Jack Russells are UK dogs with longest life expectancy as French Bulldogs have shortest
JACK RUSSELLS have the longest life expectancy of pet dogs in the UK, while French Bulldogs have the shortest, a new study suggests.
The research by the Royal Veterinary College found the overall average life expectancy for pets was 11.2 years. Jack Russells Terriers lived the longest at 12.7 years, while French Bulldogs are expected to live just 4.5 years.
According to the research, Border Collies had the second-longest life expectancy at 12.1 years, with Springer Spaniels third on 11.92 years.
Flat-faced breeds were found to have the shortest life expectancy.
After French Bulldogs, English Bulldogs had the second-shortest life expectancy at 7.4 years.
Pugs were third at 7.7 years and American bulldogs fourth on 7.8 years.
Flat-faced breeds commonly suffer from a number of conditions including breathing problems.
The research also found there was a difference between the life expectancies of male and females, with male dogs living on average four months shorter (11.1 years).
And in both male and female dogs, neutered pets were found to have a longer life expectancy than their non-neutered counterparts.
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Dr Dan O'Neill, associate professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, and co-author of the paper, said: "Dogs have helped many humans to get through the loneliness and isolation of the Covid pandemic.
"These new VetCompass Life tables enable owners to now estimate how much longer they can benefit from these dogs.
"The short life expectancies for flat-faced breeds such as French bulldogs shown by the VetCompass Life tables supports the UK Brachycephalic Working Group's call for all owners to 'stop and think before buying a flat-faced dog'."
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Dog breed life expectancy
Jack Russell Terrier - 12.72 years
Yorkshire Terrier - 12.54 years
Border Collie - 12.10 years
Springer Spaniel - 11.92 years
Crossbred - 11.82 years
Labrador Retriever - 11.77 years
Staffordshire bull Terrier - 11.33 years
Cocker Spaniel - 11.31 years
Shih-tzu - 11.05 years
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel - 10.45 years
German Shepherd - 10.16 years
Boxer - 10.04 years
Beagle - 9.85 years
Husky - 9.53 years
Chihuahua - 7.91 years
American Bulldog - 7.79 years
Pug - 7.65 years
English Bulldog - 7.39 years
French Bulldog - 4.53 years
Dr Justine Shotton, British Veterinary Association president, said: "These life tables offer an important insight into the life expectancy of popular dog breeds in the UK and will be a useful tool for vets and pet owners in assessing dog welfare.
"A concerning finding is the lower life expectancy for flat-faced breeds.
"While the study doesn't prove a direct link between these breeds' potential welfare issues and shorter length of life, the findings serve as a fresh reminder for prospective dog owners to choose a breed based on health, not looks."
The analysis is based on a random sample of 30,563 dogs that died between January 1 2016 and July 31 2020, from 18 different breeds and crossbreeds.
The new research from the RVC's Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass) programme means owners can predict the remaining life expectancy of their dog from different ages.
The study, conducted in collaboration with researchers from the National Taiwan University (NTU) in Taiwan, is published in the journal Scientific Reports.