The last few years have seen many of us welcome a new four-legged friend into our homes, as the Kennel Club has dog ownership rise to record levels.
With 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your perfect pup – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or crossbreed.
One of the terrible truths of dog ownership is that we are likely to outlive our adored pet, with the average dog living just over 11 years. But there's a fairly substantial gap between the breeds that live the longest and shortest lives.
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New research published in the journal Scientific Reports has used the Royal Veterinary College’s Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass), a database holding information on over two million animals, to work out the average life expectance of some of the UK’s most popular breeds of dog.
Researchers took a random sample of 30,563 dogs that died over a five year period to come to their findings.
Here’s what they found.
13. Chihuahua
One of the most surprising parts of the research was that the tiny Chihuahua only lives for an average of 7.91 years - particularly since it was recently revealed that the oldest living dog in the world was a 21-year-old Chihuahua called TobyKeith from Florida. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
14. Husky
One of the hardiest breeds on the planet, the Husky is capable of pulling heavy weights for miles across the frozen Arctic tundra and live to an average age of 9.53 years. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
15. Beagle
A scent hound that was originally bred to hunt hare, the boisterous Beagel has an average lifespan of 9.85 years. Photo: Canva/Getty Images
16. French Bulldog
The French Bulldog has seen a huge surge in popularity in recent years, challenging the Labrador as the UK's favourite dog. They also have the shortest lifespan though, with research showing they live for an average of just 4.53 years. Photo: Canva/Getty Images