Looking for a tiny dog with a big heart and a long life by your side?
Some small dog breeds are famous not just for their adorable size and sweet personalities, but also for their impressive longevity.
These little companions often stay playful, loving, and full of charm well into their senior years, making them perfect for anyone seeking a long-term furry best friend.
Every dog breed has a different lifespan depending on their genetics, size, exercise, and overall well-being. PetMD mentions that small dog breeds tend to have longer life spans. And it bursts the myth that the larger breeds live longer.
The longest-living small dog breeds combine devotion, affection, and resilience—proof that the best things truly do come in small, long-lasting packages.
Here is the list of seven long-lived dogs, so choose the one that meets your lifestyle and space. Stick and read details before you regret buying the aggressive or short-lived.
Longest Living Small Dog Breeds for a Sweet Companion
1. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is one of the longest living breeds with an average life expectancy of 14 to 16 years, and Megabyte (nickname) was the one who survived for 20 years. This purse dog is the healthiest dog breed due to its active lifestyle and build.
They are a bit stubborn, but jump into the lap of the owners without a second thought. Honestly, they forget their size sometimes and try to act like little Nepolitans at home.
Chihuahuas live longer when you take care of their daily exercise, nutrition, and grooming. The apple and deer head are the trademarks of this breed, but only get them if you are experienced.
With that said, Chis is prone to obesity and heart diseases, so keep an eye on it if you want to cut a cake for their 20th birthday (perhaps pet-friendly).
2. Shih Tzu
Shih Tzu’s average lifespan is 10 to 16 years, so it depends on your care how long they live. These little lions are cheerful and amusing companions for families. Their long fur attracts many people, and you can even style it with clips.
Shih Tzu does not like to live alone at home and requires short walks, which makes them perfect for apartment spaces. They are such a cuddly buddy who wants their favourite humans around them, no matter what.
This small dog often barks when meeting new strangers, so you might get complaints from neighbors if they make noise at night.
These little pups are brachycephalic (small nose and flat muzzle), and this leads to breathing problems. Apart from this, Shih Tzu is more likely to get a heart stroke, obesity, and liver shunts.
3. Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is an affectionate but bossy dog breed. Yorkies live longer, for almost 11 to 15 years on average, but a Bonny Yorkie lived 22 years.
This little dog is energetic and a wonderful family pet to keep kids engaged all day. They adjust anywhere, be it a smaller home or a villa, and form strong bonds.
Yorkies require casual walks as exercise and also early socialization for proper training. They are not easy to train, so reward them with treats (their favourites) to keep them engaged.
They bark a lot compared to their short stature and often suffer from low blood sugar and patellar laxity.
4. Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise is expected to live for 14 to 15 years or longer. This little dog spreads smile where ever it goes with their mischievous tricks.
They are known for their hypoallergenic curly white coat that does not shed much and requires regular grooming to stay in shape. Bichons are lap dogs and can lie on coah all day when energy needs are met.
They are easy to train and love being around their favourite humans that makes them best suited for first-time owners.
Bichon Frise loves to play and learn new tricks due to their curious and intelligent nature. They live healthy but develop health issues like diabetes, stones, and dental diseases later in life.
So regular vet check-ups are important once they develop even one disease.
5. Dachshund
Dachshund is also known as a weiner and hot dogs (not the sausages, obviously). These little dogs have long backs compared to standard dogs with short legs.
The Dachshund dog’s lifespan is 12 to 16 years, and Chanel Dachshund is one of the oldest dogs that set the Guinness World Record of living for 21 years. It shows the potential of this breed, and Chanel was suffering from back pain and cataracts in its last days.
These little pups have high chances to cross 15 years of age when maintian healthy weight and regular exercise. They are brave, full of personality, and energetic dogs, but sometimes they become careless and get injured.
Don’t let them show their jumping and twisting moves because it is going to backfire on their back health. Yes, they are willful, but love and attention are their weakness.
Routine veterinary care and mental stimulation keep them sharp even when they age.
6. Maltese
Maltese is a charming, playful, and gentle dog breed with a life expectancy of 12-15 years. This tiny dog loves to get attention and wants their favourite person in front of it, as noted by Pawlicy Advisor.
They are lap dogs and often get sad when left alone in the apartment. Honestly, they are cute but stubborn too, so train them with rewards and treats.
Maltese dogs have a long, silky coat that has become their identity mark now. They are not really prone to health issues and are likely to live longer with regular care and grooming.
These white dogs are hypoallergenic but not 100%, so pet only if you are not allergic to them. With that said, Maltese often inherit the disease of PDA and liver shunts, so doing a complete health checkup before adopting a puppy is quite important.
7. Havanese
This is one of the happiest, most obedient, and sociable dog breeds. Havanese’s average life expectancy is 12-14 years, which is quite short.
So yeah, this fun-loving soul makes you giggle just for a few years.
These smart dogs are easy to train and make a great companion for therapy sessions. Ernst Hemingway and Charles Dickens (famous writers) were the pet parents of Havanese, as noted by the AKC.
Havanese are descendants of Bichon, so you can tell why they have long and silky coats. Yes, it is beautiful, but it also requires daily brushing for 10 minutes and minimal grooming every 6 months.
This dog is comparatively a healthy breed, but develops common health concerns like retinal atrophy and dental disease when aging.
So, don’t compromise on its 30-minute walk and divide it into chunks so the puppy doesn’t feel lethargic, and a balanced diet is also a MUST.
Conclusion
Losing an affectionate companion is hard to process, and no one can replace them. They become a part of our life, but to them, we were their whole life. They had only those 15 or 20 years that they spent with us, so cherish the moments when your pet is around you.
The above-mentioned dog breeds have an average lifespan of 20 years, but there is no hard and fast rule that they can’t live longer. Maybe they can if kept with care and love.
So, provide them with high quality diet and do proper care for an impressive lifespan.
