How Long Do Dogs Live?
Short answer: most dogs live 10 to 13 years. A 2024 study of more than half a million dogs in the UK found a median lifespan of 12.5 years. Small, long-nosed breeds tend to live longest, and large, giant and flat-faced breeds the shortest.
Average dog lifespan by size
| Size | Typical lifespan | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Small (up to 20 lb) | 12-16 years | Chihuahua, Dachshund, Toy Poodle, Jack Russell |
| Medium (21-50 lb) | 11-14 years | Beagle, Border Collie, Cocker Spaniel |
| Large (51-100 lb) | 10-12 years | Labrador, Golden Retriever, German Shepherd |
| Giant (over 100 lb) | 7-10 years | Great Dane, Mastiff, Irish Wolfhound |
What the big studies show
A 2024 study in Scientific Reports (McMillan and colleagues) looked at records of 584,734 dogs in the UK. The median lifespan across all dogs was 12.5 years. Small breeds with long noses lived longest, while flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds lived shorter lives: French Bulldogs had a median of 9.8 years. Females lived slightly longer than males on average.
Why big dogs die younger
Large and giant breeds grow very fast and seem to age faster once grown. They are more prone to bone cancer, heart disease and bloat. That is why a 10-year-old Great Dane is very old (about 79 in human years) while a 10-year-old Chihuahua is middle-aged (about 56).
How to help your dog live longer
- Keep a lean weight. In a lifetime study of Labradors (Kealy and colleagues, 2002), dogs fed 25% less lived a median of about 1.8 years longer. Check the right amount with the dog food calculator.
- Dental care. Brush teeth and get cleanings: dental disease affects most dogs over 3.
- Vaccines, parasite prevention and checkups, twice a year for seniors.
- Exercise and mental activity every day, matched to age.
- Safety: leashes near roads, fenced yards, and toxic foods out of reach.
See how old your dog is in human years with the calculator below, or view the full dog years chart.
Sources: McMillan K.M. et al., "Longevity of companion dog breeds", Scientific Reports (2024); Kealy R.D. et al., JAVMA (2002); AVMA.
Try the dog age calculator
Enter your own numbers below, or open the full dog age calculator with the formula and more examples.
This guide is general information, not veterinary advice. Your pet may differ: ask your vet. Terms
Frequently asked questions
What is the average lifespan of a dog?
Most dogs live 10 to 13 years; a 2024 UK study of over 580,000 dogs found a median of 12.5 years.
Which dogs live the longest?
Small breeds with normal-length noses, such as Dachshunds, Toy Poodles and Jack Russell Terriers, often live 14 years or more.
Do mixed breed dogs live longer?
Studies disagree, and the difference is small either way. A dog's size and face shape predict lifespan much better than whether it is mixed or purebred.
Is 13 old for a dog?
Yes. A 13-year-old small dog is about 68 in human years, and a large dog about 82.