Looking for a Long-Living Dog? These Breeds Will Stay By Your Side for Years!
We all know that a dog’s life expectancy can vary greatly, depending on several factors. Some dogs might live for 10 years, while others for more than 15. So, understanding what influences a dog’s lifespan is crucial, because it teaches us how to provide them a happy and healthy life. Just the idea of losing our best friends can be overwhelming. These little furry creatures bring a lot of joy into our lives. They don’t judge us, don’t take advantage of us, and are always by our side when we need some love.
There are a lot of dog owners who refuse to adopt new pets after they’ve experienced a loss, which is totally understandable. The pain and the feeling of guilt that you couldn’t do more to save your pet’s life can be exhausting and impact mental health.
Even though the grieving process is far from being easy, adopting a new little friend can help a lot. Don’t get me wrong! It doesn’t have to replace any other pet, it will simply bring new energy into your life, and most importantly, some work that needs to be done. Let’s face it! It’s not easy at all to take care of a dog, they need a lot of attention, regular vet checkups, and love.
Unfortunately, life can get extremely busy, considering all the challenges we have to face daily, so, having a cute little soul you need to take care of at home, can be a little bit overwhelming. It’s a huge responsibility. Just think about this briefly: You are all your dog’s world. He doesn’t know how life looks without you. This perspective will help you understand the importance of the owner in a pet’s life.
So, if the idea of losing your dog scares you, check out these key factors that affect dog life expectancy.
What factors impact dog life expectancy?
- Breed and genetics: One of the most significant factors that influence a dog’s lifespan is their breed. For example, did you know that smaller dog breeds tend to live longer than others? Also, some breeds are more likely to deal with certain diseases, while others are not that sensitive.
- Size and weight: Larger dogs have shorter life expectations, due to the strain that large size places on their bodies, often affecting their metabolism. A dog needs to have a constant weight because obesity comes with a lot of serious health problems.
- Diet: A dog needs to have a well-balanced diet, including the right balance of protein, fats, and vitamins. This way, their likeliness of suffering from common health issues like digestive ones or heart diseases, is significantly decreasing.
- Exercise: Dogs are full of energy and you should become their entertainer if you want to ensure them a healthy lifestyle. Daily exercising is essential in managing weight and promoting good digestion.
- Vet care: Regular veterinary visits are a must to ensure that your dog stays healthy. By establishing regular checkups, you allow your vet to monitor your dog’s overall health and prevent serious health issues.
7 Longest-Living Dog Breeds
1. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu are amazing family dogs with an average life span of 10 to 18 years. They are incredibly cute and love to be loved. This breed is also considered one of the most popular in the United States. Their sweet expressions, size, and energy, make them some of the most loved dogs by pet lovers. These dogs are always excited to learn new things and love to spend time outside, playing, and walking.
2. Chihuahua
Chihuahuas are known to be a pack of sass and stubbornness, but they are still incredibly adorable. They often weigh around six pounds, so you can’t really be annoyed by such a tiny and cute creature. The average life span of Chihuahua is between 14 and 16 years. They are great family dogs and love to play with kids. Did you know that there are researches that show Chihuahuas have the largest brains in the world? This breed is truly special.
Chihuahuas are low-maintenance dogs and their small size is a huge advantage for families that lack space at home or don’t have enough time for long walks. Chihuahuas are perfectly happy with just a little playtime in the garden.
3. Havanese
The Havanese dogs are known to be extremely friendly and happy all the time, making them one of the most favorite dog breeds among pet owners. They are typically vocal and love to be under the spotlight. Before adopting a Havanese, you should make sure that you are ready to always be on alert. These dogs are extremely energetic and will alert you when a delivery person leaves a package or when a friend comes for a visit.
There’s no surprise that the Havanese breed is on the 24th spot on the American Kennel Club’s list of most popular dog breeds. And that’s not all! Havanese is an ideal dog for therapy too! Their affectionate nature can immediately heal broken hearts.
Last but not least, you should know their average life span is from 14 to 16 years.
4. Papillon
A Papillon’s appearance is incredibly funny, these dogs’ personalities are as huge as their ears. They are very agile and have public manners. Papillon dogs can easily adapt to warm or cool climates and are happy in the city or the country. Basically, these dogs can be easily satisfied, they don’t really care about all those material things, and all they want is your love and attention.
Papillon’s average span is 14 to 16 years.
5. Australian cattle dog
Bluey, an Australian cattle dog is the oldest dog ever and lived an impressive 29 years and 5 months. It’s true, that vets believe that the smaller breeds are most likely to live the longest, but we couldn’t ignore Bluey’s legacy. He worked among cattle and sheep for nearly 20 years in Victoria, Australia.
Considering the Guinness World Records, the Australian cattle is a truly special breed, and maybe we don’t talk enough about it. Even though the life span of normal Australian cattle is around 16 years, the breed is incredibly surprising. Who knows? Your newly adopted dog might break the record.
6. Dachshund
If you are a pet lover, it shouldn’t sound uncommon to you to meet a Dachshund over 15 years old. This breed is known to be extremely friendly and a great addition to any kind of family. Even though Dachshund dogs tend to deal with a lot of life issues during their lifetime, a dog named Chanel set a Guinness World Record for the oldest living Dachshund.
Keep in mind that this breed usually deals with back issues that are often exacerbated by obesity.
7. Toy Poodle
Last but not least on our list is the Toy Poodle. Oh, is there someone out there who doesn’t love poodles? They are incredibly sassy and intelligent and can make a great family pet. However, you shouldn’t underestimate their energy. They need a lot of attention and mental stimulation to keep them as busy as possible. These cute little toys are always up to something and you should be mentally prepared that if you adopt a Toy Poodle you’ll always be on alert.
The breed usually reaches around 18 years old, so the Toy Poodles are clearly one of the longest-living dogs.
Before leaving, let us know in the comment section found below which one of these breeds has got your attention. Is there any specific breed you’d like to adopt? And why?
Also, here is a great toy you can find on Amazon, that is truly amazing, no matter the dog breed you own. Trust me, it will offer you some quality time just for yourself.
If you found the article useful, you should read this one next: Top 10 Smartest Dog Breeds, According to Science
