest Lifespan
New Guinea Singing Dog (18 Years)
Chihuahua (17 Years)
Toy Poodle (16 years)
Jack Russell Terrier (16 Years)
Cockapoo (16 Years)
Longest Lived Dog in the world

The longest-lived dog on record was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who lived 29 years and five months!
Which dog has the least life span?
The dog with the shortest life expectancy is the French Mastiff which only lives for about six to eight years. The next shortest-lived dog is the Great Dane which averages about seven to ten years.
10 dogs that have the shortest lifespan
- French Mastiff 5-8 Years
- Great Dane. 6-8 Years
- Bernese Mountain Dog. 6-8 Years
- Irish Wolfhound. 6-10 Years
- Neapolitan Mastiff. 7-9 Years
- Leonberger. 8-9 Years
- Newfoundland. 8-10 Years
- Saint Bernard. 8-10 Years
- Scottish Deerhound. 8-10 Years
- Bloodhound. 9-11 Years
Can a dog live 20 years?

The oldest recorded dog was an Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey who lived from 1910 to 1979. That’s 29 years and five months! The second oldest dog was an American Foxhound named Belle, who died at 27 years old in 1995.
However, these dogs are outliers. The vast majority of dogs live much shorter lives. Small breeds tend to have longer lifespans than large breeds; the average lifespan of a small breed dog is 14 years, while the average lifespan of a large breed dog is only eight years.
Certain individual breeds also have predispositions toward longevity; for example, toy poodles typically live between 12 and 15 years, while Great Danes only live between six and eight years on average.
So, if you’re thinking of getting a dog, it’s important to research the average lifespan of the breed (or breeds) you’re interested in. That way, you can be prepared for the inevitable heartbreak that comes with outliving your furry friend.
How to take care of a dog to live a long lifespan?
The first step to taking care of your dog and giving them a long lifespan is to get routine check-ups and vaccinations. These will help prevent any major health problems down the road and keep your dog healthy overall.
Secondly, feeding your dog a nutritious diet will also help them live a long life. There are many different types of food available for dogs, so speak with your veterinarian about what kind of food is best for your pup.
And lastly, exercise is important for all creatures, including dogs! Make sure to give your dog enough time to run around and play every day.
While it’s impossible to know exactly how long your individual dog will live, there are some things you can do to help your furry friend enjoy a long and healthy life.
Here are a few tips:
- Feed your dog a high-quality diet. This includes avoiding foods that are high in fat and calories and sticking to brands that use whole, natural ingredients.
- Get your dog regular exercise. This will help to keep their weight down and maintain their muscle tone.
- Take them to the vet regularly for check-ups and vaccinations. This will help to catch any health problems early on.
By following these simple tips, you can help your dog live a long and happy life! Do you have any other suggestions? Share them in the comments below!
Dog Breeds and Lifespan
*These are estimates, the lifespan completely depends on the living conditions of a dogBREED NAME AVERAGE LIFESPAN Affenpinscher 12-14 Afghan Hound 12-14 African Boerboels 9-11 Airedale Terrier 10-13 Akbash 10-11 Akita 10-13 Alapaha Blue Blood Bulldogs 13 Alaskan Klee Kai 14 Alaskan Malamute 10-13 American Bulldog 12-14 American Eskimo Dog 12-14 American Foxhound 10-13 American Staffordshire Terrier 12-14 American Water Spaniel 10-12 Anatolian Shepherd Dog 10-13 Australian Cattle Dog 10-13 Australian Kelpie 12 Australian Shepherd 12-15 Australian Silky Terrier 11-14 Australian Terrier 12-14 Basenji 12-14 Basset Hound 11-14 Beagle 12-14 Bearded Collie 