If you’ve been thinking about getting a new dog then you’re not alone – Royal Kennel Club (that’s the new name for the UK Kennel Club) figures show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels over recent years.
Dogs come in all shapes and sizes - the UK Kennel Club recognises 221 different pedigree dogs, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
Then there are all manner of crossbreeds, from so-called ‘designer dogs’ to lovable mongrels.
So there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest four-legged addition – whether you want a large dog, family-friendly dog, or an easy to train dog.
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There is even scientific research to guide you, in particular psychologist Stanley Coren’s groundbreaking book The Intelligence of Dogs.
Meanwhile, how long a dog lives is partly dependent on its breed - with some far more likely to reach a grand old age than others.
Research published in the journal Scientific Reports has used the Royal Veterinary College’s Veterinary Companion Animal Surveillance System (VetCompass), a database holding information on over two million animals, to work out the average life expectance of different breeds of dog.
Researchers took a random sample of 30,563 dogs that died over a five year period to come to their findings.
Here’s what they found to be the average lifespan of the 10 most popular breeds of dog.
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1. Labrador Retriever
They are the world's most popular dog and the Labrador Retriever remains the most commonly registered breed in the UK by quite some distance. Breeds like the French Bulldog have challenged the Lab's dominance in the last decade, but they didn't come close last year when there were a huge 29,919 new Labradors registered with the Royal Kennel Club. The Lab has an above-average lifespan of 11.77 years. | Canva/Getty Images
2. Cocker Spaniel
Second spot when it comes to the most popular dogs goes to the Cocker Spaniel. Originally bred as a hunting dog they get their name from the fact they used to specialise in hunting woodcock. There were 21,618 registered with the Kennel Club in 2025. Energetic Cocker Spaniels reach an average age of 11.31 years. | AFP via Getty Images
3. Golden Retriever
Up from fifth place to third this year is the Golden Retriever, with 9,976 new registrations last year. The breed was created by Sir Dudley Marjoribanks at his Scottish estate in the late nineteenth century. These gregarious dogs live for an average of 10.9 years. | Canva/Getty Images
4. Miniature Smooth Haired Dachshund
Dachshunds have been soaring in popularity in recent years. The miniature smooth haired variety of the sausage dog is now the fourth favourite UK breed and was originally bred to hunt small burrowing animals like rabbits. They live for an average of 12.5 years. | AFP via Getty Images