Top 11 Dog Breeds That Live The Longest

“Dog’s lives are too short. Their only fault, really.”

No matter how long our dogs are with us, their life spans aren’t nearly as long as we wish they would be. But, there are some breeds that have longer lifespans than others. Read on for 11 breeds that live the longest!

A Look At Life Spans

As you skim through this list, you’ll probably notice that smaller dogs tend to have longer lifespans than larger dogs. I actually remember as a child growing up, our family had one Yorkie who managed to outlive two Great Danes. He was enjoying his senior years with our third Great Dane when old age finally called him to cross over the rainbow bridge!

Another quick note before we dive into our list: A breed’s life expectancy isn’t the only measure of how many amazing years your pooch will have with you. Genetics are a contributing factor. Plus, good nutrition, exercise, and preventive wellness care are key when striving for a longer life for any breed.

1. Chihuahua

Known as the smallest breed, Chihuahuas have one of the longest life expectancies. On average, they live between 15 – 20 years. Weighing in at somewhere between 3-6 pounds these guys are pretty small, but it’s not uncommon to see some Chi’s tipping the scales at greater than 10 pounds.

The Chihuahua may be small, but he’s mighty! They’re extremely smart, have huge personalities, and are very loyal to their humans. Just a note though, Chihuahuas can be fragile and small children can unmeaningly be a little rough on them. Therefore, this breed is not recommended for small children.

2. Shi Tzu

This little lap dog has a lifespan between 10 – 18 years. Weighing in between 9-16 pounds, these little guys are friendly, playful, and loyal. Their hair can be kept short or long, but keeping it long takes constant grooming and maintenance. The well-groomed flowing hair of a Shi Tzu is a sight to behold. This breed is considered hypoallergenic.

3. Yorkshire Terrier

This is another small, hardy breed with a lifespan of 12 – 15 years. These little guys weigh in at a whopping seven pounds or less, but they have an air of confidence about them as if they were king of the mountain. These beauties — if kept in full coat — strut long flowing silky hair to the ground. They are considered a hypoallergenic breed and consistently make it onto the AKC’s top 10 breed list.

4. Maltese

This pocketbook pooch has a lifespan between 12 – 15 years. Like the Yorkie, these little ones weigh in at up to seven pounds. They are laid back, smart, and loving. Plus, they sport a beautiful coat of white silky flowing hair with minimal shedding. This majestic looking dog is considered a hypoallergenic breed.

5. Coton De Tulears

The Coton De Tulears is a loving companion with a coat as soft as cotton. This breed has a life expectancy between 15 -19 years. They’re a small pooch that weighs in between 8 – 13 pounds. This dog is a charming, loving, and loyal companion who’ll want to be by your side. The AKC describes:

“The bond between Cotons and their people is so tight that owners discuss it in human terms.”

They are also known as a hypoallergenic breed.

6. Poodle

Poodles come in three different sizes: toy, miniature, and standard. They are all identical except for their size. Toys are less than 10 inches in height, miniatures 10 – 15 inches, and standard poodles are 15+ inches.

Life expectancy for a standard is 12 – 15 years, miniature and toy 14 – 16 years. No matter what size, this breed is super intelligent and are easy to train.

With their thick curly locks, they will need to be groomed. Not to worry, if you don’t want the big puffy show coat, you can easily keep your poodle clipped short. They are friendly, loyal, energetic and will be your best friend. For this one, I speak from experience and my heart. I grew up with 6 poodles and today my home wouldn’t be complete without my toy poodle, Gigi. This breed does not shed and is considered a hypoallergenic breed.

7. Dachshund

I’m happy to say that these cute little wiener dogs also make this list. The feisty little cuties who were originally bred to be hunters have a life expectancy between 12 – 16 years. They come in two sizes: standards with a height of 8 – 9 inches, weighing from 16 – 32 pounds and miniatures with a height of 5 – 6 inches, topping the scale at 11 pounds. They are easily recognized by their hallmark long body and short legs.

8. Beagle

The Beagle belongs to the hound group and comes in two sizes. The smaller size is less than 13 inches and the larger can vary between 13 – 15 inches. Life expectancy for this breed is between 10 – 15 years. The beagle is loving, intelligent, playful, and full of energy. Looking into those big brownish eyes, with his long floppy ears, it’s no wonder that these cuties are so popular amongst families. Beagles are known to shed, but if you keep them brushed it’s easier to keep under control.

9. Pug

A pug’s big expressive eyes and squishy wrinkly face makes this breed beyond precious! Their lifespan is between 13 – 15 years. These guys like to eat, so it’s important to watch their diet. Pugs are small but muscular and should weigh between 14 – 18 pounds. They are loveable family dogs but keep your de-shedding brush handy since the breed is known to shed.

10. Cocker Spaniel

With their long flowing hair and low-set feathered ears, this breed touts beauty and popularity.  According to the American Kennel Club’s registration statistics,

“The Cocker Spaniel is one of the most popular dog breeds.”

Life expectancy is 10 – 14 years. These dogs are medium sized with a height reaching between 13.5 – 15.5 inches. The males are normally a bit taller than the females. These dogs are great family dogs. They have lots of energy, excel at hunting, and are faithful companions. Cocker spaniels do shed, need a lot of brushing, and are not hypoallergenic.

11. Cockapoo

Since the cockapoo is a cross between and cocker spaniel and a poodle, it is not surprising that they would have a long life expectancy. They are a small dog who should weigh between 6 – 30 pounds. Their lifespan is estimated between 14 – 18 years. Cockapoos are energetic, intelligent, loving companions and whether you want to go for a run or relax on the couch, the cockapoo is only too happy to stay right by your side. Because they are part poodle some people say they are hypoallergenic. But since they are also part cocker you can’t really predict that with total accuracy.

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