All dogs go to heaven. But according to a new study of nearly 600,000 British dogs from more than 150 breeds, a bulldog might head there years before a Border terrier.
The researchers found that large breeds and breeds with flattened faces have shorter average lifespans than smaller dogs and those with elongated snouts. They also discovered that female dogs live slightly longer than males.
A recent study by the University of Liverpool and the Dog Trust association has shed some light on this. The study looked at factors like the dog’s size, sex, and even the shape of its nose to see how these might affect its lifespan.
The results? Generally, small dogs with big noses live the longest. Take a female dachshund, for example. If all goes well, she could be your companion for a very long time.
The researchers hope their findings will help future dog owners make informed decisions. But they also stress the importance of considering the ethical implications. It’s one thing not to encourage breeding dogs that are likely to suffer from health problems. It’s another to ignore breeds that might not live as long due to their physical traits. And let’s not forget, luck also plays a part in how long our furry friends stay with us.
Top 10 breeds, average lifespans
Breed | Average Lifespan (years) |
---|---|
Lancashire Heeler | 15.4 |
Tibetan Spaniel | 15.2 |
Bolognese | 14.9 |
Shiba Inu | 14.6 |
Papillon | 14.5 |
Havanese | 14.5 |
Lakeland Terrier | 14.2 |
Coton de Tulear | 14.2 |
Border Terrier | 14.2 |
Schipperke | 14.2 |
Large Munsterlander | 14.1 |
Lhasa Apso | 14 |
Swedish Vallhund | 14 |
German Spitz Mittel | 14 |
Norwich Terrier | 14 |
Australian Cattle Dog | 14 |
Poodle | 14 |
Cairn Terrier | 14 |
Italian Greyhound | 14 |
Miniature Dachshund | 14 |
Welsh Springer Spaniel | 14 |
Lowchen | 13.9 |
Bearded Collie | 13.9 |
Belgian Tervuren | 13.8 |
Parson Russell Terrier | 13.8 |
Finnish Lapphund | 13.8 |
Bracco Italiano | 13.8 |
Welsh Terrier | 13.8 |
Tibetan Terrier | 13.8 |
Australian Shepherd | 13.7 |
Miniature Pinscher | 13.7 |
Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 13.7 |
Bedlington Terrier | 13.7 |
Spanish Water Dog | 13.7 |
Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen | 13.7 |
Wire Fox Terrier | 13.5 |
English Springer Spaniel | 13.5 |
Irish Terrier | 13.5 |
Norfolk Terrier | 13.5 |
Sussex Spaniel | 13.5 |
Vizsla | 13.5 |
Chinese Crested | 13.4 |
Whippet | 13.4 |
Shetland Sheepdog | 13.4 |
West Highland White Terrier | 13.4 |
German Shorthaired Pointer | 13.4 |
Brussels Griffon | 13.3 |
Miniature Schnauzer | 13.3 |
American Cocker Spaniel | 13.3 |
Collie | 13.3 |
Jack Russell Terrier | 13.3 |
Silky Terrier | 13.3 |
Puli | 13.3 |
Yorkshire Terrier | 13.3 |
English Cocker Spaniel | 13.3 |
Tibetan Mastiff | 13.3 |
Saluki | 13.3 |
Pekingese | 13.3 |
Dalmatian | 13.2 |
Dachshund | 13.2 |
Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 13.2 |
Polish Lowland Sheepdog | 13.2 |
Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 13.2 |
Golden Retriever | 13.2 |
Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 13.1 |
English Setter | 13.1 |
Border Collie | 13.1 |
Field Spaniel | 13.1 |
Sealyham Terrier | 13.1 |
Labrador Retriever | 13.1 |
Samoyed | 13.1 |
Maltese | 13.1 |
Toy Manchester Terrier | 13 |
Foxhound | 13 |
German Wirehaired Pointer | 13 |
Standard Schnauzer | 13 |
Japanese Spitz | 13 |
Portuguese Water Dog | 13 |
Norwegian Elkhound | 13 |
Toy Fox Terrier | 12.9 |
Irish Setter | 12.9 |
Weimaraner | 12.8 |
Dandie Dinmont Terrier | 12.8 |
Shih Tzu | 12.8 |
Scottish Terrier | 12.7 |
Briard | 12.6 |
Beagle | 12.5 |
Basset Hound | 12.5 |
American Staffordshire Terrier | 12.5 |
Bichon Frise | 12.5 |
Japanese Chin | 12.5 |
Kerry Blue Terrier | 12.4 |
Gordon Setter | 12.4 |
Skye Terrier | 12.4 |
Keeshond | 12.3 |
