Before we dive into exploring all breeds — from large to small pups and everything in between — with the greatest longevity, let’s look at the lifespan record.

Making history just this year, on May 17, 2022, multiple news outlets, including USA Today, reported on the longest-living dog. USA Today says, “Pebbles the 4-pound Toy Fox Terrier now holds the record title for world’s oldest living dog at 22 years and 59 days as of Thursday, according to Guinness World Records.”

Pebbles broke the record of former record holder TobyKeith the Chihuahua. TobyKeith, USA Today reported, was born on “Jan. 9, 2001, TobyKeith was 21 years and 66 days old on March 16 when Guinness World Records confirmed he was the oldest dog alive.”

…Could this be yet another indicator that smaller dogs do live longer? We will explore that today as we compare breeds of all sizes to determine the longest-living dog breeds.

When it comes down to physical size comparisons of breeds, it’s no secret that big dog breeds tend to have the shortest lifespan — which often leads to the question…well, why is that?

The American Kennel Club (AKC) reported on “a major study of 74 breeds and more than 56,000 dogs seen in North American veterinary teaching hospitals” and chatted with the lead researcher, “Cornelia Kraus, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Göttingen in Germany.”

They shared that “In the study, large breeds died more often from cancer than small breeds. Why? One possibility Kraus suggests is that large breeds grow faster, so they may be more likely than small dogs to also experience the abnormal cell growth seen in cancer. Or because they age more quickly, large dogs may succumb to age-related illnesses sooner.”

Let’s take a look into some of the big dog breeds and their average life expectancy…

Great Dane
Life expectancy: 6-8 years

Potential health issues: Bloat (AKC notes that this is the number-one killer of Danes, so it’s important to educate yourself on this if you are a Great Dane owner!), hip dysplasia, heart disease, Wobbler Syndrome (more information on this condition here)

Irish Wolfhound
Life expectancy: 5-7 years

Potential health issues: Hip dysplasia, heart disease, cancer (particularly osteosarcoma, according to Irish Wolfhound Club of America), bloat, Von Willebrand’s disease (more info on this bleeding disorder here), thyroid issues

Bernese Mountain Dog
Life expectancy: 7-10 years

Potential health issues: Joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), bloat (you’ll notice this is particularly common in large dog breeds), ear infections, some cancers (particularly histiocytic sarcoma, according to PetMD)

Mastiff
Life expectancy: 6-10 years

Potential health issues: Joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), bloat, allergies, some cancers (particularly osteosarcoma), obesity, Wobbler Syndrome

St. Bernard
Life expectancy: 8-10 years

Potential health issues: Bloat, joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), eye issues (including Distichiasis), sensitivity to heat, thyroid issues, certain cancers (including lymphoma and osteosarcoma)

Great Pyrenees
Life expectancy: 10-12 years

Potential health issues: Skin issues, some cancers, eye issues (cataracts), bloat, joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), Addison’s Disease (more info on this here)

German Shepherd
Life expectancy: 7-10 years

Potential health issues: Degenerative myelopathy (more info on this here), bloat, joint issues (hip dysplasia), some cancers (including hemangiosarcoma and bone, lung, and intestinal cancers, according to PetMD)

 

If large dogs have a shorter life expectancy, and small dogs have some of the longest life spans, it seems like a safe assumption that medium-sized dogs would fall somewhere in the middle. This is probably the case, although there are always other health factors for particular breeds that could impact those statistics.

According to the AKC, “the average lifespan for medium-sized dog breeds is 10 to 13 years, with some breeds living even longer.” Let’s explore the lifespan of some of the popular breeds that fall into the medium-sized category.

