How Long is a Dog’s Life Span? The Life Expectancy and Facts (2023)

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In this article, we will look at one of the most common questions asked by puppy parents: how long is a dog’s life span?

Dog ownership is one of the great joys of life. Our furry friends give us unconditional love, company, and more smiles than is possible.

It is the indisputable fact that people live longer than dogs that ultimately bring most owners to tears.

Most people know that smaller dogs generally live longer than their larger counterparts, but how much exactly?

Thinking of the inevitable loss of a beloved pet often forces owners to ask: (how long will my dog live?) Of course, there is no way to correctly answer that question when it comes to a particular individual. Still, averages are available for many well-known breeds, including the Golden Retriever, Bulldog, Dachshund, German Shepherd, and Pug.

A 2013 Banfield Pet Hospital report found that most dogs weighing less than 19 pounds had an average lifespan of approximately 11.3 years, while medium to large dogs in the range of 20 to 90 pounds lived for around 10.8 years, and giant dogs over 90 pounds usually lived only up to the eight-year-old mark.

What Determines The Life Span Of A Dog?

Do you want to know how you can help your puppy live a longer, happier life? Below are some factors that help determine the life span of a dog.

Dog care

As the owner, you can influence the responsibility for your dog. A dog with a proper, nutritious diet and exercise can live longer than one without.

Also, taking your furry friend to annual wellness exams at the vet and getting booster shots can lead to a healthy dog with a longer lifespan.

Dog size

Research has shown that larger dogs live shorter compared to smaller dogs. For example, an Irish wolfhound (an average of 115 pounds) has an average lifespan of 7 years, while a Jack Russell Terrier (an average of 15 pounds) can reach 13-16 years.

Inbreeding Versus Crossbreeding

Inbreeding can spread in dogs. Dogs of multiple breeds have a longer lifespan in comparison. Inbred dogs run the risk of carrying genes for diseases that occur in that particular breed.

Also (street dogs) who have at least two breeds and usually more, they have the least health problems and live longer than their purebred counterparts.

Neutered / Spayed

Have a positive influence on the life span of a dog. Studies suggest that these operations can help reduce the risk of some cancers in dogs.

Especially cancers that affect the ovaries, breast, and testicles. Recent studies show that these benefits may or may not be entirely accurate, but there is no doubt that your life will be more comfortable without a litter of puppies in your life, and this will also be less stress on your puppy, which can mean a longer life.

How Long Do Dogs Live On Average

The average lifespan of a dog is 11 to 12 years.

A study with more than 15,000 dogs showed that 20% of the sampled people lived after their 14th birthday, but less than 10% reached their 15th birthday.

But not all dogs, or dog breeds, have grown old.

Unfortunately, knowing the average life expectancy of dogs is not useful. This is because the differences between breeds, sizes, and structures of dogs differ so wildly. The education and lifestyle of a dog can also have an impact on life expectancy.

Many breeds of dogs that, on average, die at a younger age have never really grown old. Instead, these dogs died in adulthood. This may be due to inherent problems with their structure or genetics.

How Long Do Dogs Live When They Are Sterilized Or Neutered?

Many people want to know the effect of castrating a dog on their lifespan. Do neutered dogs live longer or shorter?

Unfortunately, the evidence here is not clear.

Neutralization is so prevalent in the US that it is normal. In the United States, only irresponsible people fail to castrate their dogs unless you are a dog breeder.

This influences the conclusions that we can draw from retrospective studies. Because dogs owned by more irresponsible owners are more likely to have accidents or pick up / suffer from preventable diseases.

One study showed that castrated dogs lived longer. However, it also showed that the entire dog died of accidents and illnesses (both avoidable with responsible ownership). While the neutered dogs died of cancer

This is the limited number that we know for sure:

Neutralization Of Female Dogs

Neutralization prevents pyometra and means that you are not dealing with seasons. Pyometra can, however, be cured if it is treated quickly, and the seasons are no more than half-yearly.

Neutralization also makes a female dog more likely to have certain incurable cancers and orthopedic problems. It can also lead to castration incontinence.

Neutralization Of Males Dogs

Neutralizing males dogs can make them more susceptible to some incurable cancers and are more likely to suffer from orthopedic problems.

It is also worth noting that sterilization is unlikely to improve an existing behavioral problem and make it worse.

What Is The Longest Living Dog Breed?

Chihuahuas usually are called the breed with the most extended lifespan. They are, on average, 15-20 years old and are among the smallest dog breeds. The oldest Chihuahua on record2, Megabyte, died at the age of 20 years and 265 days.

The Australian Cattle Dog is known to have one of the longest life expectancies. There are data from Australian cattle dogs that are over 20 years old. The longest registered dog is an Australian cattle dog named Bluey who lived 29 years and five months.

Longest living dog breeds

The longest alive dog breeds include the following:

• Bearded Collies
• Border Collies
• Fox Terriers
• Miniature Dachshunds
• Miniature Poodles
• Tibetan Spaniels
• Toy Poodles
• West Highland White Terriers

All these breeds have to live on average about 13 years or longer.

Shortest living dog breeds

The shortest alive dog breeds include the following:

• Bloodhounds
• Bulldogs
• Bordeauxdog
• German dog
• Mastiffs
• Miniature Bull Terriers
• Shar Pei
• St. Bernards

Unfortunately, they all have a lifespan of fewer than seven years.

Unfortunately, this short lifespan is often related to hereditary problems due to extreme conformity. These can be brachycephalic (flat faces) and bloating in dogs with deep crates. We will be looking more at brachycephalic dogs soon.

The larger varieties with this short lifespan are also susceptible to heart problems.

Of course, many dogs are of mixed breeds. You will often hear people claim that (street dogs) live longer than purebred dogs. But is it true? How long do Mutts live compared to purebred dogs?

How long do mixed-Breed Dogs Live

For mixed-breed dogs, owners can use a person’s weight to determine how long he or she is expected to live.

Small dogs generally have a longer lifespan than their larger counterparts.

A recent analysis of veterinary data revealed that dogs under 20 pounds had an average lifespan of 11 years, while dogs over 90 pounds usually lived for only eight years.

Medium and large dogs fell in the middle for about 11 years. (State of Pet Health 2013 Report, Banfield Pet Hospital.)

But the average life expectancy is not) the whole story. The definition of (average) means that many people have a shorter lifespan, while others are expected to live much longer than the norm.

Perhaps a better way to evaluate the lifespan of a dog is to convert (dog years) to (human years). In this way, we can understand when a dog is an adult, a senior, a geriatric, or the equivalent of a centenarian.

Information about the expected lifespan of a dog will not help the pain of his or her loss. But it can help owners plan how to best take care of their companions during the time we have together.