Long living dogs: The 10 breeds that have the longest average lifespan - including the yappy but lovable chihuahua

Millions of Brits have welcomed puppies and pooches into their homes over the last three years.

With working from home becoming commonplace and people moving out of the city to live closer to nature, it’s no wonder the Kennel Club saw dog ownership rise by nearly 8% during the coronavirus pandemic.

And while we often think about lifestyle, appearance, allergies and more when selecting what breed to bring into our family, it's less common to consider lifespan.

Smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger ones and have scooped numerous Guinness World Records over the decades. Here, Fabulous takes a look at the ten longest living breeds.

Chihuahua - 20 Years

They have a bad wrap as yappy, but Chihuahuas are actually lovable little pooches with very low exercise needs. The tiny dogs - famed in the noughties for being carried around in A-lister handbags - have a lifespan of 14 to 20 years. They can grow as tall as eight inches and weigh around six pounds when healthy.

Dachshund (Sausage Dog) - 20 Years

Like Chihuahuas, these sassy little dogs have a lifespan between 14 to 20 years, according to Pure Pet Food. They get their sausage nickname from their round and long build. But their body shape means you shouldn’t let them jump off sofas or beds if you want them to live a long life. Dachshunds can weigh over two stone depending on their length and height.

Toy Poodle - 18 Years

It’s not uncommon for Toy Poodles to reach the ripe old age of 18, but some have been known to live as old as 20. Coming in bigger than Chihuahuas and Dachshunds, they require a lot more exercise and are very energetic pooches. They tend to weigh around a stone in weight as luckily, their curly (but non shedding) fur doesn’t weigh them down.

Pomeranian - 16 Years

Pomerianians were bred down in size by Queen Victoria, but they managed to keep longevity in their DNA. While the average lifespan of a “pommy” is 16 years, they have been known to live as long as 20. They are known for their playful but intelligent temperament… and their adorable resemblance to cuddly toys.

Shih Tzu - 18 Years

They’re one of the oldest breeds in the world and like to put a stamp on that heritage by living as old as 18 years. They are characterised by their long fur which needs regular grooming and flopping ears. The average Shih Tzu will measure below 30 centimetres and weigh around a stone.

Yorkshire Terrier - 16 Years

Yorkshire Terriers, also known as Yorkies, have a reputation for being lap dogs. But these pooches are actually pretty active and love running around - something that helps them live as long as 16 years. They grow to a maximum height of 23 centimetres normally but find it very easy to become obese, so it’s best to keep their weight below seven pounds.

Jack Russell - 16 Years

These little pooches love to dig, hunt and explore - and it keeps them young at heart. Jack Russells live between 13 to 16 years when properly stimulated throughout their lives and looked after well. They have a muscular and well-proportioned body that measures typically around 25 centimetres tall and weighs just over a stone.

Cockapoo - 15 Years

A cross between a cocker spaniel and a poodle, these teddy bearlike dogs can live as long as 15 years. However, they must get their lifespan from their poodle DNA as cocker spaniels tend to have shorter lives. A standard size cockapoo measures up around 38 centimetres tall and over 25 pounds.

Maltese - 15 Years

These white and curly pooches get their name from their heritage in Malta. And while they generally live for around 15 years, research by Paw Leaks found that the oldest Maltese dog to have ever lived was 20-years-old. Like Yorkshire Terriers, they tend to grow between 20 and 20 centimetres and weigh less than seven pounds.

Shiba Inu - 15 Years

The average life expectancy of a Shiba Inu is around 12 to 15 years - but this is on the condition that they are well looked after, walked and fed. Considered the oldest and smallest of Japan's dogs, the oldest known Shiba Inu died at the ripe old age of 26 in 2011. They can measure up anywhere between 33 and 41 centimetres.

(Article source: The Sun)