Our pets have important places in our lives. Many owners feel their pets are their best friends and part of their families. While a dog’s life expectancy heavily depends on its health, some dog breeds are known to have longer lifespans than others. Breeds with longer life expectancies are great for families with children as they grow up alongside your kids. To ensure your dog lives a long time, stay on top of annual vet visits and only buy from reputable breeders that do health screenings. Keep reading to learn more about which dog breeds live the longest.
Chihuahua
Average Lifespan: 15-20 years
The Chihuahua is a small but mighty breed, standing around 9 to 10 inches tall and weighing anywhere between 4 to 10 pounds. These dogs have a long life expectancy of 15 to 20 years, remaining steadfast and loyal to their favorite people the entire time. Chihuahuas can have short or long coats; however, no matter the coat length this breed sheds moderately all year long. Chihuahuas tend to be very healthy dogs. That being said, owners should be aware that genetic conditions like heart problems, eye diseases, and patellar luxation are still possible. Potential health issues can be caught early or ruled out with genetic health screenings. This breed only needs around 30 minutes of exercise a day which, combined with its small size, makes the Chihuahua perfect for apartment living.
Papillon
Average Lifespan: 14-16 years
Friendly and full of love, Papillons are wonderful family dogs with an average life span of 14 to 16 years. These dogs are small, weighing between 5 to 10 pounds and standing around 8 to 11 inches tall. The Papillon has feathered ears and a coat that is silky, long, and straight. This breed is not considered hypoallergenic, but its shedding level is low.
Papillons generally don’t have many health issues, but like most dog breeds, may inherit patellar luxation. This health issue can be avoided by buying from a responsible dog breeder. Responsible breeders routinely screen their dogs and puppies to ensure their litters are healthy. Intelligent, obedient, and well-behaved, the Papillon is known to be easy to train and excels in competitions. This breed has a medium energy level and needs around 30 to 45 minutes of exercise every day.
Bichon Frise
Average Lifespan: 14-15 years
The Bichon Frise is a popular breed that has been in the United States since the 1950s. These small dogs weigh between 12 to 18 pounds and are around 9 to 12 inches tall. This breed has a white, velvety coat that sheds very little. As a result, these dogs are considered hypoallergenic and perfect for people with allergies. That being said, the Bichon Frise needs a solid grooming routine to keep its coat healthy and knot-free. While these dogs tend to live around 14 to 15 years, they can be susceptible to diabetes mellitus and eye disorders.
Beloved by families worldwide, the Bichon Frise gets along well with people, children, and other dogs. This breed is also a great match for elderly owners as it enjoys constant companionship, has a gentle personality, and is easy to train. These dogs have medium energy levels and may occasionally experience bursts of hyperactivity; however, they remain easygoing and aim to please. Whether being a lap dog at home or going for daily walks, the Bichon Frise is happy just to spend time with its family.
Jack Russell Terrier
Average Lifespan: 13-16 years
The Jack Russell Terrier is a small dog that weighs between 13 to 17 pounds and measures around 12 to 15 inches tall. Despite being small, the Jack Russell Terrier is an athletic and bold breed. Jack Russell Terriers usually have long lives with a life expectancy of 13 to 16 years. This breed doesn’t have many health problems but is at risk of becoming obese and developing obesity-related illnesses, as well as joint problems.
This breed has a short coat that sheds moderately throughout the year. Because they are moderate shedders, the Jack Russell Terrier isn’t a great fit for households with allergies. Jack Russell Terriers have a lot of energy and fit best in active families, needing at least 1 hour of exercise every day. These dogs love running, so playing with your Jack Russell off-leash in a fenced-in area will help meet its daily exercise requirements.
Australian Cattle Dog
Average Lifespan: 12-16 years
Standing around 17 to 20 inches tall and weighing between 35 to 50 pounds, the Australian Cattle Dog is a high-energy herding breed. This breed does best with active owners and task-related exercises. Intelligent and devoted, Australian Cattle Dogs will stick by their owners’ sides their entire lives, which is generally around 12 to 16 years. While this breed usually lives a long time, they can have trouble with their hearing, hips, and eyes.
Australian Cattle Dogs have short coats that are thick and smooth. While their coats are short, they are still moderate shedders year-round and aren’t ideal for people with allergies. Because this breed is high-energy, it will need regular mental and physical exercise to stay content. Australian Cattle Dogs need at least an hour of exercise every day and enjoy joining their owners for hikes, runs, and other outdoor adventures.
Australian Shepherd
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
The Australian Shepherd is a medium-sized dog that stands around 18 to 23 inches tall and weighs between 40 to 65 pounds. Australian Shepherds are athletic, robust dogs that live around 12 to 15 years. However, they can deal with health conditions like epilepsy, nasal dermatitis, and hip dysplasia. This breed has a thick and wavy coat that sheds moderately. Twice a year, in the spring and fall, this breed loses its undercoat through heavy shedding.
