After bringing home a tiny pup, we simply assume our canine friend to be an inseparable part of our lives. Dogs are living creatures and thus, death is inevitable. Certain dog breeds tend to have a longer lifespan than other dogs. Thus, some may even outlive their owners if they were too old when they brought them as a pet. And in some cases, the dog you got as your 5th birthday present may die just after you complete your college. No one likes losing their pet. Our canine friends become an integral part of our lives and we cannot imagine a life without them.

Before adopting a canine pet, one normally does not consider the life expectancy. Only when the animal begins to show signs of aging, do we start worrying about the lifespan of dogs. In the following paragraphs, we shall have a look at the average life expectancy of dogs that will be useful to you when considering a breed as a pet.

Lifespan of Dogs: An Overview

There are several factors that together contribute to the average life expectancy of dogs. The life expectancy has increased dramatically since the past few decades with the advancement in veterinary science as well as better diet provided to dogs. A dog may have a longer life than other breeds due to his genes. They are just genetically programmed to live longer than the other dog breeds. Small dog breeds have been found to live 10 years longer than big dogs. This may be because a large dog has to put in more energy to perform his daily functions. Neutered and sprayed dogs are found to live longer than those who are not. Female dogs are found to survive a year or two longer than the male dogs. Going in for a pure breed dog will find you addressing a long list of health issues in the long run. Mixed breed dogs tend to have lesser health issues and therefore, live longer than pure breed dogs. Good dog care and nutrition will also contribute to a longer lifespan of a dog. A dog that is mentally and physically active, alert and exercised will live longer than the dog who lives a quiet, sedentary life. Owners who take their pets regularly for veterinary check ups, also survive longer than those whose health issues are not addressed sooner.

Life Expectancy of Dogs: Chart

Many people believe that a dog ages about seven years in terms of one year in human life. However, this may not hold true as dogs age faster as pups and then tend to slow down their aging process as they mature. The breeder, living conditions, diet, exercise, breed health and lifestyle, all contribute towards the dog's life expectancy. Just like humans, all dogs are different. You may find one dog healthy and active all his life. Another dog maybe plagued with health issues and will need extra care and attention. It is just based on each characteristic and one cannot say for sure how long will a dog live. In the following chart, we shall list out the dog's average life expectancy by breed. This will give you an overall idea as to which dog lives the longest and which has the shortest life span.

Name of Dog Breed Average Life Expectancy
Affenpinscher 10.2 years
Afghan Hound 12.0 years
Airedale Terrier 11.2 years
Akita 10.4 years
American Eskimo Dog 14.4 years
American Foxhound 10.3 years
Basenji 10.0 years
Basset Hound 12.8 years
Beagle 13.3 years
Bearded Collie 12.3 years
Bedlington Terrier 14.3 years
Bernese Mountain Dog 7.0 years
Black and Tan Coonhound 10.0 years
Black Russian Terrier 10.0 years
Bloodhound 10.0 years
Border Collie 13.0 years
Border Terrier 13.8 years
Borzoi 10.5 years
Bouvier des Flandres 10.0 years
Boxer 10.4 years
Briard/ Berger de Brie 10.0 years
Brittany 10.2 years
Brussels Griffon/ Griffon Bruxellois 10.0 years
Bull Terrier 12.9 years
Bulldog 6.7 years
Bullmastiff 8.6 years
Cairn Terrier 13.2 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel 10.7 years
Chesapeake Bay Retriever 10.0 years
Chihuahua 13.0 years
Chinese Crested Dog 10.5 years
Chinese Shar-pei 8.2 years
Chow Chow 13.5 years
Cocker Spaniel 12.5 years
Corgi 11.3 years
Curly-Coated Retriever 8 years
Dachshund 12.2 years
Dalmatian 13.0 years
Doberman Pinscher 9.8 years
English Cocker Spaniel 11.8 years
English Setter 11.2 years
English Springer Spaniel 13.0 years
English Toy Spaniel 10.1 years
Field Spaniel 10.0 years
Flat-Coated Retriever 9.5 years
German Shepherd 10.3 years
German Shorthaired Pointer 12.3 years
Glen of Imaal Terrier 13.0 years
Golden Retriever 12.0 years
Gordon Setter 11.3 years
Great Dane 8.4 years
Great Pyrenees/ Pyrenean Mountain Dog 9.0 years
Greyhound 13.2 years
Ibizan Hound 10.0 years
Irish Red and White Setter 12.9 years
Irish Setter 11.8 years
Irish Water Spaniel 10.0 years
Irish Wolfhound 6.2 years
Jack Russell Terrier 13.6 years
Japanese Chin 8.0 years
Keeshond 12.0 years
Komondor 10.0 years
Kuvasz/ Hungarian Kuvasz 10.0 years
Labrador Retriever 12.6 years
Lurcher 12.6 years
Maltese 14.0 years
Miniature Dachshund 14.4 years
Miniature Poodle 14.8 years
Miniature Schnauzer 14.0 years
Newfoundland 9.0 years
Norfolk Terrier 10.0 years
Old English Sheepdog 11.8 years
Pekingese 13.3 years
Pembroke Welsh Corgi 13 years
Pharaoh Hound 11.0 years
Pomeranian 15 years
Pug 13.5 years
Random-bred/ Mongrel 13.2 years
Rhodesian Ridgeback 9.1 years
Rottweiler 9.8 years
Rough Collie 12.2 years
Saluki 10.0 years
Samoyed 11.0 years
Schipperke 14.1 years
Scottish Deerhound 9.5 years
Scottish Terrier 12.0 years
Shetland Sheepdog 13.3 years
Shih Tzu 13.4 years
Siberian Husky 12.1 years
Skye Terrier 10 years
Staffordshire Bull Terrier 10.0 years
Standard Poodle 12.0 years
Tibetan Terrier 14.3 years
Toy Poodle 14.4 years
Viszla 12.5 years
Weimaraner 10.0 years
Welsh Springer Spaniel 11.5 years
Welsh Terrier 10.0 years
West Highland White Terrier 12.8 years
Whippet 14.3 years
Wire Fox Terrier 13.0 years
Wirehaired Pointing Griffon 10.0 years
Yorkshire Terrier 12.8 years

From the preceding table, you can get a fair idea of the average life expectancy of dogs by breed. The lifespan mentioned above is just tentative. A dog may live a few years longer or shorter than the average life expectancy mentioned in the table. Thus, one cannot exactly say when it will be time to say goodbye forever to their dear pet. But, one can always take good care of their pet, so that whenever it is time for them to bid farewell, they leave us with a satisfied and content look. Hope the above information has helped you get a fair idea of the approximate lifespan of each dog breed. All we can do as pet owners is to allow the dogs to live a life full of happiness, enjoyment and love.