The average dog life span
The average dog life span can be estimated by the outliers. The shortest-lived dog breeds are the Bulldogand Irish Wolfhound, which live between 6-7 years, followed by the Bernese Mountain Dog, Great Dane, and Mastiff, which average 7-8 years. Lists of the longest-lived dogs on record give ages between 20-29 years. The vast majority of dogs will naturally fall somewhere between the two extremes, from 8-19 years, for a very simplistic average of 13.5 years.
General factors such as breed and gender play a part in dog life span. Mixed-breed dogs — by which I mean mutts, not the portmanteau-heavy list of designer dogs — not subjected to the narrow constraints of breed standards and pedigrees, come closest to the 13.5 year average dog life span. Female dogs also tend to live longer than male dogs. This leads most articles on the subject invariably to conclude that the dogs with the longest life spans are small, mixed-breed female dogs.
Size, weight and dog life expectancy
Based on all the research I’ve done, every source agrees that size and weight are the single most important factors when we ask, “How long do dogs live?” Among small dog breeds (excluding toy and teacup variants) the average dog life span tends to be around 10 years. The very largest dog breeds, as well as those who are prone to obesity, tend to live between 6 and 9 years on average.
Weight is even more significant when considering the average dog life span. Dogs who weigh between 20-30 pounds are the longest lived on average, and the scale declines as weight increases. Dogs from 30-50 pounds have shorter life spans, those from 50-90 pounds shorter still, and the shortest-lived dogs are those whose weight exceeds 90 pounds. The difference between the smallest dogs by weight and the largest can be 10 human years.
Dog life span factors that owners can control
There are no guarantees when it comes to the life span of a dog, but quality of life is under your control as a dog owner. Under this umbrella, we include diet, exercise, and stress. Portion control, regardless of brand or type of food, can prevent bloat and obesity in dogs. A steady and consistent weight over the course of a dog’s life can also mitigate cumulative respiratory and heart issues, such as congestive heart failure in dogs.
Keeping your dog engaged over the course of its life is also something y
Source: dogster.com
