How long do dogs live?
The median dog lives 12.5 years. Size, muzzle shape, sex and body condition move that by years in either direction. Here is what the two largest studies of dog lifespan found, and what you can do with it.
Dog lifespan by size
Size is the strongest predictor of how long a dog lives. It runs backwards from most mammals: within the species, the biggest individuals die youngest. Large dogs grow fast, and faster growth means earlier cancer, earlier heart disease and earlier joint failure.
| Size class | Adult weight | Typical range | UK median (2024) | Senior from |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | under 12 lb (5.5 kg) | 12–16 yr | 12.7 yr | ≈ 11 yr |
| Small | 12–28 lb (5.5–13 kg) | 12–15 yr | 12.7 yr | ≈ 10 yr |
| Medium | 28–55 lb (13–25 kg) | 10–14 yr | 12.5 yr | ≈ 9 yr |
| Large | 55–100 lb (25–45 kg) | 9–12 yr | 11.9 yr | ≈ 8 yr |
| Giant | over 100 lb (45 kg) | 7–10 yr | 11.9 yr (large group) | ≈ 6–7 yr |
Typical ranges summarize AKC breed data across 277 breeds; medians from McMillan et al. 2024 (small, medium, large only). Senior age follows the AAHA definition, the last quarter of expected lifespan.
Life expectancy by breed
The UK VetCompass life tables (Teng 2022) give life expectancy at birth for 18 breeds, from 30,563 deaths recorded in first-opinion practices. The gap between the top and bottom is more than eight years.
| Breed | Life expectancy at birth |
|---|---|
| Jack Russell Terrier | 12.72 yr |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 12.54 yr |
| Border Collie | 12.1 yr |
| Springer Spaniel | 11.92 yr |
| Labrador Retriever | 11.77 yr |
| Cocker Spaniel (UK) | 11.67 yr |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 11.44 yr |
| Shih Tzu | 11.05 yr |
| German Shepherd Dog | 10.78 yr |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 10.64 yr |
| Husky | 10.24 yr |
| Beagle | 9.85 yr |
| Boxer | 9.75 yr |
| Chihuahua | 7.91 yr |
| Pug | 7.65 yr |
| English Bulldog | 7.39 yr |
| American Bulldog | 7.14 yr |
| French Bulldog | 4.53 yr |
| Crossbred | 11.66 yr |
| All dogs | 11.23 yr |
Longest-lived breeds (AKC ranges)
- Coton de Tulear 15–19 yr
- Lagotto Romagnolo 15–17 yr
- Manchester Terrier (Standard) 15–17 yr
- Manchester Terrier (Toy) 15–17 yr
- Biewer Terrier 15–16 yr
- Hamiltonstovare 14–17 yr
- Chinese Crested 13–18 yr
- Norrbottenspets 14–17 yr
- Tibetan Terrier 15–16 yr
- Xoloitzcuintli 13–18 yr
- American Hairless Terrier 14–16 yr
- Belgian Malinois 14–16 yr
Shortest-lived breeds (AKC ranges)
- Pyrenean Shepherd -1–0 yr
- Dogue de Bordeaux 5–8 yr
- Irish Wolfhound 6–8 yr
- Neapolitan Mastiff 7–9 yr
- Mastiff 6–10 yr
- Bullmastiff 7–9 yr
- Leonberger 8–9 yr
- Great Dane 7–10 yr
- German Shepherd Dog 7–10 yr
- Bernese Mountain Dog 7–10 yr
- Saint Bernard 8–10 yr
- Flat-Coated Retriever 8–10 yr
In the 2024 UK data the longest-lived breeds were the Lancashire Heeler (15.4), Tibetan Spaniel (15.2), Shiba Inu (14.6), Papillon (14.5) and Lakeland Terrier (14.2); the shortest the Caucasian Shepherd (5.4), Presa Canario (7.7), Cane Corso (8.1), Mastiff (9.0) and St Bernard (9.3). Browse all 277 breed lifespans.
What changes how long a dog lives
Body condition: up to 2.5 years
Across 50,000 dogs of 12 breeds, overweight dogs lived 5 months to 2.5 years less than dogs at ideal weight (Salt 2019). The difference was largest in Yorkshire Terriers (13.7 vs 16.2 years) and smallest in German Shepherds (12.1 vs 12.5). In the only lifetime feeding trial, Labradors fed 25% less than their littermates lived a median 13.0 years against 11.2, a gain of 1.8 years, and developed arthritis two years later (Kealy 2002). Use the ideal weight calculator to check.
