Lifespan Differences Between Maltese and Poodle Breeds; Lifespan Can Be Extended Through Weight Management

What factors determine a pet dog's lifespan? According to a recently released video, while breed, facial shape, and body size are innate, owners can extend their pet dog's lifespan by directly controlling weight and dental care.

Veterinarian Lee Se-won from 'The Man Who Explains Dogs' channel shared an analysis of the median lifespan by breed, based on data from 584,734 dogs of 155 breeds announced in the United Kingdom in 2024. Here, 'median lifespan' refers to the age of the dog positioned exactly in the middle when all dogs are lined up in order of lifespan, serving as an indicator that is not affected by extreme values.

Median Lifespan by Breed: Poodles Rank High... Shorter Lifespan for Short Noses and Large Size

As a result of the analysis, the median lifespan of all dogs was found to be 12.5 years. Among the breeds popular in Korea, the Poodle was the highest at 14 years, followed by Yorkshire Terrier (13.3 years), Maltese (13.1 years), Shih Tzu (12.8 years), Bichon Frise (12.5 years), Pomeranian (12.2 years), and Chihuahua (11.8 years). Among the 155 breeds, the Lancashire Heeler was confirmed to be the longest-living breed (15.4 years).

Physical characteristics affecting lifespan were also identified. Breeds with an 'average' nose length lived the longest at 12.8 years, and breeds with flat noses (11.2 years) had shorter lifespans than breeds with long noses (12.1 years). In particular, brachycephalic breeds with flat noses had a 40% higher risk of early death due to respiratory problems and difficulties in temperature regulation. Additionally, there was a tendency for lifespan to decrease as body size increased, with small dogs recording a median lifespan of 12.7 years, medium dogs 12.5 years, and large dogs 11.9 years. Large dogs showed a characteristic where their bodies break down at a much faster rate than small dogs once aging begins.

Weight and Dental Care Determine a '20-Year Dog Life'

Instead of conditions that cannot be changed, such as breed or facial shape, Lee Se-won emphasized three management methods that owners can practice. The first is 'weight management,' which is the most certain indicator. Citing a study conducted on Labrador Retrievers, the video conveyed the fact that the group that maintained a lean body type throughout their lives lived as much as 1.8 years longer than the overweight group.

The second is 'dental care.' Periodontitis, a chronic inflammation of the gums, can be linked to heart or kidney disease, so it is important to manage it in advance before entering old age. Lastly, 'managing breed-specific weaknesses.' Identifying and preparing for the vulnerabilities each breed has—such as respiratory issues and heat for brachycephalic breeds, or patellar luxation and teeth for small dogs—is the key to determining a pet dog's healthy old age.