Top 12 Dog breeds with the longest lifespan

“Too big are their hearts, too short are their lives.” Aside from the shoe chewing and the tumbleweeds of fur on your precious carpet, the toughest thing about owning a dog is having to say goodbye. Afterall, which dog owner don’t wanna give everything just to keep their dog forever. Due to this, many owners gravitate towards breeds that are known to have longer lifespans than most other breeds.
Most dog breeds usually share a common lifespan of around 10-13 years. But some breeds have an abnormally longer lifespan and tend to live more than others. Smaller breeds generally live longer than large breeds. This is because larger dogs age more quickly as they grow up faster. Here are 12 dog breeds with the longest lifespan-

A healthy diet, stress-free environment, breed-specific knowledge, and exercise can maximize your dog’s lifespan.

12. PUGS

Pugs have a comical face with deep wrinkles around big dark eyes and a flat round face. The main breed standard colors are fawn with black mask, apricot with black mask, silver with a black mask, and black. They have an average lifespan of 12-15 years. The oldest living pug was 27 years old named Snookie who died in 2018. Pugs are happy and affectionate and playful and mischievous.

GROUP: Companion Dogs
HEIGHT: 10-14 inches
WEIGHT: 14-18 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-15 years

DID YOU KNOW?

Chinese who mastered the breeding of this dog, prized their wrinkles because they resembled good luck symbols in their language.

11. AUSTRALIAN CATTLE DOG

Australian cattle dog ( also known as ‘blue heeler’ or ‘red heeler’) is a medium-sized, short-coated dog that occurs in two main color forms. It has either brown or black hair distributed fairly evenly through a white coat giving the appearance of a red or blue dog. It is a robust breed with a lifespan of 12-15 years. The oldest dog to ever live was an Australian cattle dog named Bluey that lived 29 years and died in 1939. These dogs generally age well and appear to live on average almost a year longer than other breeds in the same weight class. They have immense work drive and excel at hunting, chasing, and, of course, moving livestock.

GROUP: Herding dogs
HEIGHT: 17-20 inches
WEIGHT: 30-50 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-15 years

DID YOU KNOW?

ACD puppies are born white. As they grow they will either become blue or red.

10. BEAGLE

Beagles are a scenthound with their head always downwards, searching for an interesting trail to follow. The most common color for beagles is tricolor with a black saddle, white legs, and chest belly. The second most common color combination is red and white in an Irish spotting pattern on the face, neck, etc.

The typical longevity of beagles is 12-15 years. The oldest living beagle was a 27 years old named Butch. They are one of the longest living dog breeds with a great sense of smell and superior tracking instincts.

GROUP: Hounds
HEIGHT: 13-16 inches
WEIGHT: 22-35 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-15 years

DID YOU KNOW?

One of the most recognizable characters in the comic strips Snoopy is a beagle.

9. MALTESE

They have a tiny size, long coat, and cute & endearing appearance. However, they require a lot of attention and can suffer from separation anxiety if left alone for a prolonged time. Their coat is pure white, silky, and straight. They don’t have the undercoat and do not shed much. On the downside, they require regular grooming otherwise, the coat can mat easily and become dirty. The expected lifespan for this breed is roughly 12-15 years. The oldest Maltese dog to ever live was 20 years old.

GROUP: Toy/ Companion dogs
HEIGHT: 7-9 inches
WEIGHT: up to 7 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-15 years

DID YOU KNOW?

A Maltese dog named Lucky was authenticated by the Guiness Book of Records as having been photographed with a whopping 363 celebrities including Kim Kardashian, Kristin Stewart, Bill Clinton, Richard Branson………and counting.

8. LHASA APSO

This ancient dog breed originally from Tibet were highly regarded watchdogs in palaces and monasteries. Today’s Lhasa is no longer a palace guard, they are very child-friendly and extremely loyal. These small-statured dogs are famous for their floor-length, flat hanging coat, parted in the middle. They’re wary of strangers, intelligent, playful, and serenely well-balanced. The average lifespan of this dog is 12-18 years although some can live up to two decades. The oldest known Lhasa Apso lived 29 years.

GROUP: Non-sporting; companion dogs
HEIGHT: 9-11 inches
WEIGHT: 12-18 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-18 years

DID YOU KNOW? Tibetans believed that Lhasa Apsos could carry the souls of their owners; hence, they held the breed in high regard and never sold them. The breed remains sacred to this day in Tibet.

7. SHIH TZU

It is a small ancient Chinese breed with a lush, long, double hair coat, so you should be prepared for regular grooming. They’re lap dogs and only require short daily walks. They come in many colors: black, black & white, gray & white, or red & white. They’re affectionate companions, adorable and friendly towards everyone (hence not good as watchdogs). They can live up to the age of 10-18 years on average. The longest-living Shih Tzu named Smokey reached the stunning age of 28 and died in 2014.

