Dog Breeds With the Shortest Life Expectancy

French bulldogs are known for their cute and chubby appearance, as well as their extremely friendly nature. Unfortunately, a relatively short lifespan is another of their common traits. Although some individuals manage to live past 8 years of age, the average life expectancy of this breed is around 5 years.

Such a short lifespan in this dog breed is due to the high incidence of health problems that are usually related to the French bulldog's morphology. The most frequent ones derive from its brachycephalic condition, leading to numerous respiratory disorders and great sensitivity to heat. The French Bulldog breed can also be commonly affected by problems in the eyes, skin and digestive tract, as well as various types of allergies and complications during childbirth.

Learn about the different types of French Bulldog with our related guide.

Generally speaking, there is an inverse relationship between the size of dog breeds and their longevity. While there are exceptions, the larger the size of a dog, the shorter its life expectancy.

The Great Dane tops the list of the largest breeds in the world, so it should ve no surprise it is also one of the dog breeds with the shortest life span. Its life expectancy is 6 to 8 years, but there are emblematic cases such as that of Zeus, a Great Dane who conquered the Guinness Record as the tallest dog in the world. In his adulthood, Zeus reached 3 ft 8" at the withers, but died at only 6 years of age.

Regarding the relationship between size and longevity, there is still no consensus among experts. Most agree that the rate of aging of a dog after their third year of life varies radically depending on size, being significantly faster in large and giant breeds. This not only causes larger dogs to live shorter, but could also predispose them to certain diseases with a high mortality rate, such as various types of canine cancer.

Cornelia Kraus is an evolutionary biologist at the University of Gottingen (Germany) and leader of a research that evaluated the longevity of almost 55,000 dogs of more than 110 different breeds. According to her, the rapid development of large and giant canine breeds also accelerates cell multiplication, which would favor abnormal growths such as those observed in cases of neoplasia^[1].

Discover the best diet for a Great Dane puppy to help ensure they have everything they need for proper development.

If any breed can compete with the Great Dane for the title of the world's largest dog, it is the Irish Wolfhound. As an adult, a male of this breed can reach up to 34" (86 cm) in height at the withers with an average body weight of 120 lb (54 kg).

As the name suggests, these wiry dogs are originally from Ireland, but they are descended from the first Egyptian Greyhounds. They were originally used to protect flocks from predatory attacks, mainly from wolves. For a long time, they were one of the most appreciated canine breeds by European monarchs.

The Irish Wolfhound stands out for its very peaceful and docile character, often forming a very special bond with its family, especially with children. They will protect and show a lot of patience with kids. Unfortunately, these gentle giants usually live 6 to 8 years on average, which is why they are among the 5 dog breeds that live the shortest years.

Also known as the Bordeaux Mastiff, the Dogue de Bordeaux experienced a significant boom in popularity after football star Lionel Messi and his family shared their home with one of these mastiff dog breeds. Although its presence may be intimidating to some, the Dogue de Bordeaux reveals a very calm and homely temperament, forming a very deep bond with its kin, while also appreciating its moments of solitude and independence.

Unfortunately, their extremely robust body composition and morphology predispose them to a series of diseases that shorten their life expectancy. The average lifespan of the Dogue de Bordeaux is between 5 and 7 years. When breeders carry out the necessary procedures to prevent the spread of hereditary diseases and they are given the right level of care by their guardians, some Bordeaux mastiffs manage to live more than 8 years.

Also known as the Caucasian Ovtcharka, the Caucasian Shepherd is a breed of giant mastiff dog. As the name suggests, they were developed in the Caucasus region located between Europe and Asia, as well as in Russia. It is said that their ancestors have been present there since the 1st century BC, where they were used to guard flocks and protect the homes of farmers and shepherds.

Its character is energetic, but not hyperactive. They are extremely brave, with a strong protective instinct. Unfortunately, this great companion is predisposed to joint problems, diabetes, heart failure and gastric torsion. According to a survey conducted by Dog's Trust and published in the journal Nature, among the dog breeds evaluated, this was the one with the lowest average life expectancy at approximately 5.5 years^[2].

This breed originated in the Swiss Alps where it was once trained for search and rescue. In the snowy mountainous terrain, the Saint Bernard would seek out isolated people who were lost or trapped. It is also among the largest and shortest-lived dog breeds. An adult male can reach up to 35" (90 cm) in height with a body weight of 132 to 176 lb (60 to 80 kg).

Made famous by the film Beethoven, the St. Bernard rarely lives beyond 8 years of age. This is due to rapid aging and genetic predisposition to diseases such as:

• Gastric torsion
• Hip dysplasia
• Entropion
• Ectropion
• Heart pathologies (especially dilated cardiomyopathy)
• Wobbler syndrome

It is also worth remembering that these giant dogs tend to be gluttonous, so they can easily develop symptoms of being overweight or obese. To prevent this from further reducing their life expectancy, it is essential to encourage good eating habits from an early age and monitor their daily food intake. You can learn more about what to feed this breed to improve longevity with our article asking how much should you feed a St. Bernard?

