About Tailyears

Dog owners ask two questions: how long will my dog live, and what can I do about it. The research that answers them exists, spread across journals most owners never see. Tailyears puts it in one place, with the numbers attached.

We build calculators from the equations veterinarians use, show breed data with its source, and write senior care guides that say what the evidence supports and what it does not. Where a study found a 2.5-year difference, we say 2.5 years and link the study. Where evidence is weak, we say that too.

Who runs Tailyears

Tailyears has no veterinary staff. That is a limitation, and it is why every page links the studies it is built on rather than asking you to trust the site. If a claim on this site cannot be traced to a source on the methodology page, treat it as an error and tell us.

How the numbers are checked

• Breed ranges for 277 breeds are taken from AKC breed data and rebuilt from the source files on every update; the size class is computed from adult weight, not typed by hand.
• Population lifespans come from the two largest UK studies (VetCompass life tables, 2022; McMillan et al., 2024) and are shown next to the breed range wherever a breed appears in them, including when the two disagree.
• Calculators use published equations (NRC 2006 energy needs, Laflamme 1997 body condition, Wang 2020 epigenetic clock, AAHA 2019 life stages). The formulas are printed on the methodology page so anyone can check the arithmetic.
• Health watchlists are curated for 110 breeds from breed club surveys, OFA statistics and the veterinary literature; the rest use a size-class list and are labelled as such.

What we are not

We are not a veterinary practice and nothing here is a diagnosis or a treatment plan for your dog. The site exists to make the conversation with your vet better informed, not to replace it.

How the site is funded

Some links to insurers, DNA tests and retailers are affiliate links. They never influence what a page says: the health lists and recommendations are built from the literature first and the links are added after. Full disclosure.

Corrections

If a number is wrong, email [email protected] with the breed or page and the source. We fix errors and note the change on the methodology page.

Use our tools on your site

Every calculator can be embedded for free on a clinic, shelter, breed club or blog website. Vets and rescues who want a co-branded version or a data export for a project can email us.