GROUP: Toy/Companion dogs
HEIGHT: 9-11 inches
WEIGHT: 9-16 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 10-18 years

DID YOU KNOW? It was illegal for common people to own a Shih Tzu in ancient China. Illegally owning them could earn you a death sentence!

6. POMERANIAN

This fluffy little dog is lively, playful, and very alert to changes in the surroundings. Its glorious coat, smiling, foxy face, and vivacious personality make it one of the most popular toy breeds abundant double coat with frills extending over the chest and shoulders comes in almost two dozen colors but is most commonly seen in red or orange. They master tricks and games with ease and make fine watchdogs as well as perky cute pets. They have an average life expectancy of 12-16 years. The oldest living Pom reached 21 years of age.

GROUP: Toy/Companion dogs
HEIGHT: 6-7 inches
WEIGHT: 3-7 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-16 years

DID YOU KNOW? Out of the 3 dogs among 12 that survived the tragic Titanic sinking, two were Pomeranians.

5. DACHSHUND

Smart and vigilant, with a big dog bark, Dachshunds make fine watchdogs. This little ‘sausage dog’ with a long body and short legs is a playful yet stubborn breed. The Dachshund comes in a variety of different colors including black, tan, red, cream, and blue. They can be standard-sized (16-32 pounds) or miniature (11 pounds or less) and come in 3 coat types: smooth, wirehaired, or longhaired. But they can have age-related health problems, particularly back issues. Their average lifespan is 12-16 years and it’s not uncommon to meet a 15-year old Dachshund. The longest living Dachshund till now is 21 years old named Chanel also recorded in the Guinness World Record.

GROUP: Hounds
HEIGHT: 5-9 inches
WEIGHT: up to 32 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-16 years

DID YOU KNOW? When hot dogs were invented, they were originally called Dachshund sausages.

4. TOY POODLE

The Poodle is one of the smartest dogs around and easy to train. However, they need plenty of physical and mental exercises to keep their busy minds active. They don’t shed making them a great pet for allergic people. Still, owners need to brush them from root to end to avoid matting. They come in 3 different size varieties: standard, miniature, and toy. Poodles come in a wide variety of colors including blue, gray, silver, brown, apricot, black, white, and cream. They can live 14-18 years under good care. The longest living Poodle was 28 years of age named Lady.

GROUP: Non-sporting/Toy
HEIGHT: up to 10 inches
WEIGHT: 4-6 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 12-20 years

DID YOU KNOW? Winston Churchill, the former Prime Minister of the UK was a ‘Poodle man’. Not only did his Poodle eat off a cloth laid on a Persian rug, but was served his meals even before Churchill was…and by a butler, no less.

3. YORKSHIRE TERRIER

Although small in size, Yorkies are lively, curious, and attention seekers. Although they are loyal and loving, they have terrier traits including strong guarding instincts and vocal nature. Hence, aren’t total lap dogs. The coat is long, silky, and perfectly straight without any hint of a wave. They have a single coat and shed very little. Puppies are born black with the blue and tan coats developing gradually. They tend to become lighter with age. They usually live for 16-18 years. The older Yorkie reached the grand old age of 26.

GROUP: Companion/Toy
HEIGHT: 8-9 inches
WEIGHT: up to 7 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 16-18 years

DID YOU KNOW? The smallest dog to have ever lived was a Yorkshire Terrier named Sylvia (2.5 inches in height and 3.5 inches long)

2. JACK RUSSEL TERRIER

The JRT is another breed that is not a lapdog. They have been bred for work and still retain the drive, courage, and energy to work. It is a medium-size breed that originated from England and is cute and highly energetic. Jacks can be white, white with black or tan markings, or tricolor. Their coat is never curly or wavy. They have an average life expectancy of 13-18 years. The oldest Jack Russel was Willie reaching age 20 in 2014.

GROUP: Terrier
HEIGHT: 13-14 inches
WEIGHT: 13-17 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 13-18 years

DID YOU KNOW? A Jack Russel named “Bothie” is the first and only dog to travel to both the North and South poles!

1. CHIHUAHUA

They are one of the longest living dog breeds, perhaps they are also one of the smallest dog breeds. They are adorable, cute, and small but will entice you with their big personality as well as protective and devoted attitude. Coats come in many colors and patterns and can be long or short. Chihuahuas may be shown in any color- solid, marked, or splashed. Compact and confident, they are energetic, lively, and small enough to get their exercise simply by running around your home. You will often find this breed living to be over 15 years of age. To date, the longest living Chihuahua was 20 years old.

Without a doubt, Chihuahua tops the list of dog breeds with the longest lifespan! 🙂

GROUP: Toy
HEIGHT: 5-8 inches
WEIGHT: up to 6 pounds
LIFE EXPECTANCY: 15-20 years

DID YOU KNOW?

Chihuahuas have the largest brains of all dog breeds when it comes to brain size concerning body dimensions. That’s right! The smallest pup has the biggest brain!