Data report · Updated October 2026
Dog lifespan by breed: a chart of 155 breeds, and how large and small dogs compare in the US and UK
The typical dog lives about 12.5 years, according to the largest breed study to date, which tracked 584,734 dogs in the UK. Median lifespans range from 15.4 years for the Lancashire Heeler to 5.4 years for the Caucasian Shepherd Dog. In US data on 13.3 million dogs, small purebreds have a life expectancy of 13.53 years and giant breeds 9.51.
Key findings
- The median dog in a UK study of 584,734 dogs lived 12.5 years: 12.7 for purebreds and 12.0 for crossbreeds.
- Among breeds with at least 100 recorded deaths, the Lancashire Heeler (15.4 years) and Tibetan Spaniel (15.2) lived longest, and the Cane Corso (8.1) shortest.
- Small US purebreds have a life expectancy at birth of 13.53 years, against 11.51 for large and 9.51 for giant breeds, in Banfield data on 13.3 million dogs.
- Flat-faced UK purebreds had a median lifespan of 11.2 years, 1.6 years less than medium-faced breeds at 12.8.
- The French Bulldog, America's No. 1 breed in 2025, had a median lifespan of 9.8 years in UK data. A separate UK study put its life expectancy at birth at 4.53 years.
- US dog life expectancy rose for every size group from 2013 to 2019, by 0.48 years for large dogs and 0.83 years for mixed breeds.
- Obese US dogs had a life expectancy at birth of 11.71 years, compared with 13.18 for dogs kept at an ideal weight.
- Female dogs outlived males in both countries: 12.7 vs 12.4 years in the UK study and 12.76 vs 12.63 in US Banfield data.
- Of 155 breeds in the UK study, 11 had median lifespans under 10 years and 21 reached 14 years or more.
Dog lifespan by breed chart: which breeds live longest?
Small breeds live longest. The largest study of dog lifespan by breed was published in Scientific Reports in February 2024. In it, the Lancashire Heeler had a median lifespan of 15.4 years and the Tibetan Spaniel 15.2.
The study, led by Kirsten McMillan of the UK charity Dogs Trust, pooled 584,734 dogs from 18 UK data sources. Of those dogs, 284,734 had died. It estimated median survival for 155 breeds and for crossbreeds.
At the other end, the Cane Corso had a median of 8.1 years, the Mastiff 9.0 and the St Bernard, Neapolitan Mastiff and Affenpinscher 9.3 each. Two of the most popular breeds in America, the French Bulldog and Bulldog, both had medians of 9.8 years.
Source: McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports (UK data). Median survival, breeds with at least 100 recorded deaths. Crossbreed median shown for reference.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Lancashire Heeler | 15.4 yrs |
| Tibetan Spaniel | 15.2 yrs |
| Papillon | 14.5 yrs |
| Border Terrier | 14.2 yrs |
| Lakeland Terrier | 14.2 yrs |
| Crossbreeds (all) | 12.0 yrs |
| Irish Wolfhound | 9.9 yrs |
| Bulldog | 9.8 yrs |
| French Bulldog | 9.8 yrs |
| Affenpinscher | 9.3 yrs |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | 9.3 yrs |
| St Bernard | 9.3 yrs |
| Mastiff | 9.0 yrs |
| Cane Corso | 8.1 yrs |
Embed this chart
| Breed | Median lifespan (years) | 95% CI (years) | Deaths recorded | Body size | Face shape |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lancashire Heeler | 15.4 | 14.7 to 15.9 | 110 | Small | Meso |
| Tibetan Spaniel | 15.2 | 14.8 to 15.7 | 137 | Small | Meso |
| Bolognese | 14.9 | 14.0 to not reached | 32 | Small | Meso |
| Shiba Inu | 14.6 | 14.0 to 15.1 | 91 | Small | Meso |
