You can do some quick research and find out the average dog life expectancy – which, by the way, is 10 – 11 years. Also, studies show that only 20% of dogs live past their 14th birthday with fewer than 10% making it to their 15th birthday. However, it’s worth knowing the many facts behind this. Further, do small dogs or large dogs live longer? Do we know what other things contribute to dog lifespan?
There are many factors influencing how long your dog could live. Our team of avid dog lovers spent countless hours researching to answer these questions. It became clear genetics (specific breed, purebred vs crossbred & size) was the top factor but other factors such as early neutering or spaying, care, and diet also play a role. Let’s dig into this more.
For Dogs, One Size Does Not Fit All…
Simply put, size is a major factor in dog life expectancy. What you may not know is that smaller dogs tend to significantly outlive larger dogs. For instance, the Irish Wolf Hound (roughly 115 pounds full grown) has an average lifespan of 5 – 7 years while a Jack Russell Terrier (averaging only 15 pounds) can live up to 16 years or more. Larger dogs, put more strain on their bodies and age more rapidly.
Average Dog Lifespan of Some Common Breeds
Small Dogs
| Breed | Average Lifespan |
| Chihuahua | 14 – 18 years |
| Daschund | 12 – 14 years |
| Maltese | 12 – 14 years |
| Pekingese | 12 – 15 years |
| Pomeranian | 12 – 16 years |
Medium Dogs
| Breed | Average Lifespan |
| American Fox Hound | 10 – 13 years |
| Bassett Hound | 11 – 14 years |
| Beagle | 12 – 14 years |
| Border Collie | 10 – 14 years |
| English Springer Spaniel | 10 – 14 years |
Large Dogs
| Breed | Average Lifespan |
| Doberman Pinscher | 10 – 12 years |
| Great Dane | 7 – 10 years |
| Rottweiler | 8 – 11 years |
| St. Bernard | 8 – 10 years |
| Tibetian Mastiff | 11 – 14 years |
The table below provides the expected dog life expectancy of many additional breeds (listed alphabetically).
| Breed | Average Lifespan |
| Affenpinscher | 12 – 14 years |
| Afghan Hound | 12 – 14 years |
| African Boerboels | 9 – 11 years |
| Airedale Terrier | 10 – 13 years |
| Akbash | 10 – 11 years |
| Akita | 10 – 13 years |
| Alaskan Malamute | 10 – 13 years |
| American Bulldog | 12 – 14 years |
| American Eskimo Dog | 12 – 14 years |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| American Water Spaniel | 10 – 12 years |
| Anatolian Shepherd Dog | 10 – 13 years |
| Australian Cattle Dog | 10 – 13 years |
| Australian Shepherd | 12 – 15 years |
| Australian Silky Terrier | 11 – 14 years |
| Australian Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Basenji | 12 – 14 years |
| Bearded Collie | 12 – 14 years |
| Beauceron | 10 – 12 years |
| Bedlington Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Belgian Malinois | 10 – 12 years |
| Belgian Shepherd Dog | 10 – 12 years |
| Belgian Tervuren | 10 – 12 years |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 6 – 9 years |
| Bichon Frise | 12 – 15 years |
| Black and Tan Coonhound | 10 – 12 years |
| Black Russian Terrier | 10 – 11 years |
| Bloodhound | 10 – 12 years |
| Border Terrier | 12 – 15 years |
| Borzoi | 10 – 12 years |
| Bouvier des Flandres | 10 – 12 years |
| Boxer | 8 – 10 years |
| Briard | 10 – 12 years |
| Brittany | 12 – 13 years |
| Brussels Griffon | 12 – 15 years |
| Bull Terrier | 11 – 14 years |
| Bullmastiff | 8 – 10 years |
| Cairn Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Canaan Dog | 12 – 13 years |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 12 – 14 years |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 9 – 14 years |
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 10 – 13 years |
| Chinese Crested | 13 – 15 years |
| Chinese Shar-Pei | 8 – 10 years |
| Chow Chow | 8 – 12 years |
| Clumber Spaniel | 10 – 12 years |
| Cocker Spaniel | 12 – 15 years |
| Cockapoo | 14 – 18 years |
| Collie | 8 – 12 years |
| Curly-Coated Retriever | 8 – 12 years |
| Dalmatian | 12 – 14 years |
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier | 11 – 13 years |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | 5 – 7 years |
| English Bulldogs | 8 – 12 years |
| English Cocker Spaniels | 12 – 14 years |
| English Foxhound | 10 – 13 years |
| English Setter | 10 – 12 years |
| English Toy Spaniel | 10 – 12 years |
