A new study can estimate how long your dog will live for.
The new study worked out each dog breed’s exact life expectancy, and the difference between some breeds is astounding.
The study, conducted by the Royal Veterinary College, analysed over 30,000 dogs who had passed away between 2016 and 2020 in order to determine the life expectancy of different life breeds. More specifically, they wanted to identify which dog breeds had the highest life expectancy, and which breeds had the lowest.
So Which Dog Breeds Live The Longest?
The researchers concluded that the average life expectancy of a dog was just over 11 years according to their data. The breeds at the high end of life expectancy were Jack Russell Terriers, with a life expectancy of 12.7 years. At the low end, French Bulldogs have an abysmally short average life span of just four and a half years. Other dog breeds at the short end include English Bulldogs (7.4 years), Pugs (7.7 years), and American Bulldogs (7.8 years).
Jack Russell Terriers have one of the longest life expectancy out of all dog breeds.
It’s already well-known that flat faced dog breeds like bulldogs and pugs have shorter lifespans than their non-flat faced counterparts. But now there is quantitative data to back it up. And the data backs up the calls to stop the breeding of flat-faced dogs.
Flat-faced dog breeds such as Pugs and Bulldogs have an average life expectancy less than five years.
The study aims to help owners estimate how long they can expect to benefit from their dogs. However, regardless of how long your dog is expected to live, everyone should get a dog. They provide benefits such as physical exercise, companionship, and mental wellbeing. This was particularly evident during the Covid pandemic, where they relieved the feelings of loneliness and isolation during the lockdowns.
Are you curious about the life expectancy of your own dog breed? To find the life expectancy of all dog breeds included in the study, you can read the full study here.
