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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5. French Bulldog
As recently as three years ago the French Bulldog was challenging the Labrador for the title of Britain's favourite dog - often appearing in second place. It lagged well behind in 2025 though, with 7,750 registrations putting the adorable breed in fifth place. Research shows these adorable characters live for an average of just 4.5 years due to genetic life-limiting conditions. | Canva/Getty Images
6. Springer Spaniel
There were 5,845 new English Springer Spaniels registered with the Kennel Club in 2025, making them the sixth most popular dog - and the fourth most popular breed in the gundog group. They get their name from the fact that hunters used them to 'spring' birds out of their hiding places. The wonderfully bouncy Springer Spaniel is expected to live around 11.92 years. | AFP via Getty Images
7. Staffordshire Bull Terrier
There were 5,375 Kennel Club registrations of affectionate Staffy dogs last year. A breed created by crossing Bulldogs with Terriers, they were were first recognised as a purebred dog breed by The Kennel Club in 1935. The loving - and often misunderstood - Staffordshire Bull Terrier has an average lifespan of 11.33 years. | Canva/Getty Images
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8. German Shepherd
One of the world's most useful dogs, the German Shepherd was originally bred as a herding dog but now is popular for everything from disability assistance and search-and-rescue work, to helping the police hunt criminals and serving in the army. They are also popular companion pets, with 4,278 registrations in 2025. The German Shepherd lives for an average of 10.16 years. | Getty Images for Westminster Ken