We all love those canine companions who stay with us for a longer period of time. When choosing a dog, one must not consider only the beauty, loyalty, or temperament. But the important consideration is how long that furry friend will remain with us and will be a part of our lives.
Dogs are not just pets; they eventually become family members, confidants, and loyal best friends. However, longevity cannot be predicted. But some breeds are well known for their longer life spans due to their genetics, size, and overall health resilience.
Generally, smaller dog breeds tend to live longer than the large dogs. Nonetheless, longevity also depends on proper diet, a healthier life, an active lifestyle, and routine veterinary care. Some breeds are known for their adaptability, intelligence, and strong bond with humans, along with the longest lifespans.
Dog Breeds with the Longest Lifespans: Finding Your Best Friend
1. Finnish Lapphund
The Finnish Lapphund is a medium-sized breed of dog with a sturdy build. It is stated by Royal Canin that it was originally bred for herding reindeer in Finland. It is friendly, gentle, and thrives in a family environment and enjoys human companionship. This dog’s lifespan is from 12 to 15 years.
It is one of the longest living breeds owing to its robust genetics and adaptability to cold weather. It has endurance for harsh climates. Its calm indoor behavior reduces stress, which is one of the reasons for making it a long-term companion.
However, it has the problem of obesity, so weight management is mandatory through daily walking and proper care. It is not ideal for a hot climate. A balanced diet is also important to keep your friend in good health.
2. Bichon Frise
It is one of the smaller breeds of dogs that has a white fluffy coat with an adorable appearance. It is affectionate and likes being the centre of attention. As stated by Britannica, the Bichon Frise originated in the Mediterranean area. Spanish sailors are believed to have introduced Bichons Frises to Tenerife, the largest of the Canary Islands in the Atlantic Ocean.
Though it is small in size but bestowed with a strong immune system, which is key to its long-life expectancy. Interestingly, this breed lives for 14-16 years.
Being blessed with good genetics, it can be one of the best choices while choosing your best friend, as it is one of the longest living dog breeds. Its cheerful and stress-free nature keeps it away from heart diseases. It enjoys playing and activities that involve mental stimulation.
But it requires regular grooming and coat maintenance. It can also develop dental health issues if proper dental care is not taken.
3. Shih Tzu
The Shih Tzu is one of the small breeds that is affectionate, gentle, and people-oriented. It survives on close companionship with humans and loves being the centre of attention. Being a calm dog, it is not overly active, which supports joint health to keep it living the longest. Being one of the longest living dogs, it lives for 13-16 years.
Its calm, gentle temperament reduces stress and supports an overall healthy heart. It enjoys being indoors and playing light games. Moreover, mental engagement through puzzle toys and tricks improves life span. It understands the command well but requires repetitive training.
Nonetheless, being a brachycephalic breed of dog, the Shih Tzu is prone to breathing issues. It is also susceptible to periodontal diseases. Furthermore, a dog owner needs to do the proper grooming due to the dog’s long coat.
4. Sussex Spaniel
Sussex Spaniel is a placid, affectionate, and calm-tempered medium-sized breed of dog. It forms a strong bond with the families and remains loyal to them. Interestingly, it expresses its emotions by barking when excited or surprised. It is one of the longest living dogs that has a good longevity with an average lifespan of around 12-15 years.
Due to its calm temperament and strong genetics, it remains stress-free, which is one of the great secrets to living long. It enjoys family life without high-intensity activity, which contributes to living the longest.
Despite being blessed with good genetics, it is prone to certain health conditions, such as hip dysplasia and heart conditions. To prevent this moderate level of exercise is needed. It also requires weight control by giving vegan diet.
5. Dachshund
The Dachshund is also known as hotdog. It is amongst the sturdy small dogs which was bred specifically in Germany for hunting. It is lively, lovely, full of personality, and one of the healthiest dog breeds. A Dachshund gives attention and love to its primary person. Its unique feature is that it lives for nearly two decades, from 14 to 17 years.
It has a lean body due to its hunting instincts. Its sense of curiosity keeps it mentally stimulated and aids in its longevity. It enjoys daily walks and mental games. It is highly resilient to diseases and certain health conditions.
However, if its weight is not managed, then it may lead to one of the health concerns, which is intervertebral disc disease. Therefore, it is important to take it for a moderate walk for its overall well-being.
6. Rat Terrier
Rat Terrier is a small-to-medium, athletic breed known for its sleek coat and compact build. According to the American Kennel Club, it was originally bred in the United States to eliminate pests from the farm, like rats and rabbits. It is cheerful, adorable, and people-oriented. Rat Terriers have a life expectancy of 15-18 years.
Since it is a farm working dog, it has hybrid vigor. It is one of the breeds that is quite energetic. The Rat Terrier is a highly active and energetic dog that loves to be involved in games that require high energy. Due to such instinct, it remains mentally and physically stimulated and reduces the chances of cardiovascular diseases.
Nonetheless, it demands daily exercise and mental stimulation due to high energy levels. This Terrier dog also displays destructive behavior if bored or left alone.
7. Poodle
Poodle is a highly versatile and elegant breed of dog. Poodle has a curly, low-shedding coat and a well-balanced, athletic build that allows it to live a long life. It is known for its affectionate behavior. The average lifespan of a Poodle is 14-18 years, which also makes it in the list of dogs that live the longest.
Poodle is a loyal, alert, and undoubtedly intelligent dog breed. Its alertness and curiosity keep it mentally engaged, which is one of the key factors supporting its longevity. A Poodle thrives in a family and friendly environment, which reduces its stress and keeps it generally healthy.
It requires regular grooming due to its hair coat. Also demands mentally stimulating activities. Poodle is prone to joint issues, so fish oil and good nutrition are imperative to increase the dog’s lifespan.
Conclusion
To cut a long story short, canine longevity is very important when choosing which dog to keep as a companion. The genetics of dogs plays a vital role in making a dog live long. Strong genetic makeup makes them resilient against many health issues, but keeping them in a healthy environment is also necessary.
Many dog breeds have an average lifespan of 12-18 years. However, those that are small breeds tend to live longer than medium and large dogs. Some of them are highly energetic, while some like to be placid and not that active. Some can become destructive and unreasonable at times.
Nevertheless, it is important to keep them in good health to increase their life span. Some demand regular grooming, mental stimulation, and proper training. On the other hand, some need a healthy diet and an active lifestyle. Now it is up to the owner which breed they want to keep as a best friend, depending on their traits and overall life span.
