If you want a long-lived companion, don’t choose them: these are the dogs with the shortest lifespan

Although we cannot argue with the results of the research, we would like to add that a dog's lifespan largely depends on their living conditions, which were not addressed in the data analysis of the study.

While a dog’s lifespan is highly dependent on their breed, based on centuries of experience and records, we know that they generally live around 10–13 years on average. However, some breeds bring joy to their owners for a much shorter time. Researchers from the British Royal Veterinary College examined data from nearly 30,000 dogs. The goal was to determine the average lifespan of the four-legged furry companions in the UK. As a result, they also identified which breeds tend to have the longest and shortest lifespans in the country.

The longest-living dog lives three times as long as the shortest-living one

The dogs examined were not only purebred specimens, but 78% of them were pedigreed. Researchers found that, on average, British dogs live for 11.2 years.

The study revealed that Jack Russell Terriers have the longest lifespan (12.7 years), followed by Border Collies (12.1 years) and Springer Spaniels (11.9 years).

The shortest lifespans were observed in flat-faced (brachycephalic) dog breeds.

American Bulldogs live for 7.8 years, while Pugs and Bulldogs have a lifespan of just under 8 years. The French Bulldogs, which have become extremely popular in recent years, bring joy to their owners for only about 4.5 years.

No wonder they don’t live long

The life expectancy of brachycephalic dog breeds at birth is quite short due to their body structure. Because of their breed characteristics, they face numerous health problems throughout their lives, including breathing difficulties and spinal disorders.

These dogs, often anthropomorphized due to their large eyes and round faces—giving them a human-like or even baby-like appearance—remain among the most popular breeds. Thus, they are highly favoured by unethical breeders and puppy mills. This leads to the birth of many poorly bred puppies that are not health-screened. These circumstances significantly reduce their chances of a long life compared to responsibly bred or even mixed-breed dogs.

The researchers in the study also found that male dogs live, on average, four months less than females. However, neutering can increase a dog’s lifespan by approximately 1 to 1.5 years.

So, if we want our furry companion to be with us as long as possible, the study suggests that the best choice would be a spayed female Jack Russell Terrier.