The happiness of having a dog is made that little harder by one single thing – our beloved pets don’t live as long as we do.
Almost 40% of small breed dogs live longer than 10 years whilst only 13% of giant breed dogs live into the double digits. The average 25kg dog will live 10 to 12 years, Great Danes and larger hounds are elderly at 6 to 8 years.
It’s the weight that matters and not the height so even if your dog is small and weighs 20 to 25kgs they are not considered small breed dogs.
Sadly, various forms of cancer are very common in dogs. Giant breed such as boxers, Golden Retrievers, and Rottweiler’s, have unusually high rates of cancer.
Generally speaking, the larger your dog the shorter it’s lifetime will be.
There is one concrete piece of advice experts can give people looking for a dog breed with a long life span: think small. Its fact that small breeds outlive the big guys but regardless of the size of your dog, regular exercise and a balanced and nutritious diet are crucial in ensuring your dog lives a long and happy life.
Consult your pet sitter or dog minder for advice about keeping your dog happy and healthy.