This herding breed is popular among active dog lovers and families. While these dogs may try to herd small kids and animals, they are known to do well with children and other pets. Australian Shepherds have lots of energy they need to burn every day. These high-energy dogs enjoy running around in fenced-in areas like backyards and dog parks. Likewise, Australian Shepherds love spending time outdoors with their owners, no matter the activity. These versatile dogs are great companions for people who enjoy backpacking, hiking, jogging, camping, or biking.
Lhasa Apso
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
The Lhasa Apso is a healthy breed with a life expectancy of 12 to 15 years. This is a small breed that weighs between 12 to 18 pounds and measures around 10 to 11 inches tall. While these dogs are usually free from significant health problems, they can be susceptible to canine allergies, eye problems, and joint issues. This breed has a long coat that sheds lightly and is considered to be hypoallergenic.
The Lhasa Apso is an independent and protective dog that was previously used as a watchdog for monasteries. While this breed is distrustful of strangers, it is playful, devoted, and loving toward its family. These dogs have medium energy levels and need around 30 minutes of exercise every day. Taking walks, running around a fenced-in area, and playing games are great ways to help this breed burn off energy.
Pomeranian
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
Weighing between 4 to 8 pounds and standing at 9 to 11 inches, the ever-popular Pomeranian is a tiny dog with tons of personality. Pomeranians have an expected lifespan of 12 to 15 years but may experience eye conditions, dental disease, patellar luxation, hypoglycemia, or tracheal collapse. Annual vet checkups will help your Pomeranian stay in good health its whole life. Pomeranians have fluffy, thick coats that are long, straight, and soft. However, their coats shed moderately and are not hypoallergenic.
These toy-breed dogs are lively, outgoing, and playful while still being lapdogs. Daily physical and mental stimulation is important to keep Pomeranians from becoming bored. The Pomeranian has a medium energy level and needs around 30 minutes to 1 hour of exercise every day. Because the Pomeranian is a tiny breed with moderate energy, it’s a great fit for apartment living.
Shiba Inu
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
Rising in popularity in the United States, the Shiba Inu has been a beloved breed in Japan for thousands of years. Shiba Inus are small to medium-sized dogs that stand around 13 to 17 inches tall and weigh between 15 to 25 pounds. This breed is generally very healthy with a lifespan of 12 to 15 years. Many Shiba Inus have trouble with allergies, but similar to humans, symptoms are easy to treat. These dogs have medium-length waterproof coats that are coarse and shed moderately, meaning they aren’t hypoallergenic.
The Shiba Inu is a loving, loyal, and independent dog. This breed has medium energy levels that require around 40 minutes to 1 hour of exercise per day. A few great ways to exercise your Shiba Inu include long walks, hiking, free roaming in a fenced-in space, and jogging. Additionally, the Shiba Inu is versatile in where it can live. As long as this breed has enough physical and mental exercise, it can live anywhere from a large rural home to a small apartment in the city.
Yorkshire Terrier
Average Lifespan: 12-15 years
Part of the toy dog group, the Yorkshire Terrier stays tiny its entire life. These dogs only weigh between 3 to 8 pounds and stand around 8 to 9 inches tall. Their silky and fine coats are hypoallergenic and barely shed, making them wonderful fits for owners with allergies. These small dogs live around 12 to 15 years; however, they can be susceptible to patella luxation, bladder stones, dental disease, tracheal collapse, and hypoglycemia. Buying a Yorkie from a reputable breeder and having regular vet check-ups can help catch and prevent health problems.
While they are small dogs, Yorkshire Terriers are bold and full of energy. These dogs thrive on attention and don’t like being left alone for a long time. Yorkies need around 30 minutes to 1 hour of mental and physical exercise a day to prevent boredom. Daily exercise for this small breed should be divided into short walks and play periods. Training sessions are another great way to keep your Yorkie occupied and content as they naturally excel at dog competitions.
Toy Poodle
Average Lifespan: 10-18 years
Measuring up to 10 inches tall and weighing between 4 to 6 pounds, the Toy Poodle is the smallest type of Poodle. Toy Poodles are relatively healthy and have a lifespan of 10 to 18 years. That being said, these dogs can potentially inherit eye conditions and joint problems if health screenings are not done by breeders. The Toy Poodle has a curly, dense coat that is hypoallergenic and hardly sheds. This means the Toy Poodle is an ideal breed for people with allergies.
Like their larger counterparts, the Toy Poodle is extremely smart and easy to train. However, Toy Poodles love spending time with their families and do not adjust well to being left alone. While the Toy Poodle is tiny, it is full of energy and needs at least 30 minutes of exercise each day. Daily exercise for a Toy Poodle can take the form of agility training, walks, and playing fetch. Because they are small and don’t need a lot of space to run around, Toy Poodles fit perfectly in apartments and small homes.
Are you looking for a dog that will grow with you and your family? Browse available puppies near you to find the perfect addition to your home.