Which dogs live the longest? Maybe these are huge Great Danes and Caucasian Shepherds? Or are tiny Chihuahuas more resilient? Read about this in the article.
The ways of a dog are inscrutable, and no one knows how much life is measured for each dog. But there are long-lived dogs - breeds with better health than other dogs.
Surprisingly, the longest-living dog breeds are Chihuahuas and other small dogs that live in handbags. Such a dog, if she is lucky, will live to be 17 years old. But powerful Caucasian Shepherds and other large dogs on average live much shorter than small ones, only 7-12 years. They have more stress on their joints and internal organs due to their dimensions being too large for a dog.
Causes and factors affecting the life expectancy of a dog
People become attached to their pets and look after them with great love and care so that the four-legged animals can spend a longer time with them. The life expectancy of an animal can be greatly influenced if you responsibly follow all the instructions of veterinarians:
- Nutrition. A balanced diet is a strong foundation for the health of every dog. When compiling it, the age of the animal, its weight, and activity are taken into account.
- Regular visits to the veterinarian. Some owners of four-legged animals neglect to examine the animal and vaccinate it. But in vain, because every day, when going for a walk, the dog runs the risk of contracting an infection, which can greatly affect its health and affect its life expectancy.
- Stress. Pets who are in dysfunctional families or are often left alone experience extreme stress, and adrenaline is released into the blood, which negatively affects the functioning of the entire body.
- Active lifestyle. The more a dog walks in the fresh air and moves intensively, the better its cardiovascular, nervous, digestive and other body systems work. This is important for maintaining a stable pet’s health at any age.
Dachshund
Dachshund Chanel entered the Guinness Book of Records as the oldest dog at that time. She left this world in 2011, at the age of 21. Dachshunds are very hardy, but due to their body structure, they can have back problems. It is necessary to monitor the dog’s weight, because obesity increases the likelihood of spinal diseases.
Inga Izmaylova, “Dachshunds in a boat”, 2022. Photo: artchive.ru
Top 10 long-lived dog breeds
Despite the average age of 13 years, representatives of the longest-living dog breeds delight their owners for much longer. They are distinguished by good genetics and stable health; they are often small domestic dogs.
Yorkshire Terrier
Their popularity today is off the charts. A tiny decorative dog originally from England is one of the luckiest: they live up to 20 years.
Interesting! The oldest Yorkie reached 25 and died in 2016, which by human standards is equivalent to 117 years.
Chihuahua
Another breed that holds the record for longevity, again a small dog. Chihuahuas delight their owners with an interesting neighborhood filled with bright colors for 15–20 years. They are very curious, intelligent, and subtly sense a person’s mood.
Pomeranian Spitz
This cute fluffy cloud pleases its owners not only with its excellent appearance, but also with an average life expectancy of 12–16 years. They are distinguished by their friendly attitude and obedient character, for which they are so loved all over the world. They are very loyal to their owners.
Dachshund
Representatives of this popular hunting breed are also long-lived dogs. Dachshunds have been recorded to live up to 15–17 years. They are valued for their curiosity, cheerful disposition and well-developed intelligence, while the dog is not at all picky about its maintenance. These animals also get along well with children.
toy poodle
Decorative dogs, impressive in their appearance, are distinguished by high intelligence, for which toy poodles became favorites of the aristocracy. With proper care they have an impressively beautiful appearance. They are friendly towards strangers, very timid, even unexpected sharp sounds frighten them. They live 12–15 years.
Lhasa apso (Lhasa apso)
An unusual dog with sad eyes and long hair will become a reliable friend, guard and companion for a person for 12–15 years.
Interesting! The original purpose of their display is to help Tibetan monks recognize strangers approaching the temple during services. The assistants signaled this by loud barking.
Maltese
The Maltese lapdog is among the longest living, with the same long life: up to 15 years. They were known in ancient times, and their homeland was the island of Malta in the Mediterranean Sea.
Beagle
This animal is called the best companion for children because of their docile, obedient nature. These dogs are very playful and active, perfect for families with children. Life companions, accomplices in any master's undertaking. Beagles live up to 15 years, are active all this time, and charge those around them with optimism and cheerfulness even in adulthood.
