These 14 Longest Living Dog Breeds Will Be Your Companions For Years

We all want our pets to live forever, which is why it's a good idea to look into getting a dog breed with a long lifespan. That way, you're setting yourself up for success from the start. Of course, the health of the individual dog plays a role in its longevity, but there are certain dog breeds that just live longer than others. One broad way to know how long your dog will live is to consider its size. In general, small dogs often live longer than big dogs.

According to a 2013 study by Banfield Pet Hospital, dogs under 20 pounds lived an average of 11.3 years compared to dogs in the 90 pound range that only lived eight years. It's not just breed size that matters here either. If you have a small dog that's overweight, its lifespan could be drastically shortened. The American Kennel Club (AKC) reported that for every 4.4 pounds of a dog's body mass, its life expectancy decreased by a month.

Interestingly, the Institute of Canine Biology also reported that purebred dogs may not live as long as mixed breed dogs due to the higher likelihood of genetic disorders. But there are still plenty of purebred dogs who live well into their teen years (which is into the 100s in human years). Here are the dog breeds with the longest life expectancies.