Dogs are among the most popular pets, which is why any dog owner wants their dog to live for as long as possible.Sadly, many dogs live for a fraction of their human owners’ lives, which is why potential owners may want to look into the life expectancy of different dog breeds before choosing a furry companion. Different dog breeds have different lifespans, usually depending on a number of factors.If given the best nutrition and proper exercise, any healthy pet dog can reach its maximum lifespan. As a pet owner, it’s your responsibility to take your dog for regular checkups and keep an eye out for any health-related problems in order to treat them immediately. Doing so can greatly help to increase your dog’s life expectancy.If you enjoy this article, do check out our other pages on longest living cat and longest toenails!List Of The Longest Living Dog BreedsOut of the 360 recognized dog breeds, these breeds are known to have the longest lifespans.Chihuahua. These tiny terrors are quite long-lived, often surpassing 15 years of age, with many of them reaching the ripe old age of 20 years old! They are known as a toy breed; hence they are not seen as very active dogs. However, they still need regular exercise and good nutrition in order to keep them in good shape so that they live long lives. Though the Chihuahua dog breed is generally healthy, they may suffer from heart and eye problems which owners must be on the lookout for.Dachshund. For dachshunds, living past 15 is the norm. These short-legged dogs generally have a long lifespan of between 12-16 years, and many of them are able to surpass 15. Though they are long-lived, they may suffer from conditions such as obesity, eye problems, and back issues, which must be kept in check to ensure their long years are spent well.Toy Poodle. Toy Poodles have an average lifespan of between 10-18 years, which is the longest out of the Poodle group. This makes them a great dog breed for families with young kids. Though small, Toy Poodle dogs are full of energy and very curious. Unfortunately, Toy poodles are Prone to aching limbs in their later years and eye problems; hence regular checkups are a must.Jack Russell Terrier. These small dogs can live for between 13-18 years, with 16 years old being the average lifespan of a Jack Russell Terrier. They make good family dogs, as they are hard-working and very energetic.Yorkshire Terrier. Yorkshire Terriers, though a popular breed with families due to their small size, are quite fierce and energetic. These tiny Terriers can live for up to 16 years and are very intelligent, making them great long-term companions. The average Yorkshire Terrier age is between 13-16 years.Shiba Inu. These loyal Japanese dogs are great medium-sized dogs that have become popular due to their aloof appearance and goofy nature! Though smart, they can be quite stubborn, which may make them frustrating to deal with at times. Despite this, they are a good choice for anyone looking for a fun, loving pet. They usually live for between 13-16 years.Australian Cattle Dog. There is no debate whether or not this breed belongs on this list, as the longest living dog ever was an Australian Cattle Dog! Though one of the larger dog breeds, these dogs have a pretty long life expectancy and can live for anywhere between 12-16 years. Being Cattle Dogs, they are very energetic and hard workers, and a lot of fun to run around and play with!Maltese. Maltese dogs are known for their exceptional health. These small, smart dogs love spending time with their humans and make great companions for anyone! Maltese dogs generally live for between 12-15 years.Shih Tzu. Bred to be good companions, these small dogs do not need much exercise. They are, however, quite high maintenance, and daily brushing of their long, silky coats is a must. Shih Tzu dogs can live for around 10-16 years; however, they are prone to health issues such as orthopedic and eye problems.Australian Shepherd. These beautiful, loyal dogs tend to live for between 13-15 years. These medium-sized dogs are closely associated with cowboys and are known for their boundless energy and tireless work ethic. They make great pets for active, nature-loving families, and they live very healthy lives.Lhasa Apsos. Found in Tibet, the unusually long-haired Lhasa Apso breed has been used for guard dogs in monasteries and palaces for years. Though the typical life span is 12-14 years, many Lhasa Apso dogs have been observed to live for up to almost 20 years!The Oldest Living Dog In The WorldThe oldest verified dog to have ever lived was a female Australian Cattle Dog named Bluey.Bluey was born on June 7, 1910, and lived in Victoria, Australia. She went on to live for 29 years and five months before passing away on November 14, 1939. Reports were also made of another Australian Cattle Dog mix, Chilla, who apparently lived for 32 years and 12 days! However, this was never verified, leaving Bluey with the title of the longest lifespan of a dog.These claims led to a study being conducted on the life expectancy of the Australian Cattle Dog Breed in general, and the average age taken of 100 dogs yielded an average lifespan of 13.2 years, which is quite long for any dog breed.The Average Lifespan Of Dogs By BreedsThe average age of a dog has been reported to be between 10-13 years. The maximum age that a dog will reach depends on the size of the breed, with smaller dogs having longer lifespans. It was calculated that, on average, smaller dog breeds, such as the Chihuahua, live for 15 years, medium-sized dogs live for 14 years, and larger dogs tend to have the shortest lifespan of the three, living for around 13.3 years.The longest living large dog breeds are the American Alsatian, Alaskan Malamute, Doberman, and the Anatolian Shepherd. Smaller dogs with longer lifespans are the Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, Dachshund, and Shih Tzu.Mixed breed dogs are also known to have relatively long lifespans due to the mixing of genes, typically making them more healthy as a result. The longest living mixed dog breeds are the Cockapoo (mix of Cocker spaniel and Poodle), Pug Coton (Pug plus Coton de Tulear), Pomerat (Pomeranian plus Rat Terrier), and the Papitese (Papillon and Maltese mix).How old is the oldest living dog?The current record for the oldest living dog in the world goes to Funny Fujimura, a miniature dachshund living in Japan. As of November 12, 2020, Funny was 21 years and 169 days old, making him the longest living dog as of now!Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for the ‘Longest living dog breeds’ then why not take a look at ‘The longest nose’ or ‘Bengle cat facts’.
Dogs are among the most popular pets, which is why any dog owner wants their dog to live for as long as possible.
