People often question how long dogs live, and the answer is: not as long as we’d want them to. Unfortunately, even the longest-living dog breeds take a trip to the stars within 10 to 13 years (the average lifespan of a dog) and never come back. However, some small dog breeds live longer than large dog breeds. They can survive for as many as 20-25 years if their lifestyle is good and happy. Of course, there are some exceptional cases with large dog breeds. We are talking in general terms. So, genetics make a huge difference when it comes to age.
Longest Living Dog Breeds
Today, we are taking a look at the best dog breeds with long lifespans. Without further ado, let’s dive in!
1. Yorkshire Terrier
Small dogs, big personalities. Yorkshire Terriers are a small dog breed that has a big personality squeezed inside. They are a favorite among families due to their friendly demeanor and cute personality. They are lively little creatures who are always curious about new things and expect a huge amount of attention from their owners. Yorkie Terriers are excellent watchdogs and are a fun pets for any dog owner. Unfortunately, they are prone to stomach issues which can hinder their healthy life span. Make sure you are feeding them a high-quality and healthy dog diet to prolong their life. On average, Yorkies can cheat death for about 16 to 20 years.
2. Whippet
The Whippet is a medium-sized dog breed. Originating in England, they are a sight-hound breed that is a family of Greyhounds. That’s why they still resemble greyhounds. Whippet is an intelligent, affectionate, and friendly dog breed. Their temperament is quiet, gentle, and lively. Some people believe Whippets are lazy, which is not true at all. Their adults are highly energetic. An adult whippet can run as fast as 56 km/hr. But if you fail to provide physical and mental stimulation, they become extremely lazy and develop behavioral changes. Whippets face relatively fewer health issues. That’s why they can live for as long as 12 to 15 years on average.
3. West Highland White Terrier
Commonly known as Westie, the west highland white terriers originated in Scotland. They have a very distinctive white harsh coating with a soft white undercoat. It’s a medium-sized white terrier, though it has slightly longer legs than other Scottish terrier breeds. It’s a lively dog for families with older children because Westie can snap when provoked. Their temperament is hardy, alert, courageous, and independent. They are very social with a high prey drive. Back in the day, people used Westies to prey on rodents. Westies can grow to be as tall as 11 inches and as heavy as 20 pounds. On average, their life expectancy is 13 to 15 years.
4. Toy Poodle
Highly intelligent, fun-loving, and cute, poodles are one of the best dog breeds for seniors and retirees. They are very smart and highly trainable. Toy poodles don’t shed much hair, making them perfect for people with allergy issues. They are excellent with kids as they need plenty of exercise and love being the center of attention. As they have a very low prey drive, they are ideal for homes with other pets like cats. Their most common health issue is related to tooth decay. Because of their small size, toy poodles live than many dog breeds. A healthy toy poodle can survive for about 20 years.
5. Shih Tzu
As the name suggests, this dog breed originated in China (Tibet, to be exact). According to the legends, Chinese royalty kept them as pets for a very long time. Their name means “Lion” in Mandarin. Shih Tzus are a very obedient, lively, and friendly dog breed, contrary to their name. They are very easy to live with and need little to no physical or mental exercise. However, they require regular grooming as their ludicrous locks can get messy. Diseases are not common in this dog breed, but they develop some vision issues as they grow older. Shih Tzus tend to live anywhere from 10 to 16 human years.
6. Shiba Inu
Shiba Inu is a hunter-dog breed with origins in Japan. It’s a small to medium dog breed (males can reach 43cm while females are a maximum of 41cm tall) and the smallest among the six distinct spitz dog breeds that are native to Japan. When socialized and trained at a young age, they turn out to be excellent family dogs. By temperament, Shina Inu is charming, fearless, confident, always on alert, and very faithful to their owners. They are very agile and cope extremely well with hiking trails and mountainous regions. A healthy Shina Inu lives for as long as 12 to 15 years.
7. Shetland Sheepdog
The Shetland sheepdog, most commonly known as the Sheltie, is a herding dog breed. This breed has its origins in the Shetland Islands of Scotland. It’s a very sensitive dog breed as Shelties crave companionship. If you leave them alone for a long period of time, they develop anxiety and other psychological/behavioral issues. By temperament, Shetland Sheepdogs are intelligent, affectionate, and playful. They are also lively and remain loyal to their owners. Highly trainable, Shelties are an excellent option for first-time owners. The average lifespan of a Shetland sheepdog is 12 to 13 years. Shelties need regular grooming as they shed hair extensively.
8. Russell Terrier
The Russel Terrier or Jack Russel Terrier is a small dog breed. It has its origins in the fox-hunting carnivals of England. Basically, white-bodied and smooth, they are rough and come in different colors on the basis of their genetics. Their temperament is stubborn, energetic, bold, fearless, athletic, and highly active. If trained well (yes they are highly trainable) they can prove to be an asset for any household. However, they can also be aggressive and more likely to attack humans they perceive as a threat. Russel Terriers have a life expectancy of 13 to 16 years, provided they get to live in favorable living conditions.
9. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a Spitz-type dog breed. As the name suggests, this dog breed originated in the Pomerania region of Central Europe and is now one of the most expensive dog breeds in the world. Pomeranians are so small that they are often classified as a toy dog breed. Because of their small size, they get intimidated by large animals and people, which leads to aggression, suspicion, and fear. Stress can cause these foxy-faced dogs to whine excessively. Their temperament is playful, active, highly sociable, and very extroverted. However, they are also prone to excessive barking. They live for about 12 to 16 years.
10. Papillon
The Papillon or the Continental Toy Spaniel is a spaniel-type dog breed. They are the oldest among the toy spaniels and have a very distinctive look thanks to the long fringed hair on their ears. Their temperament is happy, energetic, friendly, and alert at all times. That’s why they love sitting in their lap as much as running around the house or going outside for a walk. They are highly trainable and do not bark excessively. However, as puppies, they do show some signs of aggression like biting. They are also very fragile. You can severely injure a papillon by stepping on them. Papillons live for as long as 13 to 15 years.
11. New Guinea Singing Dog
The New Guinea Singing Dog also called the New Guinea Highland, is a medium-sized dog breed that originated on the island of New Guinea. They produce a signature harmonic sound which is often described as a wolf howl with whale song overtones. Hence the name – Singing Dog. Their appearance is fox-like with a wedge-shaped head. We don’t recommend they be taken in as house pets because they are very much like wild dogs. Sure, you can tame them with proper socialization. But they are still an aggressive dog breed. They live up to 15 years when in captivity and grow as tall as 12 to 20 inches.
12. Miniature Schnauzer
The Miniature schnauzer is a small dog schnauzer type breed. They originated in Germany in the late 19th century from their larger cousins, the Standard schnauzers. These dogs are stocky and robust little creatures that stand up to 14 inches in height. They are hypoallergenic, which means people who are allergic to pets can house them without any problem. Their temperament is obedient, well-spirited, intelligent, and friendly. They also have a guard dog history, making them ideal watchdogs for your home. Between their love for snuggles and playful nature, they make for excellent family pets. Miniature schnauzer lives for as long as 15 years.
13. Miniature Dachshund
The Miniature Dachshund is a small dog breed that originated in Germany. Since the 1500s, they are being used as helpers in hunting larger vermin. Known for their athleticism and tenacity, Miniature dachshunds have a unique personalities with short legs, narrow noses, deep chests, and long backs. They are clever, confident, and very hard-working species, whether the work is to chase a rabbit or just warm their owner’s lap. Because of their small size, they are excellent for apartment living. Just make sure they are getting enough mental stimulation and exercise. A daily walk routine can also keep them healthy and happy. These athletic low-riders grow to become 6 inches tall and live for as long as 16 years.
14. Maltese
The Maltese is a spitz-type dog breed often included in the toy group. Its name comes from the Mediterranean Island of Malta. Maltese dogs have silky pure white fur, hanging ears, and a curly tail. Their nature is easygoing, gentle, affectionate, playful, and highly responsive. However, they crave attention. If left unattended for a while, they start excessive barking. While it’s almost impossible to eliminate this habit of the Maltese dog breed, you can control it to some extent by proper training as they are very easy to train. Their noise is also a sort of defense mechanism, given their small size. They weigh up to 3.6Kgs and have a lifespan of up to 15 years.
15. Lhasa Apso
The Lhasa Apso is a non-sporting small dog breed. They originated in Tibet, China, where they were traditionally utilized as an interior sentinel. As they have a very long and dense coat, they require regular maintenance and grooming. Their temperament and nature are very playful, devoted, obedient, well-spirited, alert, and assertive. They can also be manipulative, obstinate, and bossy. Because of their independent watchdog nature, they are good for families without children. They are also a high-maintenance dog breed, as their luxurious coats can often get tangled. Therefore, they require daily brushing and regular biweekly baths. The Lhasa Apso lifespan is 12 to 14 years.
16. Labrador Retriever
The Labrador retriever often called Labrador or just Lab is a retriever-gun dog breed. It originated in the UK and is currently the most popular dog breed in the USA. Labs are high-spirited, loyal, outgoing, and friendly companions who do well with sole owners as well as as part of a family. They are particularly fond of playing in the water. However, don’t leave them alone for more than 8 hours because they are prone to separation anxiety and loneliness. Labradors are prone to genetic problems such as OCD which is painful for the dog as well as the owner. They have an average lifespan of 11 to 13 years.
