Editorial: February 23, 2024

A front-page article by Emily Anthes titled “New Research Ties Long Snouts to Longer Lives” in The New York Times reports on a study in Britain by the welfare charity Dog Trust that was compiled by Kirsten McMillan, the author and data manager of the study. There were 584,734 dogs in the database, which was compiled with the help of breed registries, insurance companies, veterinary companies and others. Most of the dogs were purebred, and a proviso stated that these various records, which can be prone to some bias, are not necessarily representative of the general canine population in Britain. One also has to take into consideration, among other things, genetics, environment and diet. Rounding out the findings, they reported that flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds lived 11.2 years, while long-faced breeds lived 12.1 to 12.8 years. The study also found that as a group, purebred dogs had a median lifespan 12.7 years, compared with 12 years for cross-bred dogs. This of course challenges the common belief that cross-bred dogs are healthier than purebred dogs. Virginia Tech veterinarian Dr. Audrey Ruple, who was not involved in the study, was quoted in the article: “I think it is a more complex question than that. There are pure breeds of dogs that are generally pretty healthy.” We have included the list of life expectancy of these dogs below.   

Breed / Average Lifespan (years)

Lancashire Heeler / 15.4

Tibetan Spaniel / 15.2

Bolognese / 14.9

Shiba Inu / 14.6

Papillon / 14.5

Havanese / 14.5

Lakeland Terrier / 14.2

Coton de Tulear / 14.2

Border Terrier / 14.2

Schipperke / 14.2

Large Munsterlander / 14.1

Lhasa Apso / 14

Swedish Vallhund / 14

German Spitz Mittel / 14

Norwich Terrier / 14

Australian Cattle Dog / 14

Poodle / 14

Cairn Terrier / 14

Italian Greyhound / 14

Miniature Dachshund / 14

Welsh Springer Spaniel / 14

Lowchen / 13.9

Bearded Collie / 13.9

Belgian Tervuren / 13.8

Parson Russell Terrier / 13.8

Finnish Lapphund / 13.8

Bracco Italiano / 13.8

Welsh Terrier / 13.8

Tibetan Terrier / 13.8

Australian Shepherd / 13.7

Miniature Pinscher / 13.7

Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier / 13.7

Bedlington Terrier / 13.7

Spanish Water Dog / 13.7

Petit Basset Griffon Vendeen / 13.7

Wire Fox Terrier / 13.5

English Springer Spaniel / 13.5

Irish Terrier / 13.5

Norfolk Terrier / 13.5

Sussex Spaniel / 13.5

Vizsla / 13.5

Chinese Crested / 13.4

Whippet / 13.4

Shetland Sheepdog / 13.4

West Highland White Terrier / 13.4

German Shorthaired Pointer / 13.4

Brussels Griffon / 13.3

Miniature Schnauzer / 13.3

American Cocker Spaniel / 13.3

Collie / 13.3

Jack Russell Terrier / 13.3

Silky Terrier / 13.3

Puli / 13.3

Yorkshire Terrier / 13.3

English Cocker Spaniel / 13.3

Tibetan Mastiff / 13.3

Saluki / 13.3

Pekingese / 13.3

Dalmatian / 13.2

Dachshund / 13.2

Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever / 13.2

Polish Lowland Sheepdog / 13.2

Pembroke Welsh Corgi / 13.2

Golden Retriever / 13.2

Cardigan Welsh Corgi / 13.1

English Setter / 13.1

Border Collie / 13.1

Field Spaniel / 13.1

Sealyham Terrier / 13.1

Labrador Retriever / 13.1

Samoyed / 13.1

Maltese / 13.1

Toy Manchester Terrier / 13

Foxhound / 13

German Wirehaired Pointer / 13

Standard Schnauzer / 13

Japanese Spitz / 13

Portuguese Water Dog

13

Norwegian Elkhound / 13

Toy Fox Terrier / 12.9

Irish Setter / 12.9

Weimaraner / 12.8

Dandie Dinmont Terrier / 12.8

Shih Tzu / 12.8

Scottish Terrier / 12.7

Briard / 12.6

Beagle / 12.5

Basset Hound / 12.5

American Staffordshire Terrier / 12.5

Bichon Frise / 12.5

Japanese Chin / 12.5

Kerry Blue Terrier / 12.4

Gordon Setter / 12.4

Skye Terrier / 12.4

Keeshond / 12.3

Clumber Spaniel / 12.3

Miniature Bull Terrier / 12.2

Pomeranian / 12.2

Curly-Coated Retriever / 12.2

Old English Sheepdog / 12.1

Chow Chow / 12.1

Basenji / 12.1

Giant Schnauzer / 12.1

Glen Of Imaal Terrier / 12.1

Crossbreed / 12

Airedale Terrier / 12

Bull Terrier / 12

Canaan Dog /12

Staffordshire Bull Terrier / 12

Belgian Malinois / 12

Borzoi / 12

Kelpie / 12

Rhodesian Ridgeback / 12

Spinone Italiano / 11.9

Siberian Husky / 11.9

Chihuahua / 11.8

Cavalier King Charles Spaniel / 11.8

Boston Terrier / 11.8

Flat-Coated Retriever / 11.7

Pug / 11.6

Chesapeake Bay Retriever / 11.6

Greyhound / 11.5

Akita / 11.4

German Shepherd Dog / 11.3

Boxer / 11.3

American Eskimo Dog / 11.3

Alaskan Malamute / 11.3

Bouvier des Flandres / 11.3

Doberman Pinscher / 11.2

Afghan Hound / 11.1

Brittany / 11.1

Dogue de Bordeaux / 11.1

Newfoundland / 11

Great Pyrenees / 10.9

Black Russian Terrier / 10.9

Irish Water Spaniel

10.8

Chinese Shar-Pei / 10.6

Rottweiler / 10.6

Great Dane / 10.6

Scottish Deerhound / 10.5

Bullmastiff / 10.2

Anatolian Shepherd / 10.1

Bernese Mountain Dog / 10.1

Leonberger / 10

Pharaoh Hound / 10

Irish Wolfhound / 9.9

Bulldog / 9.8

French Bulldog / 9.8

Affenpinscher / 9.3

Bloodhound / 9.3

Neapolitan Mastiff / 9.3

Saint Bernard / 9.3

Mastiff / 9

Cane Corso / 8.1

Presa Canario / 7.7

Caucasian Shepherd Dog / 5.4