Pug
The breed originated in China, but now pugs live all over the planet and are one of the most popular breeds. Although they rarely go beyond the age of 15, the oldest dog, King Tug, has already lived to be 19 and feels quite happy, full of strength and energy. Even though they are lazy in life, the pet will not refuse to play with its owner, which is why they are so valued.
Pomeranian Spitz
Dogs of this breed live 15 years or more. There is a documented case where a Pomeranian Spitz reached the age of 21. Pomeranians are known for being friendly and loyal, but lack of proper training makes them arrogant and aggressive. This is a real guard dog, albeit a miniature one.
Pomeranian Spitz Photo: Depositphotos
Metis or mongrels
The mixed breeds have an average life expectancy of 14 years. While purebred dogs live on average 10 years. The difference may be that dogs bred to the same standards sometimes carry health problems at the genetic level. It is quite difficult to predict how long a mestizo will live. But if you choose a cross of breeds, then your pet will be the only one of its kind!
Have you already decided on your breed? Or still looking? Read about the top most popular dogs!
Saluki
The Saluki is perhaps the oldest breed, with records dating back to around 7000 BC. The name is associated with the Arab city of Saluk, the breed originated in Arab nomadic tribes, and was used mainly for hunting due to its exceptional speed and endurance. More often it belonged to the “ruling” class of society; in Islam it was considered a gift from Allah. At the beginning of the 15th century, it began to spread throughout the world; in the 1920s, the breed was recognized and became popular. Now the breed is popular only among hunters; it is very rarely found as a pet due to its highly developed hunting instincts.
Labrador Retriever
Labrador is the most popular dog breed in America. Fortunately, these dogs, despite their large size, are long-lived - from 10 to 12 years. Gambling Labradors love to have fun and spend time actively, and they will definitely not let you get bored. Like many large breeds, Labradors are prone to hip problems. So be careful about your dog's health as they grow older. Excessive weight will negatively affect the health of the animal - stick to the right diet and give enough exercise.
How to choose?
So how do you choose a healthy dog? Many pet health problems can be identified at the stage of choosing a puppy. A wise choice will save a lot of nerves, effort and money. So, if your goal is not to constantly visit the veterinarian, then you will have to work a little and not spontaneously and thoughtlessly take the first animal you come across. Instead you need:
- Do not take a puppy from your hands, from an unverified breeder or from a poultry market . In this case, the chances of finding out what breed your pet really is, and how the health of its parents were, are zero. The first step to a healthy pet is to buy it from a nursery or a good breeder. If the seller is nervous, refuses to show documents, offers to carry out the transaction quickly and is not interested in what conditions the dog will live in, there is no need to buy a puppy.
- Find out about the health of the puppy’s parents, what illnesses they had, what type of mating it was, and whether they are close relatives. Puppies from the first mating are rarely healthy, the same applies to an already elderly and exhausted bitch. Taking a pet from a mating between relatives is definitely a bad idea; it may develop a genetic disease.
- Meet the puppy's mother. It is clear that immediately after giving birth she will not look good, but an overly exhausted and nervous dog should be wary.
- Look at the puppy itself. A healthy puppy looks plump, its fur shines and smells of milk. He is trusting and active, and can often crawl up and start sniffing his future owner. You can gently stroke the baby. If he's not scared, everything's fine.
- Check the eyes, ears, nose - there should be no purulent or mucous discharge. You should not be disdainful and look under the tail - if there are areas stuck together from feces, a very unpleasant smell - then something is wrong. A healthy puppy's belly is pink, without rashes or scratching.
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Saint Bernard
This giant is quite peaceful. He is calm and always seems a little sad. The Saint Bernard is suitable for large families as it loves children. This breed loves long walks. But under no circumstances should you give her cardio exercises - this will negatively affect the dog’s health. Saint Bernards cannot tolerate summer heat, so they need a cool place in the house.
Saint Bernards, unfortunately, live 8-9 years. Due to the fact that during the first year of life they reach large sizes, the aging process starts too quickly. They need a lot of space, then they will be healthier and stronger. Another reason for short life expectancy is diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
