We’re officially a nations of dog owners, with the UK’s most popular pet living in around one-in-three households (and rising).
That means that there are around three million pooches living here, with more people choosing to join the army of dog lovers every week.
Of course, if you are looking to welcome a dog into your family, there are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.
There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.
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 18 of the most common dog breeds.
13. Husky
A hardy Arctic sledge dog that can pull people and produce over miles of icy tundra, the Husky can be expected to clock up an average age of 9.53 years. | Canva/Getty Images
14. Chihuahua
A 21-year-old Chihuahua was named the world's oldest living dog a couple of years ago, but researchers found the average pup only lives for 7.91 years. It holds the crown of the world's smallest dog. | Canva/Getty Images
15. American Bulldog
All four of the dog breeds that have the shortest lifespans, starting with the American Bulldog, are brachycephalic (flat-faced). The lower life expectancies are associated with the animals suffering from several conditions, including breathing problems and spinal disease. The American Bulldog lives for an average of 7.79 years. | Canva/Getty Images
16. Pug
The adorably wrinkly Pug is cute but these dogs are prone to developing a host of health issues, giving these small pubs an average life of 7.65 years. | Canva/Getty Images