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It is only natural that you would want your best friend to live as long as you do. Unfortunately, most dog breeds only live for 10 - 13 years. Thankfully, several breeds have what might be referred to as unusually long lifespans for dogs. If you are interested in adopting a pouch that will have a long natural lifespan, here is a "dog with longest lifespan" list that may help you choose.
Note: You will notice that a disproportionately large number of dogs that have a much longer lifespan are of the small breed variety. That is because larger dogs tend to grow faster, which means that they get exposed to cases of abnormal tissue developments such as tumors and cancers as well as diseases such as arthritis.
That being said, here are five breeds of dogs with the longest lifespan.
Dachshund
The world's known longest living Dachshund is called Rocky, and he is 24 years old. That is impressive for any dog breed. Dachshunds, however, don't play within the normal dog life expectancy. Typically, the "sausage dog" lives an average of 12 to 17 years, but you will find that there are some outliers who live for well over 20 years within the same breed. As a breed, they come in three main varieties: long-haired, wirehaired, and short-haired.
They also come in different sizes, with the standard size being the most common and a miniature size being quite popular. At the same time, most kennel clubs don't even officially recognize the "kaninchen" (German for rabbit) size. You will typically find Dachshunds in different color combinations. As a breed, they are quite playful, lively, loyal, and quite courageous for their size. They do, however, need proper training and socialization; otherwise, they tend to get rather aggressive and might not be the best pets for children.
Chihuahua
On average, Chihuahuas live for 15 to 20 years. This gives them a respectable spot on this "dog with longest lifespan" list. They also have the potential to make another list "smallest dog breed." The longest living Chihuahua was called "Megabyte," who lived for 20 years and 265 days and passed away in 2014.
The thing about Chihuahuas and probably one of the main reasons why they are, on average, the longest living dog breed is because they are not as prone to common dog diseases and conditions like other breeds.
The beauty of this tiny dog breed isn't just the fact that they are tiny and quite adorable but also because they are full of energy, have a rambunctious spirit, are intelligent, and quite bold. They also play well with children and tend to be extremely devoted to their families. Thanks to their small size, they only require a little bit of exercise to remain fit, healthy, and relatively calm.
Jack Russell Terrier
The Jack Russell Terrier is a medium-sized dog breed that comes from England. They are typically very cute, tend to have mixed colored coats, and are full of energy. They are so energetic that they can spend an entire day outside - every day. On average, they live for 16 to 20 years, which puts them on par with the Chihuahua for prolonged life expectancy.
Because they are so full of energy, these dogs tend to be playful, which makes them love children. They can, however, get very restless and demand quite a bit of exercising.
Shih Tzu
Ironically, the name Shih Tzu means "Lion" in Chinese. These adorable little dogs were typically kept as pets by Chinese royalty and are known to be quite friendly. They are so friendly towards people in general that they make poor watchdogs. On average, the Shih Tzu lives for 10 to 18 years and make wonderful companions for children and adults alike.
They tend to have thick furs that need constant grooming. Other than that, the Shih Tzu doesn't have very many health concerns. With enough exercise and very frequent grooming, this breed of dog is a breeze to have at home.
Beagle
This is an ancient dog breed that has been around for about 2,000 years. It is stipulated that the name "Beagle" came from the French term "Bee gueule," which translates to loudmouth or wide throat. This is quite convenient because this dog breed can be quite vocal as they tend to howl and bark a lot.
Perhaps the most famous Beagle of all time is the comic character "Snoopy." That is an accurate representation of Beagles as they tend to be quite lovable, smart, gentle, and very friendly. Quite like Snoopy, the comic character.
On average, Beagles tend to live for at least 12 years. The world's oldest Beagle was known as Butch, and he lived for an astonishing 27 years. He unfortunately, passed away in 2009.
As mentioned earlier, the list of dog breeds with the longest lifespans tend to be small-bodied dogs. However, there are a few large dog breeds that live for a long lifespan. An excellent example is the Australian Cattle Dog, which tends to live for about 12 to 15 years. The longest living Australian Cattle Dog is recorded for having lived for 29 years. This breed of dog tends to be very energetic, intelligent, and quite easy to train.
While it is true that some dog breeds are naturally and biologically designed to have a much longer life expectancy than others, it isn't always just about the size or the specific breeds. Several other factors exist within your control that you can use to ensure that your dog, no matter the breed, lives for as long as he or she can.
The most common factors are a healthy diet, a lifestyle full of exercise, and regular veterinary care. With quality care, your dog, no matter the breed, has a higher chance of living for as long as he or she possibly can.
