A study published by Scientific Reports this month offers an interesting insight into the lifespan of our canine companions, depending not just on their breed type, but also their individual morphology.
Longevity estimates for dogs can vary on average, with reports of between 10.0 and 13.7 years of age. Now new findings suggest that size and skull shape may also influence the life expectancy of the dog in question.
Sample size
The UK study, which included breeds such as the Labrador Retriever, Staffordshire Bull Terrier, West Highland White Terrier, French Bulldog and a number of crossbreeds, collected information regarding the sex, date of birth and date of death of over 580,000 dogs.
Dogs were classified according to the length and width of their skull, and separated into three categories: Brachycephalic (short-nosed), mesocephalic (medium-nosed) and dolichocephalic (long-nosed).
Small bodies and long noses
Researchers reported that the median survival for pure-breed dogs was of 12.7 years, compared to 12 years for crossbreeds. This contrasts the findings of previous studies, and potentially even challenges the widespread belief that crossbreed dogs are healthier than their pure-breed counterparts.
Additionally, the study found that small, long-nosed breeds such as the Shetland Sheepdog, and Whippet have the highest life expectancy. Brachycephalic breeds, such as the French Bulldog, had the lowest.
While this may be the case for certain individuals, authors are careful to caution readers that the study does not identify risk factors for early death. It may however, inform discussions around the health of pedigree dogs.