Clumber Spaniel | 12.3 |
Miniature Bull Terrier | 12.2 |
Pomeranian | 12.2 |
Curly-Coated Retriever | 12.2 |
Old English Sheepdog | 12.1 |
Chow Chow | 12.1 |
Basenji | 12.1 |
Giant Schnauzer | 12.1 |
Glen Of Imaal Terrier | 12.1 |
Crossbreed | 12 |
Airedale Terrier | 12 |
Bull Terrier | 12 |
Canaan Dog | 12 |
Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 12 |
Belgian Malinois | 12 |
Borzoi | 12 |
Kelpie | 12 |
Rhodesian Ridgeback | 12 |
Spinone Italiano | 11.9 |
Siberian Husky | 11.9 |
Chihuahua | 11.8 |
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 11.8 |
Boston Terrier | 11.8 |
Flat-Coated Retriever | 11.7 |
Pug | 11.6 |
Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 11.6 |
Greyhound | 11.5 |
Akita | 11.4 |
German Shepherd Dog | 11.3 |
Boxer | 11.3 |
American EskimoDog | 11.3 |
Alaskan Malamute | 11.3 |
Bouvier des Flandres | 11.3 |
Doberman Pinscher | 11.2 |
Afghan Hound | 11.1 |
Brittany | 11.1 |
Dogue de Bordeaux | 11.1 |
Newfoundland | 11 |
Great Pyrenees | 10.9 |
Black Russian Terrier | 10.9 |
Irish Water Spaniel | 10.8 |
Chinese Shar-Pei | 10.6 |
Rottweiler | 10.6 |
Great Dane | 10.6 |
Scottish Deerhound | 10.5 |
Bullmastiff | 10.2 |
Anatolian Shepherd | 10.1 |
Bernese Mountain Dog | 10.1 |
Leonberger | 10 |
Pharaoh Hound | 10 |
Irish Wolfhound | 9.9 |
Bulldog | 9.8 |
French Bulldog | 9.8 |
Affenpinscher | 9.3 |
Bloodhound | 9.3 |
Neapolitan Mastiff | 9.3 |
Saint Bernard | 9.3 |
Mastiff | 9 |
Cane Corso | 8.1 |
Presa Canario | 7.7 |
Caucasian Shepherd Dog | 5.4 |
Figures on the life expectancy of dogs
In a recent study, researchers tracked half a million dogs in the UK. This allowed them to work out the average lifespan for each breed, taking into account factors like sex and size.
On average, dogs live for about 12.5 years. Female dogs tend to live a bit longer, with an average lifespan of 12.7 years, compared to 12.4 years for males.
These averages can vary a lot between breeds and sizes. For instance, French Bulldogs typically live for about 9.8 years. On the other hand, Lancashire Heelers can live up to 15.4 years.
The study also found that Labradors are the most popular breed in the UK. They have an average lifespan of 13.1 years.
What factors influence?
Larger dogs with snub noses turned out to have a shorter life expectancy. Additionally, we know that they tend to experience many more health problems throughout their lives.
Certain dogs, known as brachycephalic dogs, have a short head, flat face, and small nostrils. These physical traits can lead to breathing problems, which can make these dogs get tired easily and even faint. This is why these dogs usually don’t live as long.
Interestingly, these dogs often look cute to us because their flat noses make them look like small children. This has led to these breeds being very popular and often bred, despite the health problems they can have.
Knowing how long different breeds of dogs live can be useful. But remember, these are just averages. Your pet could live longer or shorter than the average for its breed, size, or nose shape. So, it’s not a good idea to choose a pet based only on these averages.
The study also found that purebred dogs tend to live longer than mixed breeds. This might make you think it’s better to get a purebred dog. But it’s important to note that this includes breeds that have been deliberately mixed to keep certain traits, like the flat nose that can cause health problems.
Even Queen Elizabeth II has dogs that are a mix of different breeds. These dogs, called dorgis, have been bred in palaces for many years. They’re not the result of stray dogs falling in love. These dogs probably wouldn’t live less long than purebred dogs, as long as they have a good home. So, let’s keep that in mind.
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