The dog breed with the highest likelihood of longevity has been revealed, indicating that the lifespan could extend to 15.4 years.
The study, conducted in the UK, reveals that smaller breeds with longer noses generally enjoy longer lifespans, whereas larger breeds with flatter noses tend to have shorter life expectancies.
The findings published in Scientific Reports this week provide a more detailed understanding of the typical lifespan of dogs, varying according to factors such as breed, gender, size and facial structure.
According to the study, dogs typically live between 10 to 13.7 years on average. However, similar to humans, canine lifespans vary significantly depending on various factors such as genetics, lifestyle, and size.
Researchers aimed to investigate these factors comprehensively and identify any emerging patterns. To accomplish this, they collected data from multiple sources including breed registries, veterinarians, pet insurance companies, animal welfare organisations and universities.
Their dataset comprised information on 584,734 dogs located in the UK, with approximately half of them (284,734 individuals) already deceased. The sample encompassed both purebred and crossbred dogs.
The team discovered that the median lifespan for all dogs in the sample was 12.5 years. Female dogs generally outlived males, with a median lifespan of 12.7 years for females compared to 12.4 years for males.
Upon further examination of size and facial structure, researchers observed that smaller dogs with longer noses tended to live longer than larger dogs with flat noses.
For instance, miniature dachshunds, characterised by their small size and long noses, had a median lifespan of 14 years, while French bulldogs, medium-sized dogs with flat noses, had a significantly shorter median lifespan of 9.8 years.
Flat-nosed, or brachycephalic, dogs are known to experience various health issues such as respiratory problems and heat intolerance, although the extent to which these factors contribute to their risk of premature death remains uncertain.
Among the 155 purebred breeds analysed in the dataset, Lancashire Heelers emerged with the longest median life expectancy of 15.4 years, followed by Tibetan Spaniels (15.2 years), Bolognese (14.9 years), Shiba Inus (14.6 years), and Papillons (14.5 years), among others.
Conversely, breeds with the shortest lifespans included Caucasian Shepherds (5.4 years), Presa Canarios (7.7 years), and Cane Corsos (8.1 years).
One unexpected finding was that purebred dogs tended to live longer than crossbreeds, with a median lifespan of 12.7 years compared to 12 years for crossbreeds.
According to experts, the findings could help pet parents, animal shelters, breeders and policymakers arrive at more informed decisions about the health and welfare of dogs.
Lead author Kirsten McMillan, a data scientist at the London-based animal welfare organisation Dogs Trust told The Guardian: “This provides an opportunity for us to improve the lives of our canine companions.
“We are identifying groups that desperately need attention, so we can zone in on these populations and work out what the problem is.”
Lancashire Heelers – 15.4 years
Tibetan Spaniels – 15.2 years
Bolognese – 14.9 years
Shiba Inus – 14.6 years
Papillons – 14.5 years
Caucasian Shepherds – 5.4 years
Presa Canarios – 7.7 years
Cane Corsos – 8.1 years