Neutering: about 1 year
In UK life tables, neutered females lived 11.98 years against 10.50 for entire females; neutered males 11.49 against 10.58. A US database study found intact dogs dying at a mean of 7.9 years against 9.4 for sterilized dogs (Hoffman 2013), with sterilized dogs less likely to die of infection or trauma and more likely to die of cancer. For some large breeds early neutering raises joint and cancer risks, so timing is breed-specific.
Sex: about a third of a year
Females lived 11.41 years against 11.07 for males in the UK life tables, and 12.7 against 12.4 in the 2024 study.
Muzzle shape: 1.6 years
Brachycephalic (flat-faced) breeds had a median of 11.2 years against 12.8 for medium-muzzled and 12.1 for long-muzzled breeds. The French Bulldog's 4.53-year life expectancy in the VetCompass tables is the starkest example, driven by airway, spinal and skin disease.
Dental, screening and early detection
These are harder to put a number on, but they show up in every senior-care guideline: treat periodontal disease, screen for the breed's conditions before symptoms, and aspirate every new lump. Cancer is the leading cause of death in dogs over 10; most of the treatable ones are treatable because they were found small.
LOY-002, a daily pill from Loyal intended to extend healthy lifespan in senior dogs, has two of the three technical sections accepted by the FDA for conditional approval as of January 2026. If approved it would be the first drug approved for lifespan extension in any species. Until then, the levers above are the ones with evidence.
Work it out for your dog
- Dog lifespan calculator: breed range adjusted by sex, neutering and body condition.
- Dog age calculator: age in human years and current life stage.
- Senior dog age calculator: when the senior stage starts for your breed.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average lifespan of a dog?
About 12.5 years. That is the median in the largest study to date, 584,734 UK dogs across 155 breeds (McMillan 2024). Life tables from UK veterinary practices put life expectancy at birth at 11.23 years (Teng 2022); the difference comes from the populations sampled.
Do small dogs live longer than big dogs?
Yes. Small breeds had a median of 12.7 years, medium 12.5 and large 11.9 in the 2024 study, and the shortest-lived breeds are giants: Caucasian Shepherd 5.4, Presa Canario 7.7, Cane Corso 8.1, Mastiff 9.0, St Bernard 9.3. Larger dogs grow faster and develop cancer and heart disease earlier.
Which dog breed lives the longest?
In the 2024 UK data, the Lancashire Heeler (15.4 years), Tibetan Spaniel (15.2), Shiba Inu (14.6), Papillon (14.5) and Lakeland Terrier (14.2). Small, medium-muzzled breeds dominate the top of the list.
Do mixed-breed dogs live longer?
Not in the most recent large dataset: purebreds had a median of 12.7 years and crossbreeds 12.0, likely because many popular crosses involve short-lived flat-faced or giant parents. Earlier US studies found crossbreeds outliving purebreds by about a year. It depends on the breeds in the mix.
What is the oldest a dog has lived?
Guinness recognized Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog, at 29 years 5 months. Bobi, a Portuguese dog claimed to be 31, had the title revoked in 2024 for lack of evidence. Dogs past 20 are extremely rare.
Can I make my dog live longer?
The measured levers: keep the dog lean (up to 2.5 years), neuter (about 1 year in UK data), treat dental disease, screen for the breed's conditions early, and catch cancer while it is small. A drug for extending healthy lifespan in senior dogs, LOY-002, is in the final stages of FDA conditional approval.
Sources
- McMillan KM, Bielby J, Williams CL, Upjohn MM, Casey RA, Christley RM. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. 2024;14:531. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-023-50458-w
- Teng KT, Brodbelt DC, Pegram C, Church DB, O'Neill DG. Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom. Scientific Reports. 2022;12:6415. doi.org/10.1038/s41598-022-10341-6
- Salt C, Morris PJ, Wilson D, Lund EM, German AJ. Association between life span and body condition in neutered client-owned dogs. Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine. 2019;33(1):89-99. doi.org/10.1111/jvim.15367
- Kealy RD, Lawler DF, Ballam JM, et al. Effects of diet restriction on life span and age-related changes in dogs. JAVMA. 2002;220(9):1315-1320. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/11991408/
- Hoffman JM, Creevy KE, Promislow DEL. Reproductive capability is associated with lifespan and cause of death in companion dogs. PLoS ONE. 2013;8(4):e61082. doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0061082
- Creevy KE, Grady J, Little SE, et al. 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 2019;55(6):267-290. www.aaha.org/resources/life-stage-canine-2019/
- Loyal. FDA accepts Target Animal Safety technical section for LOY-002, a senior dog lifespan-extension drug candidate. Press release, January 13, 2026. www.businesswire.com/news/home/20260113476778/en/
- American Kennel Club. Breed standards and breed pages: height, weight and life expectancy ranges. www.akc.org/dog-breeds/