The aging process of dogs is remarkably faster compared to that of humans. This also means that these furry friends have a shorter lifespan than humans. That being said, how long do dogs typically live?
Dogs Live For Around 11.2 Years
Live Science notes how the lifespan of a dog largely depends on its breed. Such findings were reported in the Scientific Reports publication.
Researchers of the said study looked into dog ages of over 30,000 dogs that passed from 2016 to 2020. In doing so, the scientists calculated the average lifespan of around 18 crossbreeds and breeds within the UK.
Upon doing so, they found out that the general life expectancy of a dog is 11.2 years. However, the life span varied depending on the breed.
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Dog Longevity Varies Across Sizes, Breeds, and Sex
The scientists found that smaller dogs had longer life expectancies compared to bigger ones. According to senior author Dr. Dan O'Neill, this advantage of smaller dogs flies life expectancy basic rules. Generally, smaller species tend to live shorter compared to larger ones. Mice, for example, could live for one or two years, but elephants may live up to 60 or 70 years.
Live Science notes that a potential explanation of this phenomenon is not that smaller ones have longer lives but that larger one has shorter spans. O'Neill notes how breeding could have led to larger breeds that fastly grow compared to predecessors. This, thus, activates diseases early, such as cancer and osteoarthritis.
Other than that, O'Neill also notes that around 90% of dog deaths across the UK are directly related to euthanasia. This means that the decisions of humans largely influence their lifespan. Live Science notes that it is harder to take care of bigger dogs with movement issues than smaller ones. Moreover, the medical costs may be greater for larger ones than for smaller ones.
The researchers also discovered that crossbred dogs lived an average of 11.8 years, six months longer than the general average. Such findings match existing research that proposes that hybrids are healthier than purebred dogs.
They also found out that female dogs live longer than their male counterparts. However, this varied across different breeds.
Neutering has also been seen to be associated with a lengthier life span. This could be due to higher responsibility and care from the pet owner. It could also be because it decreases health issues linked to reproduction, such as tumors.
Breeds With Longest and Shortest Life Expectancy
BBC News reports that the Jack Russell Terrier had the longest life expectancy, reaching 12.7 years. Second and third to this species are the Border Collies and Springer Spaniels, which live up to 12.1 years and 11.9 years in general.
The ones that reportedly have the shortest life expectancy are French Bulldogs (4.5 years), English Bulldogs (7.4 years), Pugs (7.7 years), and American Bulldogs (7.8 years). Such breeds have links with disorders that limit their life, such as spinal conditions and breathing issues.
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