| Havanese | 14.5 | 14.1 to not reached | 56 | Small | Meso |
| Papillon | 14.5 | 14.1 to 14.9 | 427 | Small | Meso |
| Border Terrier | 14.2 | 14.1 to 14.3 | 2,427 | Small | Meso |
| Coton de Tulear | 14.2 | 13.1 to not reached | 44 | Small | Meso |
| Lakeland Terrier | 14.2 | 13.9 to 14.5 | 601 | Small | Dolicho |
| Schipperke | 14.2 | 12.7 to 15.8 | 28 | Small | Meso |
| Large Munsterlander | 14.1 | 13.5 to not reached | 26 | Large | Meso |
| Australian Cattle Dog | 14.0 | 13.2 to 15.1 | 50 | Medium | Meso |
| Cairn Terrier | 14.0 | 13.8 to 14.3 | 1,139 | Small | Meso |
| German Spitz Mittel | 14.0 | 13.3 to 14.6 | 96 | Medium | Meso |
| Italian Greyhound | 14.0 | 13.2 to 15.1 | 70 | Small | Dolicho |
| Lhasa Apso | 14.0 | 13.9 to 14.2 | 2,723 | Small | Brachy |
| Miniature Dachshund | 14.0 | 13.7 to 14.2 | 1,655 | Small | Dolicho |
| Norwich Terrier | 14.0 | 13.5 to 15.1 | 45 | Small | Meso |
| Poodle | 14.0 | 13.8 to 14.1 | 2,399 | n/a | Dolicho |
| Swedish Valhund | 14.0 | 12.5 to not reached | 22 | Small | Meso |
| Welsh Springer Spaniel | 14.0 | 13.3 to 14.3 | 162 | Medium | Meso |
| Bearded Collie | 13.9 | 13.7 to 14.0 | 570 | Medium | Meso |
| Lowchen | 13.9 | 13.3 to 15.7 | 50 | Small | Meso |
| Belgian Tervuren | 13.8 | 12.7 to 14.8 | 55 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Bracco Italiano | 13.8 | 11.8 to not reached | 22 | Large | Dolicho |
| Finnish Lapphund | 13.8 | 13.5 to not reached | 23 | Medium | Meso |
| Parson Russell Terrier | 13.8 | 13.5 to 14.0 | 1,176 | Small | Meso |
| Tibetan Terrier | 13.8 | 13.5 to 14.2 | 583 | Small | Meso |
| Welsh Terrier | 13.8 | 13.5 to 14.6 | 146 | Small | Dolicho |
| Australian Shepherd | 13.7 | 12.8 to 14.6 | 62 | Medium | Meso |
| Bedlington Terrier | 13.7 | 13.4 to 14.0 | 549 | Small | Dolicho |
| Miniature Pinscher | 13.7 | 13.1 to 14.2 | 167 | Small | Dolicho |
| Petite Basset Griffon Vendeen | 13.7 | 13.2 to 14.0 | 148 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | 13.7 | 13.2 to 14.4 | 173 | Medium | Meso |
| Spanish Water Dog | 13.7 | 13.3 to not reached | 37 | Medium | Meso |
| English Springer Spaniel | 13.5 | 13.4 to 13.6 | 6,221 | Medium | Meso |
| Irish Terrier | 13.5 | 13.1 to 14.0 | 146 | Small | Dolicho |
| Norfolk Terrier | 13.5 | 13.1 to 13.8 | 297 | Small | Meso |
| Sussex Spaniel | 13.5 | 12.6 to 15.1 | 34 | Medium | Meso |
| Vizsla | 13.5 | 13.2 to 13.9 | 503 | Medium | Meso |
| Wire Fox Terrier | 13.5 | 13.3 to 13.7 | 521 | Small | Dolicho |
| Chinese Crested | 13.4 | 13.0 to 13.8 | 394 | Small | Meso |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | 13.4 | 13.3 to 13.6 | 947 | Medium | Meso |
| Shetland Sheepdog | 13.4 | 13.1 to 13.6 | 793 | Small | Dolicho |
| West Highland White Terrier | 13.4 | 13.3 to 13.5 | 6,730 | Small | Meso |
| Whippet | 13.4 | 13.2 to 13.7 | 1,483 | Small | Dolicho |
| American Cocker Spaniel | 13.3 | 13.0 to 13.7 | 293 | Small | Meso |
| Brussels Griffon | 13.3 | 12.7 to 13.9 | 102 | Small | Brachy |
| Collie | 13.3 | 13.3 to 13.6 | 1,104 | Medium | Dolicho |
| English Cocker Spaniel | 13.3 | 13.2 to 13.3 | 7,584 | Small | Meso |
| Jack Russell Terrier | 13.3 | 13.2 to 13.3 | 13,497 | Small | Meso |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 13.3 | 13.2 to 13.5 | 1,977 | Small | Meso |
| Pekingese | 13.3 | 13.0 to 13.8 | 339 | Small | Brachy |
| Puli | 13.3 | 12.8 to 14.4 | 39 | Medium | Meso |
| Saluki | 13.3 | 12.3 to 14.0 | 169 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Silky Terrier | 13.3 | 11.7 to 14.2 | 45 | Small | Meso |
