Dog Years to Human Years: How Long Do Dogs Live?

Dog owners may be familiar with the long-accepted method for figuring out a dog’s age in human years: One dog year equals 7 human years. But recent research suggests that this formula may be too simplistic. How long your dog is likely to live will hinge on a variety of factors, including their size, breed, and lifestyle.

Here’s everything you need to know about your dog’s expected lifespan — and what you can do to ensure they live as long and healthy a life as possible.

How to convert dog years to human years

The most accurate way to determine a dog’s age in human years is based on size, according to guidelines from the American Animal Hospital Association.

At their first birthday, all dogs are the equivalent of 15 years old in people years. From there, converting dog years to human years depends on a dog’s size and their age. The table below gives you an idea of how to convert dog years to human years.

How long do dogs usually live?

One large study suggests that the average life expectancy for all dogs is 11.2 years. But there was a wide range: Jack Russell terriers had the longest life expectancy, at 12.7 years on average. French bulldogs had the shortest, at 4.5 years.

How long dogs live depends on not only the size of your dog but also their breed and health conditions. In general, smaller dogs live longer and larger breeds live shorter lives. The average life expectancy for dogs based on their breed size is:

• Toy breeds: 13.6 years

• Small dogs: 13.8 years

• Medium dogs: 12.9 years

• Large dogs: 11.7 years

• Giant breeds: 9.7 years

What factors affect a dog’s lifespan?

Several factors affect a dog’s lifespan. We cover some of the most common ones below. 

Breed and size

A dog’s size and breed plays a large part in how long your dog might live. Smaller dog breeds have longer average lifespans compared with large- and giant-breed dogs.

Physical characteristics

Certain physical characteristics are known to shorten a dog’s lifespan. Specifically, flat-faced dogs such as French bulldogs have short life expectancies. They face a high risk of breathing disorders and spinal disease.

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Gender

In addition to size and breed, gender can affect a dog’s lifespan. Female dogs live 4 months longer on average than male dogs.

Health conditions

Any health conditions your dog has can also affect their lifespan. The type of health condition will also affect their life expectancy. For example, a dog with cancer will usually have a shorter lifespan than a dog without cancer.

Lifestyle factors

Lifestyle factors can play a role too. Dogs who are overweight, for example, have been shown to have shorter lifespans than normal-weight dogs.

What are the common signs of aging in dogs?

Your dog is likely to show signs of aging, such as a graying coat and slowed walking pace. They could also develop health conditions associated with aging, including:

• Vision loss

• Arthritis

• Diabetes

• Heart disease

• Liver disease

• Kidney disease

• Urinary tract disease

• Cognitive decline

What can you do to help your dog live longer?

One of the best ways to help your dog live longer is regular veterinary checkups. Older dogs should go to the veterinarian twice a year for checkups. This will ensure your pup is up-to-date on vaccinations to prevent diseases. Exams and routine blood tests will pick up early signs of other health conditions so they can be addressed as early as possible.

Other tips for helping your dog live longer include:

• Maintaining a healthy weight with a diet of easily digestible foods

• Continuing exercise routines, such as regular walks

• Improving the safety of your dog’s environment as they age, such as keeping them on one floor to lower the risk of falling on stairs

• Interacting with your dog through play and other activities to prevent cognitive decline

Why trust our experts?

Written by:

Arlene Weintraub

Arlene Weintraub is a freelance writer with more than 25 years of experience as a journalist covering health, science, pharmaceuticals, and biotechnology. She was most recently an associate director and a health writer for APCO Worldwide, where she provided writing and communications consulting to hospitals, biopharmaceutical companies, scientific equipment makers, and health nonprofits.

Edited by:

Renée Fabian, MA

Renée Fabian is the senior pet health editor at GoodRx. She’s worked for nearly 10 years as a journalist and editor across a wide range of health and well-being topics.

Reviewed by:

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM

Ghanasyam Bey, DVM, is from Cleveland, Ohio, and attended Princeton University for undergraduate studies. After a year of biology research at Duke University, he attended Ohio State College of Veterinary Medicine.

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