Scientists have found out which dog breeds are the longest

• Scientists in the UK have investigated how a dog’s breed, size, sex and face shape affect its lifespan.

• Dogs with flat faces, large dogs, and male dogs tend to live shorter lives, according to the scientists.

• The longest-lived breeds, at 14.5 years, are Lancashire terriers, Tibetan spaniels, and Shiba Inus.

Everyone wishes their dog could live forever, but as any pet lover knows, these beloved poochies only spend a portion of our lives with us.

Whether you’re looking to get a new dog or want to make the most of your time with your furry friend, it’s worth knowing about the typical life spans of different breeds.

Now, scientists can answer your questions better than ever.

A huge new study from the dog welfare organisation Dog’s Trust UK estimated the lifespans of 155 different dog breeds and found that breeds such as Tibetan spaniels and Shiba Inus tend to be the longest while breeds including mastiffs and St. Bernards live some of the shortest lives.

The study, published Thursday in the peer-reviewed journal Scientific Reportsanalyzed data from over half a million dogs in the UK to investigate the impact of breed, body size, sex and face shape on their life expectancy.

Dogs with the longest and shortest lifespans

​​​​The study found that the median life expectancy for all dogs was 12.5 years old. But some breeds tend to live a few more years.

Among purebreds, the five breeds least at risk of early death were Lancashire terriers, Tibetan spaniels, Shiba Inus, papillons, and the Lakeland terrier.

The longest living breeds

Others tend to live much shorter lives. Among purebreds, the five most at risk of early death were Caucasian shepherd dogs, Presa Canarios, Cane Corsos, mastiffs, and Saint Bernards.

The shortest living breeds

It’s no coincidence that these breeds don’t last that long. All five are large dogs, which are at a 20% greater risk of early death compared to small dogs, according to the study.

The story continues

In addition to body size, the study found that sex and face shape also influence longevity.

Male dogs, for example, live on average 0.3 years less than females, which supports the female survival advantage hypothesis which indicates that in many different mammalian species (including humans) females outnumber males.

In addition, dogs with flat faces, such as bulldogs and French pugs, have a 40% increased risk of early death compared to dogs with medium faces, such as Labradors or golden retrievers, the author said. lead by Kirsten McMillan with Business Insider.

These flat-faced breeds tend to have breathing problems and heart disease, according to the report Blue Crosswhich probably explains the shorter life expectancy.

In the graphic below, you can see a list of dog breeds with the shortest lifespans – many are large, such as Newfoundland and Burmese mountain dogs, and many have flat faces including boxers and bulldogs.

We have talked mainly about purebreds, so far, but the scientists also looked at crossbreeds. They found that the median lifespan for purebreds was 0.70 years longer compared to crossbreds.

The difference could be explained by the emergence of “designer” crossbreeds like Labradoodles, McMillan said. These breeds originated from artificial breeding practices but were considered crossbreds for this study.

As a result, it may explain why the data recommended for crossbreeding have a shorter lifespan, McMillan said.

A different kind of study

While previous studies have analyzed factors including sex, face shape, breeding, and body size independently, this is the first study to explore how they all relate to artificial breeding and ultimately how that affects a dog’s lifespan, McMillan told BI.

“No one has really explored the potential link between evolutionary history and lifespan despite the fact that we created these breeds,” McMillan said.

The domestication of dogs began around 16,000 years ago. But the great variety of breeds we see today emerged much later, some in the last 200 years.

In fact, the Lancashire Heeler – the longest-lived breed, according to the study – was recognized as the American Kennel Club’s newest dog breed in January. Why breed so many dogs?

Artificial breeding has shortened the lives of dogs

People began artificially breeding dogs to achieve desired characteristics or abilities.

For example, lachshunds were bred specifically to hunt badgers. Their short legs and long slender bodies keep them low to the ground to track scent and allow them to squeeze into tight burrows.

Humans have shaped the evolutionary history of dogs for centuries, and in turn, shaped their life cycles.

Artificial breeding practices such as inbreeding, trait selection, and population isolation can reduce genetic diversity and lead to serious health concerns, McMillan said.

Nearly 700 hereditary disorders have been documented in domestic dogs, including hip dysplasia, endocrine disruption, and blood disorders.

“Ethical and welfare concerns about breeding are now one of the most important issues in dog welfare. And that’s not just true for the UK, it’s all over the world,” said McMillan.

This study can help you be a better pet owner

McMillan hopes this research will help prospective pet owners make informed choices about the breeds they welcome into their lives, and provide current dog owners with important information about their dogs’ aging process.

Longevity not only affects the amount of time you spend caring for your pet, but also the risk of facing major health challenges earlier in your dog’s life, which can financially and emotionally expensive.

“These dogs are members of our family,” McMillan said. “We want to make sure we are providing them with a long, happy and healthy life.”

Read the original article on Business Insider