| Tibetan Mastiff | 13.3 | 10.9 to not reached | 22 | Large | Brachy |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 13.3 | 13.3 to 13.4 | 9,509 | Small | Meso |
| Dachshund | 13.2 | 13.0 to 13.5 | 926 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Dalmatian | 13.2 | 13.0 to 13.3 | 1,443 | Medium | Meso |
| Golden Retriever | 13.2 | 13.1 to 13.2 | 4,252 | Large | Meso |
| Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever | 13.2 | 12.2 to not reached | 47 | Medium | Meso |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | 13.2 | 12.7 to 13.6 | 221 | Small | Meso |
| Polish Lowland Sheepdog | 13.2 | 12.3 to 14.8 | 24 | Medium | Meso |
| Border Collie | 13.1 | 13.0 to 13.2 | 7,969 | Medium | Meso |
| Cardigan Welsh Corgi | 13.1 | 12.5 to 14.4 | 69 | Small | Meso |
| English Setter | 13.1 | 12.7 to 13.6 | 238 | Large | Meso |
| Field Spaniel | 13.1 | 12.5 to 13.4 | 136 | Medium | Meso |
| Labrador Retriever | 13.1 | 13.0 to 13.1 | 16,155 | Large | Meso |
| Maltese | 13.1 | 12.6 to 13.5 | 666 | Small | Meso |
| Samoyed | 13.1 | 12.7 to 13.5 | 336 | Medium | Meso |
| Sealyham Terrier | 13.1 | 12.3 to 16.0 | 33 | Small | Meso |
| Foxhound | 13.0 | 11.4 to 16.9 | 31 | Large | Meso |
| German Wirehaired Pointer | 13.0 | 12.5 to 13.6 | 138 | Large | Meso |
| Japanese Spitz | 13.0 | 12.3 to 13.7 | 117 | Small | Meso |
| Portuguese Water Dog | 13.0 | 11.5 to 14.9 | 36 | Medium | Meso |
| Standard Schnauzer | 13.0 | 12.7 to 13.2 | 435 | Medium | Meso |
| Toy Manchester Terrier | 13.0 | 12.0 to 13.6 | 138 | Small | Dolicho |
| Irish Setter | 12.9 | 12.6 to 13.1 | 547 | Large | Meso |
| Norwegian Elkhound | 12.9 | 12.4 to 14.1 | 64 | Medium | Meso |
| Toy Fox Terrier | 12.9 | 12.3 to 13.8 | 52 | Small | Meso |
| Dandie Dinmont Terrier | 12.8 | 12.2 to 14.6 | 66 | Small | Meso |
| Shih Tzu | 12.8 | 12.6 to 12.9 | 5,894 | Small | Brachy |
| Weimaraner | 12.8 | 12.6 to 13.0 | 1,229 | Large | Meso |
| Scottish Terrier | 12.7 | 12.5 to 12.9 | 869 | Small | Dolicho |
| Briard | 12.6 | 11.3 to 13.4 | 76 | Large | Meso |
| American Staffordshire Terrier | 12.5 | 11.4 to 13.1 | 94 | Medium | Meso |
| Basset Hound | 12.5 | 12.2 to 12.7 | 883 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Beagle | 12.5 | 12.3 to 12.7 | 1,552 | Small | Meso |
| Bichon Frise | 12.5 | 12.3 to 12.7 | 2,900 | Small | Meso |
| Japanese Chin | 12.5 | 12.2 to 13.3 | 142 | Small | Brachy |
| Gordon Setter | 12.4 | 12.1 to 12.8 | 138 | Large | Meso |
| Kerry Blue Terrier | 12.4 | 11.9 to 13.0 | 168 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Skye Terrier | 12.4 | 11.6 to 13.9 | 39 | Small | Meso |
| Clumber Spaniel | 12.3 | 11.7 to 13.9 | 85 | Large | Meso |
| Keeshond | 12.3 | 11.6 to 13.8 | 55 | Medium | Meso |
| Curly Coated Retriever | 12.2 | 11.2 to 12.8 | 66 | Large | Meso |
| Miniature Bull Terrier | 12.2 | 11.0 to 13.8 | 94 | Small | Dolicho |
| Pomeranian | 12.2 | 12.0 to 12.5 | 1,170 | Small | Meso |
| Basenji | 12.1 | 11.3 to 15.8 | 30 | Small | Meso |
| Chow Chow | 12.1 | 11.7 to 12.5 | 395 | Large | Meso |
| Giant Schnauzer | 12.1 | 11.5 to 12.8 | 126 | Large | Meso |
| Glen of Imaal Terrier | 12.1 | 11.6 to 13.5 | 40 | Small | Meso |
| Old English Sheepdog | 12.1 | 11.9 to 12.5 | 604 | Large | Meso |
| Airedale Terrier | 12.0 | 11.8 to 12.3 | 556 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Belgian Malenois | 12.0 | 11.5 to 12.6 | 337 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Borzoi | 12.0 | 10.8 to not reached | 43 | Large | Dolicho |
