It is impossible to calculate the average dog lifespan exactly. The length of life depends on the weight of the animal, breed, size, and other factors. However, the care for the pet and proper nutrition playing the main role.
The average lifetime of a dog of the large breed is much less than smaller pets. Such large breeds as Saint Bernard, Newfoundland, Irish Wolfhound have a life expectancy from six to eight years, and in rare cases, from ten to twelve.
Dog Life Expectancy by Weight
Each Dog Has Its Own Life Expectancy, but It May Depend on the Characteristics of the Animal
- Weight and size. Large breeds live much less than the small ones.
- Sterilized and neutered pets usually live longer.
- A big role in the life of a dog is given to nutrition; if it is good quality and correct, then the lifespan of a dog longer.
- Pets, whose owners carefully monitor their health, visit the veterinarian, live longer than others.
It is believed that male dogs die about a couple of years earlier than females on average. Today, the average dog life lasting about 14 years.
You can compare the age of pets with the humans’. One year of a dog’s life is equal to about seven years of human. There are new studies that prove that everything is not so simple, but in general, it is possible to focus on these calculations.
Little pets become quite mature by the year. Massive dogs continue to grow up to 2 years. Small breeds feel the influence of age later than large breeds.
How Many Years Does a Dog Live?
The record for the maximum age of a dog was set by an Australian shepherd dog named Blue, and she lived 29 years from 1910 to 1939; this record was even listed in the Guinness Book of Records.
Dogs like Blue are most likely an exception to the rule. However, nowadays, it is common to meet dogs that live through the age limit set by experts. And indeed, it is not uncommon to meet dogs that live up to 15 years or even older.
What Affects the Average Lifetime of a Dog?
When it comes to increasing the life expectancy of large and medium breeds of dogs, the golden rule is not to overdo it with the growth pace of puppies. Puppies should grow slowly and gradually and by no means reach the size of an adult dog until he is 2-3 years old.
For puppies of large breeds, we recommend using specialized nutrition. The fact that such foods contain reduced content of proteins and minerals, which contributes to their slow and gradual growth. In this case, puppies reach the size of large dogs by the age of 2-3 years, and this has a very positive effect on their musculoskeletal system.
Besides size, genes are very important. It has a huge impact on aging as well as on the development of many diseases. Just like humans, dogs have a predisposition to some diseases, and the general condition of a dog lies in the mother’s womb.
Therefore, it is very important what kind of life the mother of the dog had, especially during pregnancy. When buying a pedigree puppy, ask what was his grandparents’ disease, how long they lived, and what they died from. Answers to these questions will help you to know what risks your pet will face.
How to Increase the Life Expectancy of a Dog?
The host’s attitude towards his pet also predetermines how long does a dog live. If you treat your dog as a full member of the family, take care of him, give him affection and attention, and have him checked regularly by veterinarians, it is likely that your dog will not experience stress or negative emotions, which of course predetermines the quality and life expectancy of your pet.
If You Want Your Dog to Live a Long and Happy Life, You Must Fulfill Five Obligatory Conditions
- Keep an eye on your pet’s diet and don’t let him gain weight quickly.
- Brush your dog’s teeth every day.
- Walking a dog every day, even if it is many years old, will help to keep in shape the musculoskeletal system of the animal.
- Regularly perform training to perform any tasks will help to keep the dog’s brain cells in tone.
- Do not forget to regularly check-up with your vet.
We recommend you not to think about the death of your pet, but to enjoy his life. These can be the best years of your life if you love each other. Remember, it is in your hands to do everything possible to make your dog live as long and as happy as possible!