12-14 Beauceron 10-12 Bedlington Terrier 12-14 Belgian Malinois 10-12 Belgian Shepherd Dog 10-12 Belgian Tervuren 10-12 Bernese Mountain Dog 6-9 Bichon Frise 12-15 Black and Tan Coonhound 10-12 Black Russian Terrier 10-11 Bloodhound 10-12 Border Collie 10-14 Border Terrier 12-15 Borzoi 10-12 Boston Terrier 14 Bouvier des Flandres 10-12 Boxer 8-10 Briard 10-12 Brittany 12-13 Brussels Griffon 12-15 Bull Terrier 11-14 Bullmastiff 8-10 Cairn Terrier 12-14 Canaan Dog 12-13 Cane Corso 11 Cardigan Welsh Corgi 12-14 Carolina Dog 13 Catahoula Leopard Dogs 12 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 9-14 Central Asian Ovtcharkas 12 Cesky Terrier 14 Chesapeake Bay Retriever 10-13 Chihuahua 14-18 Chinese Crested 13-15 Chinese Foo 11 Chinese Shar-Pei 8-10 Chipoo 14 Chow Chow 8-12 Clumber Spaniel 10-12 Cocker Spaniel 12-15 Cockapoo 14-18 Collie 8-12 Coton De Tulears 15 Curly-Coated Retriever 8-12 Dachshund 12-14 Dalmatian 12-14 Dandie Dinmont Terrier 11-13 Doberman Pinscher 10-12 Dogue de Bordeaux 5-7 English Bulldogs 8-12 English Cocker Spaniels 12-14 English Foxhound 10-13 English Setter 10-12 English Shepherd 15 English Springer Spaniel 10-14 English Toy Spaniel 10-12 Estrela Mountain Dogs 11 Field Spaniel 12-14 Fila Brasileiros 10 Finnish Spitz 12-14 Flat-Coated Retriever 10-13 Fox Terrier (Smooth) 10-13 Fox Terrier (Wire) 10-13 French Bulldog 9-11 German Pinscher 12-15 German Shepherd 10-12 German Shorthaired Pointer 12-14 German Wirehaired Pointer 12-14 Giant Schnauzer 10-12 Glen of Imaal Terrier 10-14 Golden Retriever 10-13 Goldendoodle 14 Gordon Setter 10-12 Great Dane 7-10 Great Pyrenees 10-12 Greater Swiss Mountain Dog 10-12 Greyhound 10-13 Harrier 12-14 Havanese 12-14 Hungarian Vizsla 10-14 Ibizan Hound 12-14 Irish Setter 12-14 Irish Terrier 12-15 Irish Water Spaniel 10-13 Irish Wolfhound 5-7 Italian Greyhound 12-15 Jack Russell Terrier 13 Japanese Chin 12-14 Keeshond 12-14 Kerry Blue Terrier 12-15 Komondor 10-12 Kooikerhondje 13 Kuvasz 9-12 Labradoodle 13 Labrador Retriever 10-12 Laekenois 12 Lakeland Terrier 12-16 Lancashire Heeler 14 Lhasa Apso 12-14 Löwchen 13-15 Maltese 12-14 Maltipoo 13 Manchester Terrier 15-16 Maremma Sheepdog 12 Mastiff 9-11 Miniature Bull Terrier 11-14 Miniature Pinscher 12-14 Miniature Poodle 12-14 Miniature Schnauzer 12-14 Neapolitan Mastiff 8-10 Newfoundland 8-10 Norfolk Terrier 13-15 Norwegian Buhunds 11-13 Norwegian Elkhound 10-12 Norwich Terrier 13-15 Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever 11-13 Old English Sheepdog 10-12 Otterhound 10-13 Papillon 12-15 Parson Russell Terrier 13-15 Peekapoo 13 Pekingese 12-15 Pembroke Welsh Corgi 11-13 Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen 11-14 Pharaoh Hound 11-14 Pit Bull 12-14 Plott 11-13 Pointer 11-15 Polish Lowland Sheepdog 10-14 Pomapoo 13 Pomeranian 12-16 Poodle (Standard) 12-15 Portuguese Water Dog 10-14 Pug 12-15 Puli 10-15 Rat Terrier 16 Redbone Coonhound 11 Rhodesian Ridgeback 10-12 Rottweiler 8-11 Saint Bernard 8-10 Saluki 12-14 Samoyed 10-12 Schipperke 13-15 Schnoodle 13 Scottish Deerhound 7-9 Scottish Terrier 11-13 Sealyham Terrier 11-13 Shetland Sheepdog 12-14 Shiba Inu 12-15 Shih Tzu 11-14 Siberian Husky 11-13 Silky Terrier 11-14 Skye Terrier 12-14 Snorkie 12 Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier 12-14 Spinone Italiano 12-14 Staffordshire Bull Terrier 12-14 Standard Schnauzer 12-14 Sussex Spaniel 11-13 Swedish Vallhund 13 Thai Ridgeback 12 Tibetan Mastiff 11-14 Tibetan Spaniel 14 Tibetan Terrier 12-15 Toy Fox Terrier 13-14 Toy Manchester Terrier 14-16 Toy Poodle 12-14 Treeing Walker Coonhound 12-13 Vizsla 10-14 Weimaraner 10-13 Welsh Springer Spaniel 12-15 Welsh Terrier 12-14 West Highland White Terrier 12-14 Whippet 12-15 Wirehaired Pointing Griffon 12-14 Xoloitzcuintle 13 Yorkie-Poo 14 Yorkshire Terrier 14-16
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