| Bull Terrier | 12.0 | 11.9 to 12.2 | 2,151 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Canaan Dog | 12.0 | 9.5 to 14.7 | 28 | Medium | Meso |
| Kelpie | 12.0 | 11.6 to 13.5 | 49 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | 12.0 | 11.9 to 12.2 | 883 | Large | Meso |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 12.0 | 12.0 to 12.1 | 25,332 | Small | Meso |
| Siberian Husky | 11.9 | 11.7 to 12.0 | 1,947 | Medium | Meso |
| Spinone Italiano | 11.9 | 11.6 to 12.4 | 215 | Large | Meso |
| Boston Terrier | 11.8 | 11.0 to 12.2 | 443 | Small | Brachy |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 11.8 | 11.7 to 11.9 | 6,879 | Small | Brachy |
| Chihuahua | 11.8 | 11.5 to 11.9 | 3,848 | Small | Brachy |
| Flat Coated Retriever | 11.7 | 11.5 to 11.9 | 784 | Large | Meso |
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever | 11.6 | 10.5 to not reached | 42 | Large | Meso |
| Pug | 11.6 | 11.4 to 11.8 | 2,782 | Small | Brachy |
| Greyhound | 11.5 | 11.4 to 11.6 | 3,025 | Large | Dolicho |
| Akita | 11.4 | 11.1 to 11.6 | 2,358 | Large | Meso |
| Alaskan Malamute | 11.3 | 11.1 to 11.8 | 842 | Large | Meso |
| American Eskimo Dog | 11.3 | 10.0 to 12.0 | 22 | Medium | Meso |
| Bouvier des Flandres | 11.3 | 10.4 to 11.9 | 79 | Large | Meso |
| Boxer | 11.3 | 11.3 to 11.5 | 5,925 | Large | Brachy |
| German Shepherd Dog | 11.3 | 11.3 to 11.4 | 10,773 | Large | Dolicho |
| Doberman Pinscher | 11.2 | 11.0 to 11.5 | 1,623 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Afghan Hound | 11.1 | 10.5 to 11.8 | 238 | Large | Dolicho |
| Brittany | 11.1 | 10.9 to 11.3 | 734 | Medium | Meso |
| Dogue de Bordeaux | 11.1 | 10.6 to 11.7 | 1,204 | Large | Brachy |
| Newfoundland | 11.0 | 10.9 to 11.6 | 633 | Large | Meso |
| Black Russian Terrier | 10.9 | 10.2 to 12.3 | 71 | Large | Meso |
| Great Pyrenees | 10.9 | 10.5 to 11.3 | 128 | Large | Meso |
| Irish Water Spaniel | 10.8 | 10.4 to 11.9 | 68 | Medium | Meso |
| Chinese Shar Pei | 10.6 | 10.3 to 10.9 | 2,028 | Medium | Meso |
| Great Dane | 10.6 | 10.4 to 11.0 | 864 | Large | Dolicho |
| Rottweiler | 10.6 | 10.4 to 10.7 | 3,442 | Large | Meso |
| Scottish Deerhound | 10.5 | 9.7 to 11.3 | 191 | Large | Dolicho |
| Bullmastiff | 10.2 | 9.9 to 10.5 | 1,169 | Large | Brachy |
| Anatolian Shepherd | 10.1 | 7.6 to 11.2 | 40 | Large | Meso |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 10.1 | 9.8 to 10.4 | 449 | Large | Meso |
| Leonberger | 10.0 | 9.5 to 10.3 | 321 | Large | Meso |
| Pharaoh Hound | 10.0 | 6.9 to 13.3 | 23 | Medium | Dolicho |
| Irish Wolfhound | 9.9 | 9.2 to 11.0 | 210 | Large | Dolicho |
| Bulldog | 9.8 | 9.7 to 10.0 | 4,743 | Medium | Brachy |
| French Bulldog | 9.8 | 9.4 to 10.1 | 2,495 | Small | Brachy |
| Affenpinscher | 9.3 | 7.4 to 10.8 | 204 | Small | Brachy |
| Bloodhound | 9.3 | 8.6 to 11.0 | 71 | Large | Dolicho |
| Neapolitan Mastiff | 9.3 | 8.8 to 10.2 | 210 | Large | Brachy |
| St Bernard | 9.3 | 9.0 to 9.8 | 509 | Large | Meso |
| Mastiff | 9.0 | 8.9 to 9.2 | 1,419 | Large | Brachy |
| Cane Corso | 8.1 | 6.5 to 9.5 | 101 | Large | Brachy |
| Presa Canario | 7.7 | 7.0 to 9.5 | 98 | Large | Meso |
| Caucasian Shepherd Dog | 5.4 | 4.6 to not reached | 22 | Large | Meso |
Some breeds sit on thin data. The shortest median of all, 5.4 years for the Caucasian Shepherd Dog, rests on 22 recorded deaths, and the Presa Canario's 7.7 years on 98. In total, 29 of the 155 breeds had fewer than 50 deaths in the data.
