Anyone who is or has been a tutor knows what it means to want your dog to accompany us for life. Therefore it is normal, when one thinks of adopting a dog, to ask oneself which are the longest-lived dog breeds and which are the least prone to suffering from diseases.
If you are considering adding a new member to the family, you might be interested in our article on the longest-lived dogs. On HealthyAllTips we offer you a list of the 10 dogs with the longest life expectancy.
Life Expectancy and Longevity of Dogs
In general, the life expectancy of a dog is between 8 and 20 years, considering that small dogs tend to live longer. However, to know how many years a dog can live , we need to calculate many other factors that can influence the dog’s life. Among the main ones we find:
- Race
- Genetic Inheritance
- Preventive Medical Care
- Diet
- Environmental Factors
- Sterilization
- Gender/sex
- Physical Activity
- Mental Stimulation
- Dental Care
As we can see, therefore, the longevity of a dog is not given only by the breed and its genes, but also largely depends on the care that the tutors offer it . A dog that lives in a positive environment, receives a complete and balanced diet, does constant physical activity, has a well-stimulated mind, is offered medical care and check-ups and the affection of his family, has a longer life expectancy longer than a dog living in unfavorable conditions.
This must make us responsible as tutors since a large part of the dog’s health depends on us and on how we treat it.
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Longest Lived Dogs: Top 10
Now that we know what are the factors that influence a dog’s longevity, we are going to find out which are the 10 dog breeds with the greatest life expectancy , and we will see their characteristics. With the right attention and a positive environment, the dogs on this list can live to be at least 12-13 years old and some can even live to be 18 years old. Let’s see what they are.
10. Lagotto Romagnolo
Let’s start our list of long-lived dogs with the Lagotto Romagnolo, which, as the name indicates, is a breed of Italian origin and precisely from Emilia Romagna. This medium-sized dog with a thick, woolly coat was historically bred as an aquatic animal retriever. Subsequently he began to be employed as a truffle dog, which is the job he does today.
In addition to its beauty and great learning ability, one of the qualities of the Lagotto Romagnolo is its longevity, given that specimens can live on average between 14 and 17 years. They are strong and very resistant dogs, which if they are treated and live in a healthy environment, hardly suffer from illnesses and show great liveliness and enthusiasm in daily life. One of their few weaknesses is hip dysplasia .
9. Boykin Spaniel
The Boykin Spaniel is a beautiful and little-known representative of the spaniel family. This dog breed of US origin developed in the 20th century in South Carolina, and is still considered the typical dog of this state today. He was originally trained to help hunt ducks, turkeys and other aquatic animals that abound in the Wataree River Basin. They are excellent swimmers.
Thanks to its adaptability, energetic disposition and good health, the Boykin Spaniel has also become popular as a companion dog, and can be an excellent life partner for people of all ages. One of the Boykin’s advantages is that it has an estimated life expectancy of between 114 and 16 years , and will therefore be able to accompany its guardian for most of its life.
8. Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russel Terrier is a courageous dog with a strong personality, despite its small size, and it hardly goes unnoticed. Curiously its origins are shared between the United Kingdom, which is where the Reverend John Russell created the breed, and Australia, which is where the dog has most developed and become popular.
In addition to its temperament, audacity and hyperactivity, this breed is characterized by its longevity, being one of the dogs with the greatest life expectancy. Small and intrepid, these small dogs can live up to 16 years under favorable conditions. The most common diseases to which they are subject are:
- Terrier Ataxia and Myelopathy
- Patellar Luxation
- Luxation of the Lens
- Hearing Loss
7. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is the smallest representative of the Spitz family and is also one of the longest-lived dogs in existence. Their life expectancy is between 12 and 15 years, but Pomeranians can live even longer if their caregivers are attentive and provide them with comprehensive nutrition and care and adequate physical and mental stimulation.
