If you’ve been thinking about welcoming a new dog into your home then you’re in good company – Royal Kennel Club (the new name for the UK Kennel Club) stats show that the number of people looking for puppies has surged to record levels.
Dogs come in all shapes, colours and sizes - there are 221 different pedigree dogs recognised by breeders in the UK, from Affenpinscher to Yorkshire Terrier (there are sadly no dog breeds starting with the letter ‘z’!).
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.
Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.
And one thing you might like to consider is that different breeds have significantly different average lifespans.
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 some of the UK’s most popular 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 about the average lifespan of 17 of the most common dog breeds.
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9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Known for being gentle and affectionate, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel can expect to live for an average of 10.45 years. It was bred to resemble Charles II's spaniel during the English Civil War, when the king's supporters were known as Cavaliers - hence the name. | Canva/Getty Images
10. German Shepherd
Popular with the army and police forces - and used for everything from sniffing out drugs to sentry duty - the German Shepherd lives for an average of 10.16 years. | Canva/Getty Images
11. Boxer
The charismatic Boxer has an average lifespan of 10.04 years according to the research. Developed in Germany, it is now particularly popular as a family pet in America. | Canva/Getty Images
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12. Beagle
A boisterous scent hound that love to run around in a pack, Beagles have an average lifespan of 9.85 years. These days they are often used as a detection dog to check for prohibited items in airport customs. | Canva/Getty Images