Across all 155 breeds, the middle breed median was 13.0 years. Eleven breeds had medians under 10 years, and 21 reached 14 years or more. The gap from longest to shortest is 10 years.
Compared with crossbreeds, 73 purebreds (47.1%) had longer median lifespans, 40 (25.8%) had shorter ones and 42 did not differ significantly.
Large vs small dog lifespan: how much longer do small dogs live?
About four years longer than giant breeds, in the biggest US dataset. A 2023 study of 13,292,929 dogs seen at more than 1,000 Banfield Pet Hospitals gave small purebreds a life expectancy at birth of 13.53 years.
Toy breeds came in at 13.36 years and medium breeds at 12.70. Large breeds, 26 to 45 kg (about 57 to 99 pounds), averaged 11.51 years. Giant breeds of 45 kg (about 99 pounds) or more averaged 9.51 years.
Mixed-breed dogs, which the study did not split by size, had a life expectancy of 12.71 years. Across all dogs, it was 12.69 years.
Source: Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science, 13.3 million dogs at more than 1,000 Banfield Pet Hospitals. Size groups are purebreds by adult weight.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Toy | 13.36 |
| Small | 13.53 |
| Medium | 12.70 |
| Large | 11.51 |
| Giant | 9.51 |
| Mixed breed | 12.71 |
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Source: Urfer et al. 2020, Canine Medicine and Genetics (Dog Aging Project authors). 20,970 dogs observed over one year; Kaplan-Meier medians are not comparable with life expectancy figures.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Small | 16.2 |
| Medium | 15.9 |
| Large | 14.6 |
| Giant | 13.4 |
Embed this chart
Source: McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports. UK data, 473,423 purebred dogs.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Small purebreds | 12.7 yrs |
| Medium purebreds | 12.5 yrs |
| Large purebreds | 11.9 yrs |
| Mesocephalic (medium face) | 12.8 yrs |
| Dolichocephalic (long face) | 12.1 yrs |
| Brachycephalic (flat face) | 11.2 yrs |
Embed this chart
A smaller US study by Dog Aging Project researchers found the same pattern. Across 20,970 dogs at three clinics, median survival fell from 16.2 years for small dogs to 15.9 for medium, 14.6 for large and 13.4 for giant dogs.
The clinic study used a different method, drawing on one year of records in which 1,535 of the 20,970 dogs died. Compare sizes within a study, not numbers across studies.
UK data shows the same slope. Small purebreds had a median of 12.7 years, medium 12.5 and large 11.9.
Flat-faced breeds live shorter lives
Face shape matters almost as much as size. In the UK study, brachycephalic, or flat-faced, purebreds had a median lifespan of 11.2 years, against 12.8 for mesocephalic breeds with medium-length muzzles.
Long-faced, or dolichocephalic, breeds such as sighthounds came in between at 12.1 years. The authors found flat-faced breeds had a 1.4 times higher hazard of death than medium-faced ones.
Size and face shape compound. Medium-sized flat-faced breeds had a median of 9.4 years and died 2.69 times faster than small long-faced breeds, the longest-lived group at 13.3 years.
