A dog's life: how long does it last?

A dog's year in seven human years

One year of a dog's life is equivalent to 7 years of a human life. This formula is conditional.

For your information! A seven-year-old child is not yet a completely independent person. He is still attached to his parents. As for dogs, a one-year-old dog, on the contrary, is an animal that has long been separated from its mother. This suggests the conclusion that every month a dog lives is equal to 1.5 human years.

On average, dogs live 10-13 years

Thus, the life of a dog is:

Different breeds of dogs age differently, so the numbers above are approximate.
Large animals, for example, live longer than small ones. The difference can be at least 7-8 years. Therefore, comparing a large breed pet with a decorative puppy is fundamentally wrong. Note! It is almost impossible to calculate the life of a street dog. Cold, hunger, weather conditions and cars end the lives of mongrels very early.

Long-lived dogs

Long-lived dogs include small and medium-sized dogs with good health and strong immunity. Despite this, there are exceptions. Some animals that received a mention in the Guinness Book of Records for surviving to the maximum possible age were far from the parameters that guarantee longevity.

The healthiest and longest-living breeds

If life expectancy is important to you, choose a pet from the healthiest and longest-living breeds. These include:

1. Corgi

   . Funny dogs that resemble freshly baked loaves were bred to herd livestock. They are very mobile and have good health, so on average they live at least 15 years.

2. Husky

   . These sled dogs have strong immunity and live long enough for their size (up to 13 years). Their only disadvantage is a genetic predisposition to ophthalmological diseases.

3. Pomeranians

   . The premature death of these furry “bear cubs” is due to their restlessness and inattention of their owners. Spitz often die under the wheels of a car, carried away by hunting birds or cats. If you walk them strictly on a leash and train them to follow commands, they will delight you for about 16 years.

4. Shih Tzu

   . On average, Tibetan dogs live 10-16 years. They are native breeds with good health. Only their eyes, which sit loosely in their sockets, require special attention. Because of this, they often fall out and get injured.

5. Dachshunds

   . With proper care, charming “sausages” live up to 17-20 years. Owners should protect their fragile spine with adequate exercise and a balanced diet.

6. Yorkshire Terriers

   . Despite their size, Yorkies are hardy and strong. They are prone to dislocations of the kneecap and hip joint, but if safety precautions are taken, they delight their owners for at least 14 years.

7. Chihuahua

   . The average age of these miniature dogs with bulging eyes is 15-20 years. They should be protected from injury and low temperatures. The thin bones of these lively babies are fragile, and their bodies are accustomed to the hot Mexican sun.

8. Labradors

   . Another exception. Despite weighing almost 40 kg, these good-natured and unusually intelligent pets live 12-14 years. Joint problems, characteristic of large dogs, occur in Labradors only in old age.

9. Miniature Schnauzers

   . Their impressive beard and mustache give these dogs a respectable appearance. They are smart and energetic. Health problems among miniatures are a real rarity. Most often they are associated with congenital anomalies. In all other cases, such a pet lives 12-16 years.

Please note that this list does not mean that other breeds are inferior to those listed. An ordinary mongrel that finds itself in the hands of a caring and loving owner can also become a long-liver.

How long do mongrel dogs live at home and on the street?

How long do pug boys live at home?

Mongrels live a short life compared to pets. They don't even live to be 10 years old.

Yard dogs live 5-7 years less than domestic dogs

The longevity of mongrel yard dogs is influenced by the following factors:

• living conditions;
• infectious diseases;
• regular fights with other street animals;
• malnutrition;
• active vehicle traffic.

For your information! Life span is also influenced by psychological background.
Stress, lack of love from humans - all this significantly shortens the mongrel’s life.

What and how affects the life expectancy of dogs

The lifespan of a dog, regardless of breed, is influenced by a number of factors. They can both significantly reduce the time allotted by nature and extend it.

Heredity

Many dog ​​breeds have diseases that are passed down from generation to generation at the genetic level. Some problems may be due to the anatomical characteristics of a particular breed, such as:

• Dachshunds often suffer from discopathy - displacement of the spinal discs. This is due to short legs, which is why the skeleton base experiences increased stress.

