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Pawrennial

How long do dogs live?

Typical dog lifespan

10 to 13 years

Most dogs live 10 to 13 years. Size matters most: small dogs often reach 14 to 16, while giant breeds average closer to 8 to 10. A study of more than half a million UK dogs found a median lifespan of 12.5 years.

Want to know how old your dog is in human years? Try our dog age calculator.

What is the average lifespan of a dog?

Two large studies from the UK give the clearest recent answers:

  • A 2022 Royal Veterinary College study of 30,563 dogs found an average life expectancy of 11.2 years from birth. Females lived a little longer than males (11.4 years against 11.1).
  • A 2024 study of more than 584,000 dogs, led by the charity Dogs Trust, found a median lifespan of 12.5 years. Small dogs lived longer than large ones, long-nosed dogs longer than flat-faced ones, and females slightly longer than males.

The difference between the two mostly comes down to method: an average is pulled down by dogs that die young, while a median is the age by which half of dogs have died. Either way, a healthy adult dog has a good chance of reaching her early teens.

Dog lifespan by size

Unusually among animals, smaller dogs live longer than bigger ones. Big dogs age faster.
Typical dog lifespan by size
SizeTypical lifespan
Small (under 20 lb)12 to 16 years
Medium (20 to 50 lb)10 to 14 years
Large (50 to 90 lb)10 to 12 years
Giant (over 90 lb)7 to 10 years

Dog life expectancy by breed

Average life expectancy at birth for 18 popular breeds and mixed-breed dogs, from the 2022 Royal Veterinary College study.
Average dog life expectancy by breed
BreedAverage life expectancy (years)
Jack Russell Terrier12.7
Yorkshire Terrier12.5
Border Collie12.1
Springer Spaniel11.9
Mixed breed11.8
Labrador Retriever11.8
Staffordshire Bull Terrier11.3
Cocker Spaniel11.3
Shih Tzu11.1
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel10.4
German Shepherd10.2
Boxer10.0
Beagle9.8
Husky9.5
Chihuahua7.9
American Bulldog7.8
Pug7.7
English Bulldog7.4
French Bulldog4.5

The French Bulldog figure looks alarming, but treat it with care. The breed became popular very quickly, so most French Bulldogs in the data were young, and the deaths recorded skew early. The larger 2024 study put their median at 9.8 years, still among the shortest of any breed. That study's longest-lived breeds included the Lancashire Heeler (15.4 years), Tibetan Spaniel (15.2), and Miniature Dachshund (14.0).

Why flat-faced breeds live shorter lives

Brachycephalic, or flat-faced, breeds like French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs, and Pugs had some of the shortest lifespans in both studies. The 2024 study found flat-faced dogs had about a 40 percent higher risk of a shorter life than long-nosed dogs. Their short airways cause breathing problems, and many also have spine, eye, and skin conditions. If you have a flat-faced dog, keep her lean, avoid exercise in the heat, and ask your vet about her breathing.

How to help your dog live longer

  • Keep her lean. In a 14-year study of Labradors, dogs fed to stay slim lived a median of about 2 years longer. Our dog food calculator shows how much to feed.
  • Exercise every day, matched to her age and breed.
  • Look after her teeth. Dental disease is one of the most common problems in older dogs.
  • See the vet every year, and every 6 months once she is a senior, so problems are caught early.
  • Keep up with vaccines and parasite control. Our puppy vaccination schedule covers the first year.
  • Keep her safe: a leash near roads, a secure yard, and knowing which human foods are dangerous.

When is a dog a senior?

The AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines describe a dog as senior in roughly the last quarter of her expected lifespan. That means a giant breed can be a senior at 6, while a small dog may not be until 11 or so. Our dog age calculator shows your dog's life stage and her age in human years.

Frequently asked questions

How long do dogs live?

Most dogs live 10 to 13 years. Small dogs often live 12 to 16 years, while giant breeds average 7 to 10. A 2024 study of more than half a million UK dogs found a median lifespan of 12.5 years.

Which dog breeds live the longest?

Small, long-nosed breeds tend to live longest. In the 2022 Royal Veterinary College study, Jack Russell Terriers had the longest life expectancy (12.7 years), followed by Yorkshire Terriers and Border Collies. A larger 2024 study found Lancashire Heelers, Tibetan Spaniels, and Miniature Dachshunds lived longest, at a median of 14 to 15 years.

Why do small dogs live longer than big dogs?

Large dogs seem to age faster. They grow very quickly as puppies, and age-related problems like cancer and joint disease tend to appear earlier. Scientists are still working out exactly why.

Do mixed-breed dogs live longer?

Often, yes, though it depends on the mix. In the 2022 study, mixed-breed dogs averaged 11.8 years, longer than many popular purebreds. A mix of two short-lived breeds will not necessarily live longer.

Do female dogs live longer than male dogs?

Slightly. Both large UK studies found females lived a few months longer than males on average.

What is the oldest a dog has ever lived?

Guinness World Records has no confirmed holder for the oldest dog ever right now. A Portuguese dog named Bobi was given the title in 2023, but Guinness withdrew it in 2024 after a review found it could not confirm his age. The previous record holder was Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog who lived to 29 years and 5 months and died in 1939.

Sources

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