- French Bulldog: 9.8 years (UK median)
- Bulldog: 9.8 years
- Pug: 11.6 years
- Boxer: 11.3 years
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: 11.8 years
- Boston Terrier: 11.8 years
- Shih Tzu: 12.8 years
Shih Tzus are the exception among common flat-faced breeds, with a median of 12.8 years, close to the all-dog figure. The study classed the Chihuahua as flat-faced too, at 11.8 years.
Life expectancy at birth for 18 common breeds
A second UK study measured life expectancy at birth, the average years a newborn puppy can expect to live. It used records of 30,563 dogs that died under the care of VetCompass clinics between January 2016 and July 2020.
All dogs had a life expectancy of 11.23 years. The Jack Russell Terrier led the 18 breeds studied at 12.72 years, followed by the Yorkshire Terrier at 12.54 and the Border Collie at 12.10.
The French Bulldog was last at 4.53 years. The English Bulldog (7.39), Pug (7.65), American Bulldog (7.79) and Chihuahua (7.91) were the only other breeds under 8 years.
Source: Teng et al. 2022, Scientific Reports. 30,563 dogs that died under UK primary veterinary care, January 2016 to July 2020.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Jack Russell Terrier | 12.72 yrs |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 12.54 yrs |
| Border Collie | 12.10 yrs |
| Springer Spaniel | 11.92 yrs |
| Crossbred | 11.82 yrs |
| Labrador Retriever | 11.77 yrs |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 11.33 yrs |
| Cocker Spaniel | 11.31 yrs |
| Shih Tzu | 11.05 yrs |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 10.45 yrs |
| German Shepherd Dog | 10.16 yrs |
| Boxer | 10.04 yrs |
| Beagle | 9.85 yrs |
| Husky | 9.53 yrs |
| Chihuahua | 7.91 yrs |
| American Bulldog | 7.79 yrs |
| Pug | 7.65 yrs |
| English Bulldog | 7.39 yrs |
| French Bulldog | 4.53 yrs |
Embed this chart
| Breed | Life expectancy at birth (years) | Dogs in life table |
|---|---|---|
| Jack Russell Terrier | 12.72 | 1,620 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 12.54 | 1,042 |
| Border Collie | 12.10 | 942 |
| Springer Spaniel | 11.92 | 790 |
| Crossbred | 11.82 | 6,511 |
| Labrador Retriever | 11.77 | 2,500 |
| Staffordshire Bull Terrier | 11.33 | 2,364 |
| Cocker Spaniel | 11.31 | 1,073 |
| Shih Tzu | 11.05 | 638 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 10.45 | 867 |
| German Shepherd Dog | 10.16 | 1,110 |
| Boxer | 10.04 | 836 |
| Beagle | 9.85 | 172 |
| Husky | 9.53 | 154 |
| Chihuahua | 7.91 | 458 |
| American Bulldog | 7.79 | 129 |
| Pug | 7.65 | 197 |
| English Bulldog | 7.39 | 478 |
| French Bulldog | 4.53 | 232 |
Life expectancy at birth counts every early death, so it runs lower than median survival. French Bulldogs had a 13.1% chance of dying in their first year, against 1.7% for all dogs.
The study also found neutered dogs lived longer. Neutered females had a life expectancy of 11.98 years and neutered males 11.49, against 10.50 and 10.58 for entire dogs.
How long America's most popular breeds live
Of AKC's 10 most registered breeds in 2025, the Poodle has the longest median lifespan in UK data, at 14.0 years. The German Shorthaired Pointer follows at 13.4 and the Golden Retriever and Dachshund at 13.2.
Three of the top 10 have medians under 11 years: the French Bulldog and Bulldog at 9.8, and the Rottweiler at 10.6. The German Shepherd Dog sits at 11.3.
The Labrador Retriever, America's No. 2 breed, had a median of 13.1 years in the UK study and 14.3 years at three US clinics.
