Every dog has its days, but some dogs live longer than others. Small, long-nosed dog breeds are now at the top when it comes to longevity, while flat-faced dog breeds are at higher risk of premature death, research has found.
Considering size, facial shape and gender, researchers found that overall, smaller, longer-nosed female dogs lived the longest of all purebred dogs, with a median age of 13.3 years.
However, breeds with flat faces (a trait that has become fashionable in recent years) had an average lifespan of 11.2 years, with a 40% increased risk of a short lifespan compared to dogs with medium-length snouts, such as spaniels. .
“Previous research has identified gender, facial shape, and body size as factors in dogs' longevity, but no one has investigated the interaction between the three or investigated the evolutionary history and longevity of dogs. “We had never investigated the potential link between the two,” said Dr. Kirsten McMillan, lead author of the book. Findings from the charity Dogs Trust.
Writing in the journal Scientific Reports, McMillan et al. collected 584,734 purebred and mixed-breed dogs (of which 284,734 reported how they analyzed data on mortality.
Considering all breeds and crossbreeds, the researchers found that the median dog lifespan was 12.5 years, with female dogs living slightly longer than male dogs.
To dig deeper, the researchers looked at 155 purebred dogs and found that larger dogs tended to have shorter lifespans than smaller dogs, and that the length of the breed's snout also mattered.
In fact, the average lifespan of a miniature dachshund was 14 years, while the average lifespan of a French bulldog was 9.8 years. Experts have long said that brachycephalic breeds are prone to a number of health problems, including breathing difficulties and skin diseases.
But the underdog turns out to be the giant, shaggy white shepherd, with a median lifespan of just 5.4 years.
The researchers also found that purebreds have a longer average lifespan than crossbreds, at 12.7 and 12 years, respectively. This result contradicts the idea that hybrids are healthier because they have greater genetic diversity.
However, they failed to consider different types of hybrids. That means data on dogs of unknown pedigree was combined with data on “designer” breeds such as Labradoodles, which are far more inbred and potentially muddy the waters.
Although the research team did not have data on how the dogs died, they hope the study will prompt other researchers to uncover the risk factors behind variations in lifespan. . McMillan said the differences are likely due to a complex combination of biological factors, such as body type and genetics, and environmental factors, such as diet, exercise and training.
“In general, these results will help potential owners, breeders, policy makers, funding organizations and welfare organizations make informed decisions to improve the welfare of companion dogs.” she said.
“But more specifically, I think this provides us with an opportunity to improve the lives of our canine partners.
“We've identified groups that desperately need attention, so we can focus on these people and figure out what the problem is.”