Dog Lifespan: How Long Do Dogs Live?
What is the average dog lifespan, and what can you expect as your pet ages? Finn has a primer on the canine aging process and what you need to know.
As much as we don’t want to admit it, our dogs aren’t immortals. That’s why it is essential to help them live their best lives for the years we are lucky enough to have them. Embracing your dog’s aging process and helping them enjoy each stage of their life is one way to do this.
Understanding the average dog's lifespan can guide you toward ways to increase their quality of life. Finn has more on everything you need to know about what to expect but may have been too afraid to ask.
The Dog Lifespan Varies, a Lot
If there was a way to scan your dog and find out exactly how long they’re going to live, would you want to? Unfortunately (or fortunately, depending on how you feel), that science hasn’t been developed yet.
However, we can look at the average lifespan of the different dog breeds scientists have studied and use that data to make basic assumptions.
It’s believed the average dog lifespan is between 10 - 13 years. One of the main factors affecting which side of that scale a dog falls on is its breed. Larger breed dogs tend to live for a shorter time, while smaller dogs end up living much longer. Outliers are also possible, like giant breed dogs (around eight years, average) and toy breed dogs (up to 16 years). These averages are based on purebred dogs, as well. We’ll discuss mixed breeds in a moment.
What Are the Longest Living Dog Breeds?
The longest living dog breeds conversation revolves almost exclusively around the toy and small breed dogs. The short end of the average lifespan of a chihuahua starts at 15, for instance. Other small breed dogs have just as much longevity, including the Jack Russell Terrier, Maltese, Pomeranian, Shih Tsu, and Yorkshire Terrier.
How Long Do Mixed Breed Dogs Live?
So much of what we know about the average dog breed lifespan comes from studying purebred dogs. But what if you, like so many other people across the United States, are the proud owner of a mixed breed dog?
While there isn’t an exact science to it, you can make some basic assumptions about the average dog lifespan of your precious pet by taking their weight into account.
Generally speaking, dogs that weigh in at under 20 pounds live an average of 11 years, as do most medium to large-sized dogs (under 90 pounds). However, giant breed dogs (over 90 pounds) live an average of 8 years. That average continues to increase as the years go on, likely due to a focus on better, more efficient veterinary care.
If you have done a genetic test or know the breeds your mixed-breed dog has likely come from, that can also help you make an educated guess about their longevity.
How Do Dog Years Work?
Most people have heard of the concept of measuring not in human years but in dog years. The general idea is that a single dog year is equivalent to seven human years. Unfortunately, that isn’t a fact that is supported by science. It seems to be founded on the average dog lifespan years ago compared to ours, which ended up with a ratio of 7:1 (with humans averaging about 70 years, and dogs just 10). The concept of dog years was likely a marketing campaign instead of real, hard science.
The AVMA (American Veterinary Medical Association) has a more scientific calculation based on the average medium-sized dog.
What they’ve come up with is that the first year of a dog’s life is equal to 15 of ours (think: infant through early teens). Their second year is equivalent to nine additional human years (taking them to their early 20s). After that, each year of their life is about five human years.
While it isn’t as straightforward as the idea of “dog years,” it does help to explain how they age both physically and mentally.
But do dog years matter when it comes to figuring out the average dog lifespan? The answer is yes, in a way.
Think about it this way — if we are seniors when we hit 65 to 70 years of age, the typical small breed dog will reach that title at about 12 or 13. On the other hand, a giant breed dog would only be 8 or 9. That guide can help you understand when your dog may have advanced into the “senior” phase of their lives, which requires more care, understanding, and specific, supportive care to keep them as healthy, happy, and comfortable as they can be.
And remember, just because your dog is a senior doesn’t mean that you have to prepare for the worst! Elderly dogs can live just as happy and healthy lives and, even if they do develop age-related issues (like urinary incontinence, arthritis, or hip pain), it doesn’t have to be the end of the road.
Thanks to modern veterinary science, more interventions than ever can help keep them comfortable even in their advanced age. The key is setting your dog up with a healthy foundation and identifying problems quickly when they do occur.
Are There Ways To Extend the Average Dog Lifespan?
Now, to what you want to know! While no amount of time lets us spend enough of it with our precious pets, that doesn’t mean that we can’t find ways to keep them with us for as long as possible.
The number one factor you control as a pet owner is your dog’s nutrition. Remember, there is no one-size-fits-all diet. Different breeds, sizes, ages, etc., all require a slightly different, customized nutritional formulations. Choosing a quality food that fits your dog’s unique needs is something you should consider even as a puppy.
Giant breed dogs, for instance, need their diet to help control their growth rate, which helps reduce their risk of developing hip dysplasia. A proper diet can also help keep your dog at a healthy weight, which is essential as obesity in dogs can lead to many other health conditions that can shorten their lives.