  Spinal problems are a common pathology in dachshunds

• Large dog breeds are often associated with hip dysplasia. Body weight has a negative impact on the formation of the skeletal system.
• Brachycephalic breeds (pugs, bulldogs, Pekingese) experience breathing problems, including bronchial asthma. Their nasal passages are severely curved and narrowed, preventing air from passing freely through them.

Many genetic diseases can be detected using special tests. Their results are usually requested from the breeder when purchasing a puppy.

The owner himself can correct something. For example, it is recommended to pick up dachshunds when going down the stairs, while leaving brachycephalics at home in the heat and not giving them excessive physical activity.

Conditions of detention

Living conditions can play a decisive role in a pet's lifespan. So, there are breeds that are intended only for apartment keeping. These are all decorative and small dogs. This also includes the majority of short-haired breeds, whose coat cannot protect in cold weather, causing the dogs to become hypothermic and begin to get sick.

Veterinarians have proven that keeping a dog on a chain greatly shortens the life of a dog. The point is not only in the limitation of mobility, which weakens the body, but also in the deep stress that such pets begin to experience.

However, there are breeds that can easily live in the yard (but not on a chain) in a spacious enclosure. These are usually dogs with medium length hair and a thick undercoat. This includes all huskies and northern sled dogs. But separation from family life will still have an adverse effect on their well-being. Therefore, such a pet should be given maximum attention and be sure to be walked at least 2 times a day, preferably with active games.

There are a huge number of notices posted around my city about missing huskies or huskies. This is not surprising. People, paying tribute to fashion, get dogs whose essence they know nothing about. But they themselves are at work all day or going about their own business. But these are very active breeds that need to run 5-6 hours a day. So the dogs use the slightest opportunity to escape from such careless owners.

It is very important for a dog to understand that people need it for some kind of work: let it be guarding the yard, supplying some things (or even slippers). A pet must have some responsibilities so that it feels important.

Physical activity

Physical activity is the key to a dog's longevity. There are breeds for which it is vitally necessary (for example, all hunting dogs). But other pets should not be left motionless. Strong physical activity helps fight excess weight and trains the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, which can protect your pet from various diseases.

Movement is life not only for humans, but also for dogs

Other factors

Unfavorable factors that can shorten a pet’s life include:

• frequent births - the dog’s body is simply exhausted from constant hormonal changes; at least a year must pass between births;
• sexual abstinence - if a dog does not satisfy its sexual instincts, this will end disastrously for its health; many pets die from cancer of the reproductive system;
• medical care - a dog can become infected with an infection even without walking; the owner will bring the infection into the house on clothes or the soles of shoes, so pets must be vaccinated and regularly examined by a veterinarian;
• dietary features - many owners cannot resist treating their pet with a treat from their table (sausage, piece of cheese, cutlet), forgetting that spices, fat and salt cause irreparable damage to the health of dogs.

Life expectancy with illnesses

Heart disease is the most common pathology in domestic dogs. Heart failure is second on the list of diseases that kill pets. Cancer comes first.

The following breeds have a high predisposition to acquiring these diseases:

• Saint Bernards;
• Newfoundlands;
• Great Danes;
• orange spitz.

Note! The listed breeds live less than 10 years. The first symptoms of the disease appear at the age of 2-3 years.

Few. Very little. I didn't even know it was that much. Most stray animals die in the first year of life.

Discussions about posts sometimes give rise to interesting topics for research. Thus, one commentator wrote that Vietnamese street dogs living on an almost vegetarian diet are not very healthy. In principle, this is true. I’m only afraid that it’s not a matter of diet: stray dogs anywhere are not healthy and don’t live long. It’s the same with cats: they live poorly and have little.

“A dog has been living in my yard for ten years, and everything is fine with her!”

We all have examples when some mongrel lived next to the next door (maybe even in a kennel) for several years and seemed quite healthy and happy with life. But this is rather an exception to the rule.