17. Irish Setter 
The Irish setter is a breed of gundog and family dog, known for its grace, pace, and flashy red coat. The term “Irish Setter” usually refers to both show-bred dogs and field-bred red setters. They tend to be very friendly and excellent family dogs but can be too big for small children. Their temperament is shy, affectionate, companionable, energetic, independent, and lively. They are also a high-maintenance breed as their silky coats get tangled easily. They are moderate shedders, which means you will have some hair in your home, especially during the shedding season. Irish setters can live up to 15 years.
18. Golden Retriever 
The Golden retriever is a medium to large size breed of gun dog. It was initially bred to retrieve the shot water fowls like ducks and other water animals. Hence, they came to be known as the retriever, because of which their soft mouth, they can bring back the shot birds without any further damage. It’s an even-tempered, highly intelligent, and affectionate dog breed. That’s why they tend to get along really well with children, other pets, and even strangers. Calmness is their hallmark. However, they are prone to several health issues such as cancer, hip and elbow dysplasia, epilepsy, heart diseases, cataracts, etc. Due to this, they live only up to 12 years.
19. English Springer Spaniel
The English springer is also a gundog breed. They are from the family of Spaniels traditionally used for the flush and retrieving games. They are a pretty affectionate, active, alert, intelligent, and easily excitable dog breed with a standard lifespan of 12 to 14 years. These qualities make them an excellent family dogs, watchdog as well as a hunting dogs simultaneously. They love cuddles, often called “the master of cuddles.” But they are also prone to potential health problems such as hip injuries, eye problems, and metabolic problems. They also shed moderately throughout the year. Therefore, require maintenance to keep looking their best.
20. English Setter
The English setter is a medium-sized dog breed, which is part of the setter group. They primarily have a white body and a medium-length coat with silky long fringes on the back of the legs, tail, and under the belly. Their temperament is affectionate, playful, intelligent, intelligent, and sometimes mischievous. They are moderate shedders. Therefore regular maintenance will keep any loose hair from ruining your home. Yes, you can use them as house dogs. Because of their mellow nature, they tend to get along nicely with small children. However, they will bark when they see a stranger approaching. Their lifespan is 12 to 14 years.
21. English Cocker Spaniel
The English cocker spaniel is a medium-sized gundog breed that produces the most varied number of pups in a litter. They have long ears and a very happy disposition. They are joyous, playful, faithful, and highly trainable. However, they can be a little mouthy at times, leading to biting and nipping, especially when feeling stressed. They crave attention, love, and affection from their owners. And when left unattended, they can also get jealous, and bored, and start crying for your attention. Due to this some people also refer to them as the “world’s meanest dog breed.” The English cocker spaniels have a lifespan of 12 to 15 years.
22. Dachshund
We talked about the miniature Dachshund earlier, now let’s talk a little about the Dachshund. They are also called the sausage dog, Weiner dog, and badger dog affectionately. Created by the German breeders to hunt badgers, it’s a long-bodied, short-legged, and hound breed of dogs. Because of their loyalty, they turn into good watchdogs. However, they can be a little difficult to train. Once trained, they play well with children. Temperament-wise, they’re not a low-maintenance dogs. They demand attention and time from their owners. They can also be aggressive, and they tend to bark a lot. Dachshunds can live up to 16 years, though.
23. Cockapoo
A Cockapoo is a cross of a Cocker Spaniel and a Miniature Poodle, hence the name Cockapoo. It’s an intelligent, friendly, and hyperactive breed of dog that comes in all color combinations. Because of their friendly nature, they make excellent family pets. As they are hyperactive, they thrive in a family home environment where they can get plenty of attention, training, and socialization with other pets and humans. However, they have a few genetic problems, such as hip dysplasia, glaucoma, and PRA (loss of eyesight). Their average life span is 12 to 15 years, and they can get as healthy as 24 pounds.
24. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is a very rare hairless toy dog breed. They tend to be as small as 11 to 13 inches. Sure, it’s a very exotic-looking dog, but no, they don’t actually come from China. Like all hairless dog breeds, they come in two varieties, i.e., with and without hair. Both of these varieties are born in the same litter. Therefore, their hairless variety is excellent for homes where residents have some kind of allergy. By temperament, Chinese Crested is playful, lively, and happy. Originally, they were bred as ratters, but these days they are bred for companionship. A healthy Chinese Crested can live for 16 years.
25. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is one of the smallest dog breeds. So small that a healthy adult Chihuahua is only 10 inches in height. The breed is named after the Mexican state of Chihuahua from where it originally belonged. They are a very well-balanced and graceful species of dogs with a terrier-like demeanor. By temperament, they are alert, aggressive, courageous, lively, and quick. While they can be good family dogs, they have the tendency to snap at strangers or children who might be perceived as a threat.
26. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
The Cavalier King Charles Spaniel is a small Spaniel dog breed. It belongs to the Kennel Club toy group and is one of the most popular pure-breed dogs in the United States. It’s a very sweet, gentle, and affectionate dog breed, always ready to please its owner. They go well with strangers, other pets, and each other, making for a great family pet. A cavalier king Charles spaniel lives for 9 to 14 years and grows to as tall as 13 inches. Such a big difference in age is because they suffer from a number of health issues, notably heart diseases.
27. Cardigan Welsh Corgi
The Cardigan Welsh corgi refers to two dog breeds. First is the Welsh Corgis, with origins in Wales. The other is the Pembroke Welsh Corgi. Both are known to be extremely loyal to their owners. Their temperament is highly devoted, companionable, alert, and active. They like to do something all the time. Therefore, they do well with children and other pets. In fact, they are notoriously cuddly. But they also tend to herd others. The Cardigan Welsh corgi is a high-shedding breed. Their dense undercoat and out coat require regular grooming. Their lifespan stretches from 12 to 15 years.
28. Border Collie
The Border Collies are working, herding dogs. That’s because they have an origin in the anglo-Scottish border region, where they were utilized for herding livestock. They are highly intelligent, acrobatic, energetic, responsive, and athletic dog breeds. They are people-oriented and do well with human beings. However, some of them don’t play well with cats and other dogs. They are also very work-oriented., easy to train, and good for off-leash work. However, Without mental and physical stimulation, they have the tendency to become hyperactive and can drive you up the wall with their destructive behavior. Their lifespan ranges from 10 to 17 years.
29. Bichon Frise
The Bichon fries are a breed of Bichon-type white dogs that grow as tall as 11 inches. They are one of the most expensive dog breeds today. Bichons need companionship more than any other dog breed and are left unattended for more than a few hours. To get the owner’s attention, they start barking. They are a little hypoallergenic as they shed some hair. They are also very high maintenance when it comes to grooming. You have to groom them at least twice a week to keep their coating in tip-top condition. Otherwise, their skin develops knots that are very difficult to remove. Their lifespan is 12 to 15 years.
30. Bearded Collie
The Bearded Collie, affectionately called Beardie, is a herding dog breed. This boisterous and charismatic dog breed has its origin in Scotland, where shepherds utilized their skills to keep the sheep in line. They have an average weight of 18 to 27 kgs, and males grow to be as tall as 56 centimeters. Beardies live for 15 years on average. Their temperament is confident, active, alert, and hardy. Because of their high obedience, Beardies are well-suited for dog sports. They have a high energy level and require at least 1 hour of exercise every day to stay happy. They also require high maintenance to keep their splendid long fur in good condition.
31. Beagle
The Beagle is a small scent hound breed and was developed initially for hunting hares. They resemble larger foxhounds in appearance as well as some traits. For instance, they can sometimes be very stubborn and require patience to train. As for temperament, they are very amiable, determined, intelligent, gentle, and excitable. That’s why they can become good family pets. Moreover, they have an excellent sense of smell and love to follow interesting scents. Their main problem is noise. They are louder and bark more often than other dog breeds. If you live in a close community, this can get very annoying and lead to neighbor complaints. A healthy beagle can live for 15 years.
32. Australian Shepherd
The Australian Shepherd is the choicest dog breed for most cowboys because of its herding skills. It’s a medium-sized dog breed that has its origins in the planes of California. These dogs have a very keen, penetrating gaze and can sense danger from afar. Their temperament is protective, intelligent, and highly affectionate. However, they require a firm and confident owner. If you have never had a dog before, then Australian Shepherd is not a good choice. They are average shedders and require weekly maintenance to prevent matting. Australian Shepherds can weigh as much as 25 Kg and live up to 15 years.
33. Afghan Hounds
The Afghan Hounds comes from a family of hounds and is distinguishable due to its thick, silky coat and tail with a ring curl at its end. As you can tell by the name, Afghan Hounds come from the cold mountains of Afghanistan, where they are known as Sage Tazi or Tazi Spay. They are aloof and dignified aristocrats of sublime beauty and can run as fast as 40 miles an hour. Despite their regal appearance, they often exhibit an endearing streak of silliness and are extremely loyal to the owner. Because they smell a pleasant musky odor, they are often called scented hounds. Afghan hounds can live for 14 years max.
Final Thoughts
While the average lifespan of a dog is somewhere between 10 to 13 years, some live longer. After going through these 33 longest-living dog breeds, we hope you now have a much better idea of which dog breed to go for in case you are looking for a long-term companion. Nevertheless, consider that size and breed aren’t the only factors that determine how long a dog will live. There are many other factors as well, which you can control and prolong your friend’s lifespan. Simply put, as long as you keep their care, and maintain them well with healthy food and care, your dog has a much higher chance of living a longer life, despite its size or breed. Thank you for reading till the end. Have a great day!
