Every dog lover wishes a long life on the birthday of their best canine friend.
If you are interested in buying a pup that tends to live healthy and long, here we are going to enlist those amiable, popular, and beautiful dogs that not only bring happiness in your boring routines but also make the years memorable by their comical and long-lasting presence.
However, the years count more when you adopt or purchase your doggie from a trustworthy shelter or breeder. To strengthen the bond and nurture their health, you should also have a responsible and loving attitude towards your pet.
Remember, it is not necessary that all dogs have to live the same number of years mentioned because this criterion is based on different factors, like breeding history, lifestyle, and size.
Fun Fact: Large dogs tend to live around 7 to 8 years only, while the smaller breeds live up to almost 14 to 16 years. The Dachshund, the smallest canine, holds the Guinness World Record for being one of the oldest dogs.
Best Dog Breeds with the Longest Years by Your Side for Lasting Love
1. Chihuahua
One of the smallest dog breeds worldwide, Chihuahuas live their best up to 14 to 16 years. They are native to Mexico and were originally bred for companionship and religious activities. Petite-sized but big in personality, these wonderful family pets adore human interactions.
With expressive eyes and an affectionate nature, the Chihuahua is celebrated as a loyal companion. They always want to be by their family side and can easily be taken everywhere. Chihuahua stays reserved with strangers and sometimes tends to bark at them.
Early socialization and training are important to grow them into well-behaved adults. Don’t be fooled by their small size, as their playful personality makes them high-energy dogs. For a happy and healthy lifestyle, Chis should be provided with daily exercise and lots of indoor playtime with their owners.
2. Dachshund
Hot dog or Wiener dog, these two unique nicknames are given by their loving fans. Short legs of Dachshunds may deceive you, as these small dogs are healthy enough to live longer, approximately 12-16 years, says PetMD.
Doxies were originally developed to hunt badgers in Germany, but today, with long and strong bodies and an affectionate aura, they are considered one of the most popular dog breeds in the USA. Unfortunately, they are more prone to back injuries, and pet parents should train them not to jump off or on furniture.
A healthy weight with proper care and regular exercise can keep their orthopedic-related health issues aside, and one can enjoy a long lifespan with this fun-loving furry pal.
Fun Fact: A Dachshund named ‘Chanel’ set a record for the world’s longest living dog breed, living 21 years.
3. Toy Poodle
Famous for its smartness, the Poodle comes in three varieties: Standard, Miniature, and Toy. The smallest size of poodle was bred for companionship, and thus it makes one of the longest living dog breeds worldwide. Do not be surprised if you see a Poodle living its 17th year with health.
Though they make up to 18 years of their lives, Toy Poodles tend to have some health problems as well, demanding care from pet owners, such as dental conditions, ear infections, and ortho-related issues. Eager to please and intelligent, Toy Poodles learn basic commands just like a breeze.
Their playful and affectionate personality makes them great family pets for novice dog owners. Moreover, curly coats of these hypoallergenic canines do not shed much, making them a sigh of relief and a great choice for allergy sufferers, as mentioned by Orvis.
4. Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terriers, with an impressive lifespan of 16 years, rank high among the longest living dog breeds. These affectionate companions have boundless energy, and love being included by in family activities. Back in past they were used as hunting dogs.
These fun-loving dogs adore outdoor activities and are well-suited to active households. According to Britannica, they thrive in serious amount of physical exercise including, hiking, hunting and long walks. Otherwise, these energetic dogs tend to develop excessive barking.
Being a Terrier, this dog is more prone to a hereditary eye disease called lens luxation that may lead to glaucoma and eye blindness, making regular vet check ups and breed screening vital. Consistent early training and socialization are necessary as they have high prey drive and independent nature.
5. Shih Tzu
One of the ancient breeds of Asia, Shih Tzus are celebrated as excellent family dogs in every household over the world. These little lion dogs are considered one of the longest living breeds with an average lifespan of 10-18 years.
However, being brachycephalic canines, they need more attention from their pet parents.
Though they are generally healthy, there are some common health concerns such as eye and kidney conditions, patellar luxation and obesity. To stay healthy and happy, regular exercise and a high quality diet should be ensured to these lap dogs.
The Shih Tzu is also one of the friendliest dog breeds and gets along beautifully with kids and other dogs in the house. They enjoy learning new things and pleasing their owner. Since they were bred to watch over the houses of Buddhists, you often see them barking to alert their families.
6. Maltese
Playful and affectionate nature of Maltese dogs with one of the longest life expectancies, makes it irresistible for novice pet parents. This dog’s lifespan ranges between 12 to 15 years. These beautiful dogs have hypoallergenic, and long fluffy coat that needs proper grooming.
High in grooming needs but low on medical bills, Malteses are healthy pups. However, some of them may tend to have heart liver, teeth and joint issues. Since this dog thrives in constant human companionship, if left alone for a long time, it gets separation anxiety.
Interestingly enough these dogs are so light weight and can be carried everywhere even in the smallest space and once were called sleeve dogs. Mental stimulation and early socialization, both are equally important for this people oriented dog to live a happy life.
7. Pomeranian
With fox-like faces and lively personalities, Pomeranian pups tend to live a fulfilling life up to 14 to 16 years. This canine companion is known to have a bold, feisty and loving personality. Their thick double coat comes in many colors, marking and patterns, with daily brushing requirement.
Poms are watchful, and entertaining small dogs who easily adapt every kind of family life. Since these lap warmers get obesity more often, regular walks along with a good balanced diet should be provided them for their healthy years. Alert and highly intelligent Poms learn things fast.
According to the AKC, they are artists of escaping even from tiniest gaps, keeping and eye on these clever dogs can save you from a hustle. Obedience training and leash training are two essential things that must be introduced in their earlier years.
8. Australian Shepherd
A long history of good breeding leads the Australian Shepherd dog to live longer than other medium-sized breeds. Their high energy levels and intelligence make them suitable to active families. They demand ample amount of exercise and a high quality diet for their overall well being.
Their athleticism and desire to do the jobs for the owners keep them healthy and happy, They generally make loving an loyal dogs to their families and take a bit time to get along with new people and conditions. Well socialized and trained Aussie enjoys being with children and other pets.
Despite being one of the longest living dog breeds, Australian Shepherds can develop hip and joint related health issues. Since they are working dogs with strength and endurance, healthy fats and proteins should be part of their diet.
9. Yorkshire Terrier
Your adventurous life with Yorkshire Terrier will going to become memorable as this pup lives almost 15 years with you, provided routine veterinary care especially for its dental conditions. These tiny Terriers are vocal and have strong guarding instincts, shaping them to be the devoted canine partners.
Yorkies have energetic aura but they also enjoy being the lap companions of their favorite humans. They look attractive with their coat having straight blue and tan hair and are more often seen in a fashionable yet short haircut.
These small dogs are relatively healthy breed, but they are prone to low blood pressure which happens majorly due to weakness and lack of appetite. Therefore, pet parents should consider their high quality diet and regular exercise.
Conclusion
While we have give you some helpful insights by mentioning the longest living dog breeds, meanwhile before bringing a new pup in house you should be aware of healthy breeds as well as reputable breeders. This helps you to avoid future problems that include both emotional and financial.
Being said that, mental enrichment, exercise routine, ample amount of love and quality time will aid more than anything else to your dog’s healthy years.
The canines who tend to live longer lifespan are not limited but also include Lhasa Apso, Miniature Schnauzers, Border Collies, Cocker Spaniel, Australian Cattle Dog, and Shiba Inu.