We see only one dog that has shelter and food, does not communicate very closely with other dogs and, accordingly, is less likely to catch any infection. The dogs of guards at enterprises live in exactly the same situation: they seem to be nobody’s dogs and live on the street, but they are taken care of in the slightest degree: they will put up a kennel, and feed them, and maybe they will give them an anti-worming tablet.

And there are counterexamples. Next to my house there is a construction site and an abandoned garden. A flock appeared at a construction site in the spring - a mother, a father and several recently born puppies. How many - I don’t know, because with each meeting there were fewer of them. And in the garden itself, packs of 7-9 dogs appear from time to time. During the warm season, their number decreases to 2-3: puppies die under wheels (this is what I saw), disappear somewhere (get caught? Die from disease?). At the end of the season, the parents also disappear (do they find warm shelters? Are they also caught? Are they just more busy looking for food?). I don’t remember a single flock that would maintain its numbers. And I don’t remember the same parents returning with a new litter the next year.

But two examples are not an indicator, so it is worth focusing on data obtained more... scientifically.

Alan Beck studied the ecology of stray dogs in Baltimore (USA) in 1970-1971. During this period, mortality was 24% of the population, and the average age of dead animals was 2.3 years for males and 2.6 years for females. This means that every fourth stray dog ​​died and on average these were young dogs. According to theoretical calculations, 44.9% of the population dies in the first year of life, 60.3% do not live to be 2.3 years old [1].

Sunil Pal studied urban street dogs in West Bengal (India) and found that 67% of dogs die in the first 4 months of life, and 82% of dogs die in the first year of life [2].

According to Richard Warner, who studied cats in central Illinois (USA) in 1979-1981, less than 1% of stray cats lived to be 7 years old. Less than 27% of kittens lived to be one year old [3].

Felicia Nutter and her colleagues observed 169 street kittens in the first six months of their lives, and it turned out that 87 kittens (51%) died, 40 kittens (or 24%) disappeared during this time [4].

Why do street dogs and cats die?

Most often, stray animals die from disease, under the wheels of cars, are caught and euthanized by municipal services. Less common cases include fights between dogs with serious consequences and murders by people.

Of the diseases, the most common among dogs and cats are probably rabies, enteritis, rhinotracheitis, feline viral leukemia, parasitic diseases such as demodicosis, piroplasmosis, leishmaniasis [5–7].

Is there a difference in the life expectancy of street animals in different countries?

Compared to the owner's cats and dogs, whose average lifespan is about 10 years, street cats live several times less. According to data from different countries, stray animals rarely live to be 3 years old, and most kittens and puppies die in the first 6 months of life.

Why is that?

Firstly, there is not enough food for everyone. A hungry and weakened animal has a harder time surviving stress from illness or harsh weather.

Secondly, fights for resources lead to injuries and, therefore, it becomes even more difficult to obtain food.

Thirdly, to find food, you have to work hard and overcome many obstacles - and at least cross a busy street, but this is not so easy.

A young animal has nowhere to gain life experience (especially if no one says: “Look to the left, look to the right, then cross the road”), immunity, the ability to stand up for itself in fights with older tribesmen...

The life expectancy and living conditions of street animals are usually studied in conjunction with measures to regulate numbers. And where the trap-sterilize-return system works, dogs and cats live longer. Firstly, caught animals are vaccinated (especially where rabies is rampant). Secondly, the hopelessly sick are still euthanized and thus contain the spread of certain diseases. Thirdly, sterilization inhibits the spread of sexually transmitted diseases [7]. Fourthly, the SALT policy is often associated with the phenomenon of guardianship, when volunteers feed animals, treat them for parasites, and generally monitor the condition of the colony/flock [5].

So, of course, it’s not about the diet - or rather, not only about it. Those whom people care about live longer.

