Dog Lovers Manual

Due to advances in veterinary medicine, dogs are living longer than they used to. However, large, heavy dogs have a shorter lifespan than their small, light counterparts due to their genetic make-up, as well as their bodies being subjected to more wear and tear. Non-pedigrees tend to live longer than purebreds.

Some breeds are known to have a limited lifespan due to their sheer size (such as the Irish Wolfhound and St Bernard), hereditary defects, susceptibility to certain ailments and/or confirmation.