Golden Retriever
Life expectancy: 10-12 years

Potential health issues: Eye conditions, ear infections, joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), thyroid issues, skin issues (hot spots, dermatitis), heart problems, some cancers (including lymphoma and hemangiosarcoma)

Labrador
Life expectancy: 11-13 years

Potential health issues: Exercise-induced collapse, eye conditions (cataracts, retinal dysplasia), joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), obesity, thyroid issues, bloat, heart disease

Australian Cattle Dog
Life expectancy: 12-16 years

Potential health issues: Eye issues, hearing loss, ear infection, joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), thyroid issues

Irish Setter
Life expectancy: 12-14 years

Potential health issues: Thyroid issues, some cancers, hip dysplasia,

Australian Shepherd
Life expectancy: 12-15 years

Potential health issues: Cataracts, joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), epilepsy, hearing loss/deafness

English Springer Spaniel
Life expectancy: 10-14 years

Potential health issues: Eye issues (retinal atrophy and/or dysplasia), joint issues (hip and elbow dysplasia), gastric torsion (aka bloat), seizures

Siberian Husky
Life expectancy: 12-14 years

Potential health issues: Sensitivity to heat, thyroid issues, eye issues (cataracts, retinal atrophy), skin issues, zinc deficiency

Beagle
Life expectancy: 10-15

Potential health issues: Thyroid issues, joint issues (knee problems and hip dysplasia), eye issues (cherry eye, glaucoma)

 

A quick search of life expectancy in dog breeds and dog sizes will reveal that the smaller the dog, the longer the life expectancy.

Weight, in addition to size, seems to be a pretty common and important factor when it comes to estimating a dog’s lifespan. PetMed reported that an “analysis of veterinary records revealed that dogs under 20 pounds had an average lifespan of 11 years while those over 90 pounds typically lived for only 8 years.”

So what are the average lifespans of some of these popular small-sized dog breeds?

Maltese
Life expectancy: 12-15

Potential health issues: Heart issues (patent ductus arteriosus (PMD) and mitral valve disease (MVD)), thyroid issues, eye issues

Bichon Frise
Life expectancy: 12-15 years

Potential health issues: Allergies, bladder issues (stones, infections), eye issues (cataracts)

Jack Russel Terrier
Life expectancy: 12-14 years

Potential health issues: Hearing loss/deafness, eye issues (cataracts, glaucoma), dental issues

Miniature Schnauzer
Life expectancy: 12-15 years

Potential health issues: Pancreatitis, ear infections, eye issues (cataracts), Cushing’s disease (more information on this here)

Chihuahua
Life expectancy: 14-18 years

Potential health issues: Dental problems (gum disease), eye issues, loose kneecaps,

Shih Tzu
Life expectancy: 11-18 years

Potential health issues: Joint issues (hip dysplasia, loose kneecaps), eye issues, sensitivity to heat, dental issues

Yorkshire Terrier
Life expectancy: 11-15 years

Potential health issues: Pancreatitis, loose kneecaps

Miniature/Toy Poodle
Life expectancy: 10-18 years

Potential health issues: Cataracts, epilepsy, joint issues

Dachshund
Life expectancy: 12-16 years

Potential health issues: Obesity, hip dysplasia, prone to back injury (Intervertebral disc disease), bloat, dental issues

Pomeranian
Life expectancy: 12-16 years

Potential health issues: Eye issues (cataracts, dry eye), loose kneecaps, obesity, thyroid issues, hip dysplasia, skin issues

West Highland White Terrier
Life expectancy: 12-14 years

Potential health issues: Skin issues, ear infections, dental issues, loose kneecaps

 

Notice we didn’t say long life — that is because, despite some breeds living longer, and dogs of certain sizes living longer, you really cannot predict the length of your dog’s life.

You can, however, give your dog a healthy, happy life for as long as you’re lucky enough to have them around.

From the right kind of exercise for each specific breed to the right kind of diet, getting to know your dog’s needs is one of the most important parts of keeping your dog happy and healthy. Of course, regular vet visits and keeping up with necessary vaccinations are essential to long living dog breeds, too!

And let’s not forget treats! Both to keep your pet happy and healthy, Shameless Pets dog treats are designed with your pet in mind — each package delivers specific health benefits from hip and joint support to digestive support and even skin and coat support, too! Explore all of our treat options on our website, and find the flavors and healthy elements that suit your dog’s needs and wants best!