By the way, there is a good lecture by zoologist Andrei Tupikin, in which he talks in detail about the life of stray dogs. Here she is:

KA, "Bad Dogs"

Photo: Igor Ovsyannikov

Sources:

1. Kleiman, D. G. Beck, AM THE ECOLOGY OF STRAY DOGS: A STUDY OF FREE-RANGING ANIMALS. York Press, Baltimore, Maryland, xiv + 96 pp., illus., 1973. Price, $9.50 / DG Kleiman // J. Mammal. – 1974. – Vol. 55, No. 1 – P. 250-251.
2. Pal, SK Population ecology of free-ranging urban dogs in West Bengal, India / SK Pal // Acta Theriol. (Warsz). – 2001. – Vol. 46, No. 1 – P. 69-78.
3. Richard E. Warner. Demography and Movements of Free-Ranging Domestic Cats in Rural Illinois / Richard E. Warner // J. Wildl. Manage. – 1985. – Vol. 49, No. 2 – P. 340-346.
4. Nutter, FB Reproductive capacity of free-roaming domestic cats and kitten survival rate. / FB Nutter, JF Levine, MK Stoskopf // J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. – 2004. – Vol. 225, No. 9 – P. 1399-402.
5. Palmer, C. Value Conflicts in Feral Cats Management: Trap-Neuter-Return or Trap-Euhanize? / C. Palmer // Dilemmas in Animal Welfare / ed. D. Michael C. Appleby (World Society for the Protection of Animals (WSPA), UK), Daniel M. Weary (University of British Columbia, Canada), Peter Sandøe (University of Copenhagen. - CABI, 2014. - P. 148 -168.
6. Optimizing free-roaming dog control programs using agent-based models / AJ Yoak // Ecol. Modell. – 2021. – Vol. 341 – P. 53-61.
7. Jackman, J. Animal Studies Repository Free-Roaming Dogs in Developing Countries: The Benefits of Capture, Neuter, and Return Programs Free-Roaming Dogs in Developing Countries: The Benefits of Capture, Neuter, and Return Programs / J. Jackman, A.N. Rowan , A. Rowan. – 2007. – Vol. 2007 – P. 55-78.

What determines a pet's lifespan?

The life expectancy of a dog is influenced by many factors, which are conventionally divided into congenital and acquired.

Frequent childbirth

From a physiological point of view, pregnancy does not cause any particular harm to the health of the dog. However, childbirth is fraught with stress for the animal, the possibility of a cesarean section, and bleeding. In addition, frequent childbirth wears out the body. Recovery takes about 6 months.

Proper treatment and prevention

If the owner regularly takes the pet to the veterinarian, then the likelihood of the dog developing a chronic disease will be reduced to zero. And annual vaccination will protect the body from infectious diseases.

Stressful conditions

Dogs become very attached to their owners. If a person does not pay attention to the pet, stops walking and playing with it, then the dog may fall into a depressed state. This will lead to heart diseases and disorders.

Genetic predisposition

There are a huge number of diseases to which one or another breed is susceptible. For example, the Chinese Crested often suffers from keratoconjunctivitis, enteritis, and sunburn.

For your information! Huskies often genetically inherit juvenile cataracts. The disease manifests itself in puppyhood.

Veterinary assistance

Timely castration or sterilization can protect your pet from serious diseases, including cancer. In addition, the animal should be regularly vaccinated and treated against parasites.

Anatomical features

Dog health problems are also associated with the anatomical features of a particular breed. For example, bulldogs and Pekingese often suffer from bronchial asthma, because their nasal passages are slightly curved.

Pet food

Your pet's diet should be balanced. It is forbidden to feed the animal food from the table. The dog's body will not properly digest the food that people eat. If you regularly feed your dog the wrong food, this will lead to problems with the liver or gastrointestinal tract.

Small dogs live longer than big ones

Dog size

The size of a dog greatly affects its lifespan. Animals of large breeds live 10-12 years. But how long do small dogs live? Maltese, Spitz and Chihuahuas live up to 17-18 years.

Average life expectancy of dogs

The average lifespan of dogs is 9–12 years. But these timings are influenced by many factors. So, there is a direct relationship between the size of a pet and its life expectancy. Large breed dogs live shorter lives than small breeds. The difference is quite significant - 8–12 years.

No studies have been conducted on the life expectancy of stray dogs. In outdoor conditions they rarely die of old age. Diseases, cars, cruel treatment of people, fights for leadership end the lives of stray dogs even in their youth. But if a mongrel becomes a pet, then it has every chance of living a long time. Deprived of human care for generations, these animals are highly adaptable, stress-resistant and have strong immunity.