| Field Spaniel | 12 – 14 years |
| Finnish Spitz | 12 – 14 years |
| Flat-Coated Retriever | 10 – 13 years |
| Fox Terrier (Smooth & Wire) | 10 – 13 years |
| French Bulldog | 9 – 11 years |
| German Pinscher | 12 – 15 years |
| German Shepherd | 10 – 12 years |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | 12 – 14 years |
| German Wirehaired Pointer | 12 – 14 years |
| Giant Schnauzer | 10 – 12 years |
| Glen of Imaal Terrier | 10 – 14 years |
| Golden Retriever | 10 – 13 years |
| Gordon Setter | 10 – 12 years |
| Great Pyrenees | 10 – 12 years |
| Greater Swiss Mountain Dog | 10 – 12 years |
| Greyhound | 10 – 13 years |
| Harrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Havanese | 12 – 14 years |
| Hungarian Vizsla | 10 – 14 years |
| Ibizan Hound | 12 – 14 years |
| Irish Setter | 12 – 14 years |
| Irish Terrier | 12 – 15 years |
| Irish Water Spaniel | 10 – 13 years |
| Irish Wolfhound | 5 – 7 years |
| Italian Greyhound | 12 – 15 years |
| Japanese Chin | 12 – 14 years |
| Keeshond | 12 – 14 years |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | 12 – 15 years |
| Komondor | 10 – 12 years |
| Kuvasz | 9 – 12 years |
| Labrador Retriever | 10 – 12 years |
| Lakeland Terrier | 12 – 16 years |
| Lhasa Apso | 12 – 14 years |
| Löwchen | 13 – 15 years |
| Manchester Terrier | 15 – 16 years |
| Mastiff | 9 – 11 years |
| Miniature Bull Terrier | 11 – 14 years |
| Miniature Pinscher | 12 – 14 years |
| Miniature Poodle | 12 – 14 years |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 12 – 14 years |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | 8 – 10 years |
| Newfoundland | 8 – 10 years |
| Norfolk Terrier | 13 – 15 years |
| Norwegian Buhunds | 11 – 13 years |
| Norwegian Elkhound | 10 – 12 years |
| Norwich Terrier | 13 – 15 years |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 11 – 13 years |
| Old English Sheepdog | 10 – 12 years |
| Otterhound | 10 – 13 years |
| Papillon | 12 – 15 years |
| Parson Russell Terrier | 13 – 15 years |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 11 – 13 years |
| Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen | 11 – 14 years |
| Pharaoh Hound | 11 – 14 years |
| Pit Bull | 12 – 14 years |
| Plott | 11 – 13 years |
| Pointer | 11 – 15 years |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog | 10 – 14 years |
| Poodle (Standard) | 12 – 15 years |
| Portuguese Water Dog | 10 – 14 years |
| Pug | 12 – 15 years |
| Puli | 10 – 15 years |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 10 – 12 years |
| Saluki | 12 – 14 years |
| Samoyed | 10 – 12 years |
| Schipperke | 13 – 15 years |
| Scottish Deerhound | 7 – 9 years |
| Scottish Terrier | 11 – 13 years |
| Sealyham Terrier | 11 – 13 years |
| Shetland Sheepdog | 12 – 14 years |
| Shiba Inu | 12 – 15 years |
| Shih Tzu | 11 – 14 years |
| Siberian Husky | 11 – 13 years |
| Silky Terrier | 11 – 14 years |
| Skye Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Soft-coated Wheaten Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Spinone Italiano | 12 – 14 years |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Standard Schnauzer | 12 – 14 years |
| Sussex Spaniel | 11 – 13 years |
| Tibetan Terrier | 12 – 15 years |
| Toy Fox Terrier | 13 – 14 years |
| Toy Manchester Terrier | 14 – 16 years |
| Toy Poodle | 12 – 14 years |
| Treeing Walker Coonhound | 12 – 14 years |
| Vizsla | 10 – 14 years |
| Weimaraner | 10 – 13 years |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel | 12 – 15 years |
| Welsh Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| West Highland White Terrier | 12 – 14 years |
| Whippet | 12 – 15 years |
| Wirehaired Pointing Griffon | 12 – 14 years |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 14 – 16 years |
Breed-Specific Issues
Despite dog size being a major factor in dog life expectancy there are also several breed-specific issues that can affect dogs regardless of size. For example, four well-known flat-faced breeds French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, Pugs and American Bulldogs have several life-limiting disorders. Some health issues these breeds encounter include breathing problems, spinal disease, and difficulty in giving birth. The rapid rise in popularity of these breeds also has negatively impacted their life expectancies since more puppies can die younger.