Breeds ranked by AKC 2025 registrations; lifespans from McMillan et al. 2024 (UK). No US study gives medians for all 10.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| French Bulldog | 9.8 yrs |
| Labrador Retriever | 13.1 yrs |
| Golden Retriever | 13.2 yrs |
| German Shepherd Dog | 11.3 yrs |
| Dachshund | 13.2 yrs |
| Poodle | 14.0 yrs |
| Beagle | 12.5 yrs |
| Rottweiler | 10.6 yrs |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | 13.4 yrs |
| Bulldog | 9.8 yrs |
Embed this chart
| AKC rank 2025 | Breed | UK median lifespan (McMillan 2024) | UK life expectancy at birth (Teng 2022) | US median survival, 3 clinics (Urfer 2020) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | French Bulldog | 9.8 | 4.53 | not reported |
| 2 | Labrador Retriever | 13.1 | 11.77 | 14.3 |
| 3 | Golden Retriever | 13.2 | not in life tables | 14.0 |
| 4 | German Shepherd Dog | 11.3 | 10.16 | 13.4 |
| 5 | Dachshund | 13.2 | not in life tables | 16.3 |
| 6 | Poodle | 14.0 | not in life tables | not reported |
| 7 | Beagle | 12.5 | 9.85 | 16.1 |
| 8 | Rottweiler | 10.6 | not in life tables | not reported |
| 9 | German Shorthaired Pointer | 13.4 | not in life tables | not reported |
| 10 | Bulldog | 9.8 | 7.39 | not reported |
The Miniature Dachshund outlived the standard Dachshund in UK data, 14.0 years against 13.2. The UK study lists a single Poodle entry with no size class, so it does not separate toy, miniature and standard Poodles. See our most popular dog breeds report for the full AKC ranking.
Are dogs living longer? US data from 2013 to 2019
Yes, in Banfield's US data. Life expectancy at birth rose between 2013 and 2018 for every size group, though giant breeds dipped slightly in 2016. Toy and giant breeds dipped again in 2019, by amounts the authors found not significant.
Large purebreds went from 11.22 years in 2013 to 11.70 in 2019. Mixed-breed dogs gained the most, 0.83 years, rising from 12.15 to 12.98. Toy breeds gained 0.72 years, small 0.66, giant 0.60 and medium 0.56.
Source: Montoya et al. 2023, Supplementary Table 7. Large = 26 to 45 kg adult weight.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| 2013 | 11.22 |
| 2014 | 11.29 |
| 2015 | 11.39 |
| 2016 | 11.56 |
| 2017 | 11.60 |
| 2018 | 11.70 |
| 2019 | 11.70 |
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| Size group | 2013 | 2014 | 2015 | 2016 | 2017 | 2018 | 2019 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Toy | 12.85 | 12.99 | 13.22 | 13.37 | 13.53 | 13.66 | 13.58 |
| Small | 13.13 | 13.19 | 13.41 | 13.58 | 13.69 | 13.79 | 13.79 |
| Medium | 12.38 | 12.52 | 12.54 | 12.75 | 12.82 | 12.87 | 12.94 |
| Large | 11.22 | 11.29 | 11.39 | 11.56 | 11.60 | 11.70 | 11.70 |
| Giant | 9.10 | 9.44 | 9.48 | 9.43 | 9.53 | 9.82 | 9.70 |
| Mixed breed | 12.15 | 12.40 | 12.53 | 12.66 | 12.92 | 12.98 | 12.98 |
Source: Montoya et al. 2023, as reported in the paper's results.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Toy | +0.72 |
| Small | +0.66 |
| Medium | +0.56 |
| Large | +0.48 |
| Giant | +0.60 |
| Mixed breed | +0.83 |
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Source: Montoya et al. 2023. Median body condition score over life on a 5-point scale.
Show the numbers
| Label | years |
|---|---|
| Ideal weight (BCS 3) | 13.18 |
| Overweight (BCS 4) | 13.14 |
| Obese (BCS 5) | 11.71 |
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Weight mattered more than any single year of progress. Dogs with an ideal median body condition had a life expectancy at birth of 13.18 years. Overweight dogs were close at 13.14, but obese dogs fell to 11.71, a gap of 1.47 years.
Female dogs lived slightly longer than males, 12.76 years against 12.63. Among size groups, the gap was widest in large breeds, 11.74 years against 11.28. For more on what dogs cost over those years, see our cost of owning a dog report.
Why lifespan studies give different numbers
The four studies here use different dogs and different measures. Two cover the UK and two the United States, and none covers every breed in both countries.
