Animals - Dogs - Animal lifespans
How long do dogs live on average?
Correct!
A dog's life expectancy depends greatly on breed, body size, genetics, and health. A large UK study using data from 584,734 dogs across 155 breeds and a crossbred group estimated a median lifespan of 12.5 years.
The study found a clear relationship with body size: small breeds had a median lifespan of 12.7 years, medium breeds 12.5 years, and large breeds 11.9 years. There were also substantial differences among individual breeds. The Lancashire Heeler reached 15.4 years and the Tibetan Spaniel 15.2 years. The familiar rule that one dog year equals seven human years is therefore a major simplification: dogs age at different rates depending on size, breed, and stage of life.