It should be emphasized that these animals are very sensitive to cold and can suffer sudden changes in climatic conditions. In order to live for a long time, they must be protected from low temperatures and they must receive preventive care to combat the classic ailments of this breed such as:
- Eye Problems
- Canine Hydrocephalus
- Patellar Luxation
- Duct of Botallo
- Nasosinus Polyposis
- Entropion (Eyelid Problem)
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6. Toy Poodle
The Toy Poodle , also known as the Toy Poodle or mini, is one of the longest-lived dogs and is also one of the most popular miniature breeds in the world. They live about fifteen years, but many specimens can even reach 17 or 18 years when they are well cared for and fed and count on the affection of the family.
These furry little dogs have little genetic predisposition to most diseases affecting dogs and are on average in excellent health. However their Achilles heels can be:
- Patellar Luxation
- Deafness
- Diabetes
- Eye Problems, Glaucoma
- Epilepsy
5. Dachshund or Teckel
The Dachshund, or Teckel, is known in Italy as the Bassotto , and is one of the most popular German dog breeds in the world. These intrepid, playful and easy-barking little dogs can live between 13 and 17 years, provided they receive the necessary attention and preventive medical care.
Despite their longevity and excellent health they can suffer from spinal problems and disc damage quite frequently due to their physical conformation. Other common diseases in Teckel are:
- Patellar Luxation
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Hypothyroidism
- Progressive Retinal Atrophy
4. Rat Terrier
The Rat Terrier is a dog of American origin (no link), which is among the longest-lived breeds. It is not a breed recognized by the FCI, while it is by the American Kennel Club. It was originally trained as a hunting dog on farms in the United States, mainly to find and hunt rodents, avoiding damage in agricultural production and the proliferation of some diseases of mice that are also transmitted to humans and other animals.
Despite its small size, the rat terrier is a muscular and energetic dog that requires a lot of physical activity in order to maintain a balanced demeanor. His health is excellent and stands out for his longevity, thanks also to a low predisposition for hereditary diseases . Its life expectancy is usually between 15 and 16 years, but it can even go up to 18 with the appropriate attention and care.
3. Border Collie
The Border Collie is considered the smartest dog in the world and enjoys excellent health and enviable physical endurance. Their life expectancy is between 14 and 17 years, even if they have a certain predisposition to develop hip dysplasia, epilepsy or eye problems.
This dog breed is truly special and demonstrates incredible versatility, being able to easily be trained at a basic to advanced level, excelling in canine sports and as a therapy dog. However, its education requires dedication, perseverance and a certain experience in dog education on the part of the tutor, so the border collie is not a dog recommended for beginner tutors.
2. Shiba Inus
The Shiba Inu occupies a privileged position in our ranking of long-lived dogs, even if its life expectancy raises some controversy among specialists. According to some experts the life expectancy of the Shiba is around fifteen years, but others argue that the Shiba Inu can easily reach 18 years or even more , of course provided that they receive the proper care and attention they need for a healthy and happy life. .
Furthermore, this dog breed has little predisposition to develop both degenerative and hereditary diseases, a characteristic that also makes it one of the healthiest dog breeds. So far the only two conditions that he sometimes tends to develop are hip dysplasia and hypothyroidism.
1. Chihuahua
In addition to being the smallest dog in the world, the cute and lively Chihuahua is also the longest-lived dog breed. Its life expectancy is approximately between 15 and 18 years, but some specimens can live up to 20 years with their tutors. However, it should be noted that they are very delicate dogs , especially in the cold and sudden changes in temperature and climate, so they adapt better to temperate to warm climates. Conversely, the use of dog clothing is recommended during the winter and on cold or windy days.
The Chihuahua also usually suffers from some specific pathologies that must be prevented or treated in order not to damage his health. Typical Chihuahua diseases are:
- Cleft Lip (Cleft Palate)
- Epilepsy
- Glaucoma
- Dislocations
- Hydrocephalus
- Disc Herniation
- Hemophilia A
- Heart Problems
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Do Crossbreeds Live Longer Than Purebred Dogs?
Even today it is common to hear that mixed dogs live longer and healthier than purebred dogs. These dogs have not been subjected to the intense selective crossings that have allowed the standardization of dog breeds, therefore they possess a high genetic diversity and low inbreeding. For this reason, they are less prone to developing hereditary and degenerative diseases that affect most dog breeds.
Therefore, they can get sick less frequently and live longer, obviously only if we take very good care of them.
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