Is it true smaller dog breeds live longer than larger ones? Why?

Its all really just genetics and also certain breeds tend to live longer than others. Just like in people, disease and life threatening illness can hit at any age in life. Also preventative care medicine can play a huge factor in your pets lifespan as well. So its best to keep up with preventative vaccines, dental care, heartworm and flea prevention. Here is a really neat website that lists all the characteristic traits of dogs, susceptible diseases, and also lifespan averages --> https://dogtime.com/dog-breeds Thanks for visiting Petcoach! Take care : )

Thank you for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Congratulations on your (potential) new addition! Small dogs can live up to 15 years of age, with some dogs living up to 18 or even 20. It truly depends on any underlying health conditions and how they are managed. In general, mixed breed dogs tend to be somewhat less susceptible to hereditary conditions. However, maltese can be predisposed to heart conditions such as valve abnormalities, ocular conditions such as glaucoma, and allergies. Terriers are a very broad category of breeds, but typically have the same predispositions. Please note that just because a dog is predisposed to something, does not mean that it will have the condition at any point in life. I hope this helps and am happy to answer any other questions you may have!

Thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! This depends on the breed and size of the dog to some extent. For a small breed dog it would be like 10 years of age and for a large breed dog it would more like 8-9 years of age. Have a great day!

Hello there! The average age of dogs, in general, is 8-12 years. This can vary greatly depending on the dog's breed, size, and medical conditions. Larger breed dogs, for example, tend to have shorter lifespans as their size takes a bigger toll on their bones and joints. Popular purebred dogs, like labs, boxers, and golden retrievers, also have a higher incidence of certain conditions and types of cancers which may shorten their lifespan. There are so many factors that determine how long a dog will live - your vet can give you a better idea of your dog's estimated lifespan as he or she knows Bruno's personal medical history. The oldest dog I've ever encountered was 21 years old, so there's nothing that says a dog can't live a healthy life past 10 years old. I hope this helps! :)

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! In your first post you indicated that you and Bruno walked miles, so I think cutting it down just a little bit may help. If you can be more specific about at which point in the walk (which mile or how many minutes) he wants to turn around that would be helpful. I have never heard of short walks or no walks shortening the life span of a dog. Obesity shortens the life span of dogs. Exercise is healthy for the body and mind. If Bruno doesn't want to walk for miles at a time then try a dog park, or playing Frisbee or throwing a ball. If you want to push the walks then take breaks to let him stop and sniff or throw the ball or rough house for 5-10 mins then resume your walk. I hope this helps and I hope you have a great day!

Hi, thanks for using Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! Don't beat yourself up! You can only do what you can do and most dogs do not have shortened life spans from decreased exercise, stress and mildly cold temperatures. Exercise is a very good thing to provide, maybe you can increase the walks and play time. The biggest health risk for inactivity is obesity and it has been proven that leaner dogs live longer. I would also provide comfortable enclosures and do not keep Joshie out in very cold weather or very hot weather. Any changes you can make, no matter how small, will benefit Joshie. I hope this helps and I wish you both the best!

Hi and thank you for your question on Petco Pet Education Center, formerly Petcoach! It could be her genetics if her mother or father were not as tall or the height issue could be related to a dysfunction of the pituitary gland which controls growth. A blood test at your veterinarian's office can determine if the reason behind the short stature is pituitary related. I hope this helps!