14 Longest Living Dog Breeds That Will Be Your Companions For Years
These pups will be by your side for a long time.
We all want our pets to live forever, which is why it's a good idea to look into getting a dog breed with a long lifespan. That way, you're setting yourself up for success from the start. Of course, the health of the individual dog plays a role in its longevity, but there are certain dog breeds that just live longer than others. One broad way to know how long your dog will live is to consider its size. In general, small dogs often live longer than big dogs.
According to a 2013 study by Banfield Pet Hospital, dogs under 20 pounds lived an average of 11.3 years compared to dogs in the 90 pound range that only lived eight years. It's not just breed size that matters here either. If you have a small dog that's overweight, its lifespan could be drastically shortened. The American Kennel Club (AKC) reported that for every 4.4 pounds of a dog's body mass, its life expectancy decreased by a month.
Interestingly, the Institute of Canine Biology also reported that purebred dogs may not live as long as mixed breed dogs due to the higher likelihood of genetic disorders. But there are still plenty of purebred dogs who live well into their teen years (which is into the 100s in human years). Here are the dog breeds with the longest life expectancies.
Chihuahua
If small dogs live longer, then it makes sense that one of the smallest breeds also lives the longest. Vet Street, a site that educates pet owners about how to care for their pets, says that these six-pound pups can live to be up to 20 years old.
Mexican Hairless Dog
According to Dog Time, this dog is also known as the Xoloitzcuintli and can live for up to 20 years. It might take you that long just to learn how to pronounce the breed's name.
Papillon
Vet Street reports that these butterfly-eared dogs can live for up to 17 years. At that point, when you get a papillon, you're basically signing up for a child.
Australian Cattle Dog
The current Guinness World Record for oldest dog belongs to an Australian Cattle Dog who lived for 29 years. According to the AKC, most Australian Cattle Dogs live 12 to 16 years.
Pomeranian
Vet Street reports that these pooches live for "15 years or longer," which means these puffballs will stay in your life for a long time.
Toy Poodle
These dogs can live to be 18 years old, according to Vet Street. The AKC reported that even the larger standard poodle has a similar life expectancy.
Rat Terrier
Most terriers are quite small, so it makes sense that they have long lifetimes. According to Dog Time, rat terriers can live to be 18 years old.
Manchester Terrier
According to the AKC, these hunting dogs can live to be 15 to 17 years old. The American Manchester Terrier Club says that this breed is one of the oldest known terriers.
Beagle
Most beagles live to be 13 to 16 years old, but a 28-year-old beagle named Butch surpassed that expectation by quite a lot in 2003, according to the International Business Times.
Shih Tzu
This royal breed started out in China, and was a closely guarded secret, according to the AKC. The world didn't know of the breed until the 1930s. Once the Shih Tzu was discovered by a wider audience, people fell in love with the breed. Good thing the AKC says that these pups can live to be 18 years old.
Pyrenean Shepherd
These Spanish and French herding dogs aren't extremely common in mainstream America, but they would make for a long-lasting pet. Dog Time reports that they live 15 to 17 years.
Bichon Frise
According to Vet Street, these fluffy dogs can live 15 or more years, which makes them good longtime companions.
Standard Schnauzer
Compared to the miniature schnauzer, which lives only 12 to 15 years, the standard schnauzer can live 13 to 16 years, per the AKC. It's one of those rare cases where the bigger dog can actually live longer.
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