How Breed and Size Affect Dog Lifespan

Last updated May 6, 2026 · 7 min read

If you want to predict roughly how long a dog will live, ask one question: how big is the adult? Size is the biggest predictor of dog lifespan, and the gap between small breeds and giant breeds is enormous, nearly a decade. Within a size category, breed-specific genetic risks shift the average up or down. Here’s the data.

The size-lifespan relationship

Across multiple studies, the pattern is consistent:

This pattern reverses the usual mammalian rule that bigger animals live longer. It’s specific to dogs (and present to a lesser degree in cats and horses). The leading hypothesis is that the same growth factors that drive size also drive faster cellular aging.

Breed-by-breed lifespan, by size category

Small breeds (under 20 lbs)

• Chihuahua: 14–18 years. Heart valve disease, tracheal collapse, patellar luxation.
• Yorkshire Terrier: 13–16 years. Liver shunts, dental issues, tracheal collapse.
• Toy Poodle: 14–18 years. Generally robust; patellar luxation common.
• Pomeranian: 12–16 years. Tracheal collapse, alopecia X.
• Dachshund: 12–16 years. IVDD (intervertebral disc disease) is the major concern. Back issues affect 19–24% of dachshunds.
• Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: 9–14 years (shorter than size category average). Mitral valve disease and syringomyelia are widespread.
• Beagle: 12–15 years. Generally healthy; cherry eye, ear infections common.
• Boston Terrier: 11–14 years. Brachycephalic respiratory issues, eye conditions.
• Bichon Frise: 14–15 years. Generally robust.
• Shih Tzu: 12–16 years. Brachycephalic issues, dental crowding.

Medium breeds (20–50 lbs)

• Border Collie: 12–15 years. Hip dysplasia, collie eye anomaly. Working lines often outlive show lines.
• Australian Shepherd: 12–15 years. MDR1 gene mutation (drug sensitivity), epilepsy in some lines.
• English Bulldog: 8–10 years (notably short). Brachycephalic syndrome, skin folds, orthopedic issues, heat sensitivity.
• French Bulldog: 10–12 years. Similar brachycephalic concerns to English Bulldog.
• Cocker Spaniel: 12–14 years. Ear infections, eye conditions, autoimmune disease.
• Standard Schnauzer: 13–16 years. Generally healthy.
• Springer Spaniel: 12–14 years.

Large breeds (50–90 lbs)

• Labrador Retriever: 10–14 years. Hip and elbow dysplasia, obesity-related issues. Often outlives the large-breed average.
• Golden Retriever: 10–12 years. Lifetime cancer rate around 60%, the highest of any common breed. Hemangiosarcoma and lymphoma especially common.
• German Shepherd: 9–13 years. Degenerative myelopathy, hip dysplasia, exocrine pancreatic insufficiency in some lines.
• Boxer: 9–12 years. Cancer (especially mast cell tumors), cardiomyopathy.
• Rottweiler: 8–11 years. Osteosarcoma, cardiac issues.
• Doberman Pinscher: 10–12 years. Dilated cardiomyopathy is the leading cause of death; particularly common.
• Standard Poodle: 12–14 years. Often outlives large-breed average. Bloat, Addison’s disease, sebaceous adenitis.

Giant breeds (over 90 lbs)

• Great Dane: 7–10 years. Dilated cardiomyopathy, bloat, osteosarcoma.
• Saint Bernard: 8–10 years. Hip dysplasia, cardiac conditions, heat sensitivity.
• Newfoundland: 8–10 years. Cardiac issues, hip dysplasia, cystinuria.
• Mastiff: 6–10 years. Bloat, cardiac issues, orthopedic problems.
• Irish Wolfhound: 6–8 years (the shortest of common breeds). Dilated cardiomyopathy, bone cancer, bloat.
• Bernese Mountain Dog: 7–10 years. High cancer rate (histiocytic sarcoma especially).
• Great Pyrenees: 10–12 years (outlives most giant breeds).

Within breeds, what shifts the range

Lifespan ranges within a breed are wider than between-breed differences. The factors that move a dog up or down within their breed range:

• Body weight maintenance. The biggest controllable factor. About 2 years on average from lean weight maintenance.
• Spay/neuter status and timing. Reduces reproductive cancers and certain behaviors; in some large breeds, timing matters for joint and oncologic outcomes.
• Dental care. Regular dental management reduces systemic inflammation.
• Regular vet care with senior bloodwork. Catches age-related disease earlier.
• Heartworm and parasite prevention.
• Environment (indoor/outdoor, climate exposure, traffic risk).

What this comes down to

Size is the headline. Small dogs: 13–17 years average. Giants: 7–10 years. Within size, breed-specific genetic conditions (heart conditions in Cavaliers and Dobermans, cancer in Goldens and Berners, joint issues across many large breeds) shift the range. The lifespan-extending levers you control (weight, dental care, vet visits, prevention) matter regardless of breed. For a breed-by-breed breakdown, see our sortable dog breed lifespan chart.

Use our dog age calculator to see your dog’s age in human years using a size-adjusted formula. The breed-specific averages above tell you the range; the calculator tells you where you are in it.