Early death in dogs less than two years of age is most often associated with trauma, congenital diseases, or infectious causes, according to the AVMA, but trauma, cancer, and infectious disease can occur at any time in a dog’s life.Ĭancer is the leading cause of death in large dog breeds across the board. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In an ideal world, all dogs would live out their expected lifespans happily and healthily. These tests can help detect potentially harmful diseases early on in your dog’s life. When selecting a puppy, make sure you choose a responsible breeder who fulfills the health test requirements for their breed. In order to give your dog the best and longest life possible it is important to be aware of any health issues your dog’s breed may be more likely to develop.

Unfortunately, some dogs are predisposed to certain illnesses, just like humans. In addition to size, genetics often play a role in determining a dog’s longevity. In general, giant breeds tend to live an average of 8 to 10 years, whereas large dog breeds live 10 to 12 years.

This includes large breed dogs such as German Shepherds, Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Rottweilers, and Doberman Pinschers, as well as giant breeds such as Great Danes, St. The average lifespan for large dog breeds is 8 to 12 years. How Long Do Large and Giant Dog Breeds Live? As with small dogs, exact age ranges for medium-sized dog breeds are hard to determine, but there are general lifespan guidelines for each breed. The average lifespan for medium-sized dog breeds is 10 to 13 years, with some breeds living even longer. Medium-sized dog breeds range from smaller companion breeds such as French Bulldogs, to larger, active working breeds such as Border Collies and Australian Shepherd s.

Smooth and Wire Fox Terrier (13-15 years).

While variability among breeders and statistical evidence makes it difficult to determine an exact age range for any breed of dog, here are the average lifespans of the longest-lived small dog breeds and the shortest-lived breeds. This makes them a good choice for owners who want a long-lived companion. In general, small dogs live longer than their larger counterparts, with the shortest living breeds still exceeding the average lifespan of most large breeds. The average lifespan for small dog breeds ranges from 10 to 15 years, with some breeds living as long as 18 years. Regardless of the reasons behind why some dogs live longer than others, there are similar characteristics among small, medium, and large dog breeds that help determine the longevity of each group. This could be because the larger breeds grow from puppies to adults at an accelerated rate, which may increase the likelihood of abnormal cell growth and death from cancer. Scientists are not entirely sure why this occurs, although there is speculation that larger dogs develop age-related diseases sooner than smaller dogs. Small dogs live significantly longer than their larger counterparts, in many cases up to several years longer. Elephants and whales are some of the largest and longest-lived mammals, with some whale species living more than 100 years. In the rest of the animal kingdom, size seems to positively correlate with longevity. Scientists have long been baffled about why small dog breeds tend to live longer than large dog breeds. These factors can help answer the questions on most dog owner’s minds: How long do dogs live? And how can I help my dog live longer? Do Small Dog Breeds Live Longer than Large Dog Breeds?

There are several factors that determine the longevity of dogs, including size, breed, and the general health of the animal.

While we may wish our dogs could live forever, knowing how long dogs live helps prepare us for their needs as seniors, ensuring that we give them the best possible care throughout their lives so that we get to spend as much time with them as possible. This is a basic fact of dog ownership and one that many owners struggle with when the time comes to say goodbye. Humans have much longer lifespans than dogs.

Boxer lifespan average