In another example, Golden Retrievers have an exceedingly high rate of cancer, which has led to a study to help reveal why so many Golden Retrievers suffer from cancer. Cancer is a leading cause of death of large breed dogs overall.
Purebred vs Crossbred
Another interesting fact is that crossbred dogs have a longer life expectancy than purebreds. This is because purebred and inbred dogs tend to have the risk of developing diseases and conditions that could have been passed down through the generations. These health advantages that crossbred dogs have is called hybrid vigor.
It’s a good idea to check the family history when purchasing a puppy from a breeder. The lower the percentage of the COI (coefficient of inbreeding), the less inbreeding there will be, which hopefully means fewer possible health problems and a longer dog life expectancy.
Spayed or Neutered
Spaying and neutering a puppy at a fairly young age can positively affect a dog’s lifespan. Most studies recommend surgical sterilization before five months of age for small breed dogs and 12-15 months for larger breed house dogs. Studies suggest that these surgeries can help reduce the risk of some types of cancer – especially cancers affecting the ovaries, breast, and testicles.
Care and Extending Dog Lifespan
There is no doubt that care can positively increase dog life expectancy. A dog with a nutritious diet, proper dental care, and exercise can live longer than one without. Also, taking your furry companion to annual wellness exams at the vet and getting proper shots can result in a healthy dog with a longer lifespan.
It’s worth noting here that 34 percent of adult dogs in the U.S. are overweight or obese. Research suggests that obese dogs live 2 years less than dogs at a healthy weight. Obesity puts stress on the musculoskeletal system, leading to osteoarthritis and intervertebral disc disease, and increases their risk of developing diabetes and pancreatitis. Obesity can also lead to cardiac and respiratory conditions.
Last, creating a low-stress environment and avoiding suspect dietary products and supplements can help extend dog life longevity.
Signs of Dog Aging
What to look out for as your dog ages:
- Cloudy Eyes/Vision Problems – A general deterioration of vision and cloudy haze over the dog’s eyes.
- Frequent Urination – Increased frequency of urination often indicates kidney-related issues, which usually affect elderly dogs.
- Confusion – A change in behavior, which generally includes short-tempered nature, dementia and confusion.
- Difficulty Getting Up – Health issues such as arthritis, hip dysplasia is common among elderly dogs, which often make it difficult for them to get up.
- Weight Gain/Loss – Due to a change in the metabolism, thyroid-related issues, or dietary insufficiency elderly dogs can become overweight or underweight.
- General Tiredness – Much like humans, elderly dogs increasingly become tired frequently with age. They are often reluctant to play and run around.
- Fatty Lumps – Elderly dogs often develop fatty lumps on their skin called lipomas. These are benign and painless tumors that usually affect old dogs.
- Frequent and Deeper Sleep – Elderly dogs can spend a lot of time sleeping. Often unresponsive to sounds and disturbances they usually experience deeper sleep.
To Sum It All Up
Outside of genetics (specific breed, purebred vs crossbred & size) there are many things that can extend your dog’s lifespan. Making sure your furry friend has a proper diet, exercise, good care (vet visits and dental care), avoiding questionable dietary products/supplements, and maintaining a low-stress environment can all positively impact dog lifespan.
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