Median survival is the age by which half the dogs have died. Life expectancy at birth averages the lifespan of every dog, including puppies that die young, so it is usually lower. The UK headline figures, 12.5 and 11.23 years, differ mainly for that reason.
| Study | Country | Sample | Measure | Headline figure |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| McMillan et al. 2024, Scientific Reports | United Kingdom | 584,734 dogs, 284,734 deaths, 18 data sources | Median lifespan (Kaplan-Meier) | 12.5 years, all dogs |
| Teng et al. 2022, Scientific Reports | United Kingdom | 30,563 dogs that died, 2016 to 2020, VetCompass clinics | Life expectancy at birth | 11.23 years, all dogs |
| Montoya et al. 2023, Frontiers in Veterinary Science | United States | 13,292,929 dogs, Banfield Pet Hospitals, 2013 to 2019 | Life expectancy at birth | 12.69 years, all dogs |
| Urfer et al. 2020, Canine Medicine and Genetics | United States | 20,970 dogs at 3 primary care clinics, 1 year | Median survival time (Kaplan-Meier) | 15.4 years, all dogs |
Clinic data also reflects who goes to the vet. Banfield and VetCompass dogs are pets with regular veterinary care. The McMillan data came from breed registries (45.0%), veterinary companies (26.5%), pet insurers (17.1%), welfare charities (5.9%) and universities (5.5%).
Frequently asked questions
What dog breed lives the longest?
In a study of 584,734 UK dogs, the Lancashire Heeler had the longest median lifespan at 15.4 years. The Tibetan Spaniel followed at 15.2 and the Bolognese at 14.9. Among popular breeds, the Papillon (14.5), Border Terrier (14.2) and Poodle (14.0) rank high.
What dog breed has the shortest lifespan?
The Caucasian Shepherd Dog had the shortest median, 5.4 years, but on only 22 recorded deaths. Among breeds with more data, the Cane Corso (8.1 years), Mastiff (9.0) and St Bernard (9.3) were shortest. In a separate UK study, the French Bulldog had the lowest life expectancy at birth, 4.53 years.
Do small dogs live longer than large dogs?
Yes. In US Banfield data on 13.3 million dogs, small purebreds had a life expectancy at birth of 13.53 years, large breeds 11.51 and giant breeds 9.51. UK and other US studies show the same pattern.
What is the average lifespan of a dog?
About 11 to 13 years, depending on the study and the measure. US Banfield data gives 12.69 years at birth, and the largest UK study a median of 12.5 years. A UK VetCompass study put life expectancy at birth at 11.23 years.
How long do Labrador Retrievers live?
The Labrador had a median lifespan of 13.1 years in the UK study of 584,734 dogs and a life expectancy at birth of 11.77 years in UK VetCompass data. At three US clinics, its median survival was 14.3 years.
How long do French Bulldogs live?
The French Bulldog had a median lifespan of 9.8 years in the largest UK study. A VetCompass study found a life expectancy at birth of just 4.53 years, the lowest of 18 breeds. French Bulldogs there had a 13.1% chance of dying in their first year.
Do mixed-breed dogs live longer than purebreds?
Not clearly. In the UK study, purebreds had a median of 12.7 years and crossbreeds 12.0. In US Banfield data, mixed breeds had a life expectancy of 12.71 years, between medium and small purebreds. A US clinic study found no significant difference.
Does weight affect how long a dog lives?
Yes. In Banfield data on 13.3 million US dogs, those that were obese for most of their lives had a life expectancy at birth of 11.71 years. Dogs at an ideal weight had 13.18.
Methodology and limitations
We downloaded the supplementary tables of McMillan et al. 2024 (Scientific Reports) and extracted median survival, confidence intervals, deaths, body size and face shape for all 155 breeds in Python. Group figures by size, sex and face shape are quoted from the paper's results.
Breed life expectancies come from Table 3 of Teng et al. 2022 (Scientific Reports). US figures come from Montoya et al. 2023 (Frontiers in Veterinary Science), including its Supplementary Table 7 for the year series, and from Table 1 and the results of Urfer et al. 2020 (Canine Medicine and Genetics).
The 10 most popular US breeds are AKC's 2025 ranking, released March 18, 2026. Weight conversions from kilograms to pounds are ours and rounded.
Sources
- McMillan et al. 2024, Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death, Scientific Reports (UK), Median lifespan for 155 breeds, size, sex and face shape, 584,734 dogs
- Montoya et al. 2023, Life expectancy tables for dogs and cats derived from clinical data, Frontiers in Veterinary Science (US, Banfield), US life expectancy by size, year, sex and body condition, 13,292,929 dogs
- Teng et al. 2022, Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom, Scientific Reports, Life expectancy at birth for 18 breeds, 30,563 dogs
- Also consulted: Urfer et al. 2020, Lifespan of companion dogs seen in three independent primary care veterinary clinics in the United States, Canine Medicine and Genetics, American Kennel Club, 2025 breed rankings, March 18, 2026.
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