Best dogs
Longest-living dog breeds
The breeds with the longest typical lifespans, mostly small dogs, with the years each is expected to live.
Small dogs live longest on average, and giant breeds live shortest. These are the breeds with the longest typical lifespans in the profiles. A typical lifespan is a range for the breed, and an individual dog can live more or fewer years.
The list
| # | Breed | Size | Typical weight | Lifespan |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Rat Terrier | Small | 10 to 25 lb | 14 to 18 years |
| 2 | Xoloitzcuintli | Medium | 25 to 40 lb | 13 to 18 years |
| 3 | Lagotto Romagnolo | Medium | 24 to 35 lb | 15 to 17 years |
| 4 | Chinese Crested | Small | 8 to 12 lb | 13 to 17 years |
| 5 | Chihuahua | Small | 3 to 6 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 6 | Havanese | Small | 7 to 13 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 7 | Belgian Malinois | Medium | 40 to 80 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 8 | Papillon | Small | 5 to 10 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 9 | Boykin Spaniel | Medium | 25 to 40 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 10 | Coton de Tulear | Small | 8 to 13 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 11 | American Hairless Terrier | Small | 12 to 16 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 12 | Manchester Terrier | Small | 12 to 22 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 13 | Teddy Roosevelt Terrier | Small | 8 to 35 lb | 14 to 16 years |
| 14 | Yorkshire Terrier | Small | 4 to 7 lb | 13 to 16 years |
| 15 | Shiba Inu | Small | 17 to 23 lb | 13 to 16 years |
| 16 | Russell Terrier | Small | 9 to 15 lb | 13 to 16 years |
| 17 | Standard Schnauzer | Medium | 30 to 50 lb | 13 to 16 years |
| 18 | Dachshund | Small | 16 to 32 lb | 12 to 16 years |
| 19 | Pomeranian | Small | 3 to 7 lb | 12 to 16 years |
| 20 | Australian Cattle Dog | Medium | 33 to 50 lb | 12 to 16 years |
About the breeds
1. Rat Terrier
A trim, athletic American farm terrier that comes in miniature and standard sizes, with a short coat, a quick mind, and a lot of energy. Read the Rat Terrier profile.
2. Xoloitzcuintli
The Xoloitzcuintli is an ancient Mexican breed that comes hairless or coated in three sizes, valued as a calm, loyal watchdog and companion. Read the Xoloitzcuintli profile.
3. Lagotto Romagnolo
The Lagotto Romagnolo is a curly-coated Italian water dog turned truffle hunter, with a keen nose, a teddy-bear look and a trainable, busy nature. Read the Lagotto Romagnolo profile.
4. Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested is a slender toy dog, either hairless with a crest and plume or coated as a Powderpuff, known for its affectionate, clingy nature. Read the Chinese Crested profile.
5. Chihuahua
The Chihuahua is the smallest recognized breed, a Mexican toy dog with a big personality, a loud voice and a strong attachment to one person. Read the Chihuahua profile.
6. Havanese
The Havanese is a sturdy little Cuban companion with a long, silky, wavy coat and a bouncy, people-loving temperament that suits families and apartments. Read the Havanese profile.
7. Belgian Malinois
The Belgian Malinois is a powerful, short-coated Belgian herding breed used in police and military work, with intense drive that calls for experienced handling. Read the Belgian Malinois profile.
8. Papillon
The Papillon is a small, intelligent toy spaniel named for its butterfly-like ears, quick to learn and unusually athletic for its size. Read the Papillon profile.
9. Boykin Spaniel
The Boykin Spaniel is a compact, brown, South Carolina spaniel bred to hunt wild turkey and waterfowl from small boats, and a cheerful family dog. Read the Boykin Spaniel profile.
10. Coton de Tulear
The Coton de Tulear is a small, cheerful white companion from Madagascar with a soft, cotton-like coat and a lively, affectionate temperament. Read the Coton de Tulear profile.
11. American Hairless Terrier
A small, lively American terrier that comes in hairless and coated forms, descended from a single hairless puppy and needing skin protection. Read the American Hairless Terrier profile.
12. Manchester Terrier
A sleek, black-and-tan English terrier in Standard and Toy sizes, quick, clean, and alert, with a short coat that needs little grooming. Read the Manchester Terrier profile.
13. Teddy Roosevelt Terrier
A small American farm and hunting terrier in miniature and standard sizes, descended from Rat Terrier types, lively, trainable, and short-coated. Read the Teddy Roosevelt Terrier profile.
14. Yorkshire Terrier
The Yorkshire Terrier is a tiny, steel-blue and tan toy terrier from northern England, a former mill ratter turned fashionable and feisty lapdog. Read the Yorkshire Terrier profile.
15. Shiba Inu
The Shiba Inu is a small, fox-faced Japanese spitz known for its independence, cleanliness and thick double coat. Read the Shiba Inu profile.
16. Russell Terrier
A small, short-legged, long-bodied working terrier with great stamina, a smooth, broken, or rough coat, and an intense appetite for activity. Read the Russell Terrier profile.
17. Standard Schnauzer
The Standard Schnauzer is a sturdy, bearded German farm dog of medium size, alert and spirited, with a wiry coat and a taste for work and company. Read the Standard Schnauzer profile.
18. Dachshund
The Dachshund is a long-bodied, short-legged scent hound from Germany, bred to follow badgers underground and kept today as a bold, vocal companion. Read the Dachshund profile.
19. Pomeranian
The Pomeranian is a tiny, fluffy spitz with a fox-like face and a plumed tail, a confident and noisy companion descended from much larger working dogs. Read the Pomeranian profile.
20. Australian Cattle Dog
The Australian Cattle Dog is a tough, compact herding dog bred to drive cattle over long distances, known for endurance, loyalty and a strong will. Read the Australian Cattle Dog profile.
How this list was made
Breeds ordered by the top of their typical lifespan range, then the bottom. The ratings come from the breed profiles on this site, which rate each breed as a whole. Individual dogs differ, so use the list to decide which profiles to read, then meet the breed before you choose.