Also native to Switzerland, this breed of dog has gained popularity worldwide for its remarkable beauty, voluminous tricolor coat, sweet look and gentle character. In addition to its multiple aesthetic and behavioral qualities, the Bernese Mountain Dog is also one of the dogs with the shortest lifespan (6 to 8 years average). It is not uncommon for them to be affected from an early age by various hereditary health problems.

In an interview with National Geographic, veterinarian from the Dr. Silvan Urfer from the Dog's Aging Project at the University of Washington (USA) explained the higher incidence of ailments in large or giant breeds, such as the Bernese Mountain Dog and the Saint Bernard^[3]. This has to do with the fact their bodies release an enormous amount of oxidizing molecules as a result of the accelerated cell division that their growth process entails.

As a result, their bodies wear out at a cellular level much more quickly and intensely than that of small or medium-sized breeds, even damaging their DNA. This would explain why large dogs, and especially giant ones, tend to suffer from numerous ailments and begin to develop symptoms of old age very early.

This breed of dog from the United Kingdom was developed during the 19th century from crosses between the English bulldog and the English Mastiff. The bullmastiff was initially created to protect British farms and forests from poachers. Over time, its popularity as a companion dog began to grow due to its imposing appearance and its natural tendency to guard, which is why it tends to act distrustfully with strangers.

Although the Bullmastiff can be a loving companion during their lifetime, guardians of this breed can expect to be heartbroken early thanks to an average lifespan of 7 to 8 years. A high prevalence of joint, skin, gastric, ocular and metabolic problems has also been recorded in this breed.

Learn more about this and other dogs with our article sharing the most wrinkly dog breeds.

Often confused with the Saint Bernard, the Newfoundland dog is native to Canada, more specifically to the island of Newfoundland. For centuries, they have been recognized and valued as an extremely versatile and dedicated working dog. They performed arduous tasks at sea such as pulling large loads (nets, lines and sleds), rescue and lifeguard duties, and many others. Thanks to its good-natured character and being extremely patient with children, the Newfoundland has become a much-loved family dog today.

Giant in size, their massive structure predisposes them to joint problems and their gluttonous behavior increases the risk of digestive disorders and obesity. It is essential to pay close attention to the Newfoundland dog's diet and to encourage proper exercise. With proper care, these giants can live from 7 to 9 years.

Discover more about ensuring the health of this breed with our article asking what is the best food for a Newfoundland?

The Rottweiler is one of the most intelligent dogs according to ranking by famed dog trainer Steve Cohen. It is also one of the most recognized and admired canine breeds from Germany on a global level. Beyond the muscular body and the black and tan coat, these very furry dogs stand out for their alert temperament. They are greatly predisposed to training, being very easy to train through good use of positive reinforcement.

Owning a Rottweiler requires a lot of responsibility on the part of the guardian, both due to its robustness and physical strength. Its high requirement for mental stimulation and early socialization is also vital. Before adopting a Rottweiler, it is important to be aware that these dogs do not usually live more than 8 to 10 years. It is also important to best ensure the prevention of the most common diseases in the Rottweiler, such as hip dysplasia, cruciate ligament rupture and Von Willebrand syndrome, among others.

Our guide to the differences between American and German Rottweilers will also help you know what to expect if you adopt this breed.

In the aforementioned study published in the journal Nature regarding canine longevity, the Presa Canario was the second breed evaluated with the lowest life expectancy at an average of 7.7 years. As the name suggests, this dog breed originated in the Canary Islands (Spain) and was named a symbol of the island of Gran Canaria by the local government.

With a well-muscled body and imposing presence, these Spanish dogs display a noble and serene temperament. Although very affectionate with their family members, they are somewhat shy with strangers. Although their size varies from medium to large, the Dogo Canario is also predisposed to suffer from hip and elbow dysplasia, as well as gastric torsion and epilepsy.

As you can see, we begin and conclude our ranking of the dog breeds that live the shortest years with two types of bulldog breeds. Far from being a coincidence, the longevity of these dogs is mitigated more by their brachycephalic structure than by their size, since the French Bulldog is a small dog, while its ancestor of British origins is of medium size.

Both breeds share many of the pathologies that reduce their quality and life expectancy, but the English Bulldog tends to live somewhat longer. This is because its body composition is not as compact as that of the French Bulldog. This reduces the intensity of respiratory symptoms and also the incidence of problems during delivery, both for the female and for the puppies.

Likewise, the average life expectancy of the English Bulldog is 9 to 11 years. This is below the average observed in medium-sized dogs which is usually 12 to 15 years.

As we have already stated, these dog breeds with short lifespans are general guides. Many factors will influence the longevity of an animal, with their health status being one of the most important. You can learn more with our article asking what is the life expectancy of a dog with dementia?

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