There is a completely scientific explanation for this, related to the peculiarities of the onset of aging of the body. Dogs, like humans, have several life stages:

• childhood;
• youth;
• maturity;
• old age.

In large dog breeds, the first three periods are too short. Old age sets in after 6 years of life, and with it comes diseases that can reduce the pet’s lifespan. Small dogs remain children and teenagers for a long time; at the age of 8 they only enter adulthood and live there for several more years. Old age overtakes them around the 14th year of life.

The age periods of a dog depend not so much on the breed, but on its size

The difference for the owners is noticeable. But this is not a reason to deprive yourself of the pleasure of communicating with medium and large dogs. It is necessary to correctly assess all factors influencing life expectancy and minimize the influence of negative causes.

How to extend the life of your four-legged friend

It is foolish to think that a dog that has been chained all its life will live a long life. Dogs of any breed should experience regular physical activity. In addition, pets must be protected from health problems. To do this, it is necessary to provide the animal with decent medical care. The most important thing a person should have is love for his family friend. The presence of all these factors will help the dog live a long life with its owner.

The owner's love helps the animal feel needed

Important! The average age of a dog dying of old age is over 10 years. This means that with proper care the pet will spend most of its life with its owner.

Many dog ​​breeders wonder how many lives do dogs have? All animals have one life, and its quality largely depends on humans. Before you get a pet, you should understand the full extent of responsibility for it and make sure that it lives a happy life.

The dog's age in human terms

It becomes clear that the development and growth of dogs occurs much faster than that of humans. It is impossible to accurately calculate how old a dog is by human standards. Many people believe that seven human years can be considered the year of a dog. However, this is not entirely fair, because different breeds mature differently depending on their size.

The fact is that during the first year of life, all four-legged animals grow approximately the same, they turn from puppies into fully grown dogs, development occurs very rapidly. In a year, the average age of a dog by human standards is 15 years.

Different breeds of dogs from two months to six months are equivalent to human seven-year-olds. By 8 months the age is 10 years. After a year, the dog’s growth slows down significantly, and the phase of adolescence begins. Three-year-old dogs are already quite mature; by human standards they can be given approximately 30 years. Four-legged animals stop playing pranks and begin to lead quite decent and sedate lives.

By age 5, some dogs reach their 35th birthday, while larger breeds may already be celebrating their 40th birthday. Already here you can feel a significant difference, let alone in later life.

Small animals at 10 years old reach a human age of 56 years, and the largest breeds feel as old as 78 years! Naturally, their overall life expectancy is shorter!

Tiny dogs only at 15 years old feel 76 years old, and representatives of the largest breeds have already reached the very limit - 115 human years.

How long do mongrels live?

Against the background of the above, there is a misconception that mestizos, or simply mongrels, live longer than their “well-born” relatives. The advantage of outbred dogs is genetic selection through natural selection. Darwin's theory in action - only the strongest individuals survive and reach reproductive age, without genetic abnormalities and all kinds of diseases. The sick and old people do not belong here. On average, mestizos live 9-12 years. Among them, long-livers are also known - up to 20 years - but this is subject to decent care and feeding.

However, most of the mongrels were not lucky enough to be adopted into a family and live under a roof in a warm house. Their extreme living conditions include sleeping in the open air, eating everything that comes into view in landfills, wounds, etc. – contribute to a significant reduction in the life of the animal, preventing it from living to an old age.

What can you do to make your dog live longer?

Naturally, every owner wants his pet to live longer. After all, pets often become full members of the family.

The life of a dog directly depends on many factors, and if you want your pet to live at least a few years longer, then follow these rules:

• When purchasing a dog, familiarize yourself with the characteristics of the breed, consult with experts and make sure that you can give it everything it needs.
• Feed your dog correctly, again, based on the characteristics of the breed
• Take your pet to the veterinary clinic for examination at least 2 times a year
• Do various physical exercises with your dog - this will strengthen the animal’s body.

In this article you got acquainted with how long dogs live on average. And now, when choosing this or that breed, you will know for sure how long dogs live.