10 Dogs With Short Life Expectancies
You’ll notice that most dogs in this chart are larger breeds. As mentioned above, larger dogs tend to have shorter lifespans than smaller ones. Some believe this is because large breeds age more quickly. For example, a Great Dane can gain 100 pounds from its day of birth to its first birthday, whereas a Shih Tzu can weigh up to 15 pounds in its entire lifespan. Below is a table of 10 dogs with short lifespans.
| Dog Breed | Average Lifespan |
|---|---|
| French Mastiff | 5-8 Years |
| Great Dane | 6-8 Years |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 6-8 Years |
| Irish Wolfhound | 6-10 Years |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | 7-9 Years |
| Leonberger | 8-9 Years |
| Newfoundland | 8-10 Years |
| Saint Bernard | 8-10 Years |
| Scottish Deerhound | 8-10 Years |
| Bloodhound | 9-11 Years |
What Factors Influence How Long a Dog Lives?
Of course, you already know that your dog’s health will help determine how long he will live. However, you need to factor in your dog’s lifestyle, genetics, and diet when it comes to his health as well.
To understand how you can help your pup live a long, happy life, we need to explore these aspects just a little deeper.
Just as with humans, what you feed your dog can have a direct bearing on how long he will live. The food you feed your pup from the time you bring him home will help determine his lifespan.
If you’re unsure what the best food for your dog is, consult with your vet. He’ll examine your pet and determine the healthiest dog food to keep him healthy, fit, and trim.
Sticking to a restricted diet has been proven to help many dogs live into their prime and beyond. Not only does healthy food increase their lifespan, but it also improves the dog’s quality of life by decreasing their chances of developing osteoarthritis as they age.
The wrong food, or even too much of it, can lead to your furry friend becoming overweight or obese. Studies have linked obesity in dogs to certain cancers, so feeding your dog healthy food as well as not overfeeding him will help to prevent this disease from happening to you and your pet. Obesity has also been linked to cardiovascular problems, metabolic syndrome, and several other health problems in canines.
Feeding your pet a restricted diet will help him live the long, healthy life you want him to live.
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Another factor that must be considered when trying to figure out your dog’s average lifespan is the breed he is. His breed will have a dramatic effect on how long he is expected to live.
Many large studies have been done on the different dog breeds, and the data was analyzed carefully. As a result, it was determined that the parentage of your pup has clear implications when it comes to life expectancy.
For example, the Afghan Hound has a life expectancy of 12 years, while the Miniature Poodle has a life expectancy of 14 years.
However, the breed of your dog isn’t the only thing you need to consider. You need to consider the size of your dog as well. We’ll talk about the life expectancy for small and large dogs now.
How Long Do Mixed Breed Dogs Live?
For mixed breed dogs, owners can use an individual’s weight to help determine how long he or she would be expected to live. In general, small dogs enjoy longer lives than do their larger counterparts. A recent analysis of veterinary records revealed that dogs under 20 pounds had an average lifespan of 11 years while those over 90 pounds typically lived for only 8 years. Medium and large dogs fell in the middle at around 11 years. (State of Pet Health 2013 Report, Banfield Pet Hospital).
But average life expectancy isn’t the whole story. The very definition of “average” means that many individuals will have shorter lifespans while others can be expected to live much longer than the norm. Perhaps a better way to evaluate a dog’s longevity is to convert “dog years” into “human years.” In this way, we can understand just when a dog is an adult, a senior citizen, geriatric, or the equivalent of a human centenarian.
Information about a dog’s expected lifespan won’t help blunt the pain of his or her loss, but it can help owners plan how to best care for their companions during the time we do have together.