Regardless of a dog breed’s popularity, Americans have an undeniable love for dogs, making them more likely to be dog owners than any other nationality. The vast selection of incredible dogs includes seniors seeking companionship in their golden years and puppies requiring guidance in training, contributing in various ways to a household.
With an estimated nearly 90 million dogs in the United States, around 44.5% of households, approximately 63.4 million homes, have a canine companion, according to the American Pet Products Association. For those who own dogs, a staggering 90% consider them integral members of their families. (These are the hardest dog to train.)
Dogs often become part of our lives as puppies, establishing enduring bonds. During their puppyhood, these canine companions are still manageable in size and irresistibly adorable. While it might remain unspoken, some dog owners secretly harbor the wish that their puppies could stay perpetually young.
24/7 Tempo set out to identify the breeds that stay puppies the longest. Dogs reach adulthood at different stages. But some appear to stay puppies longer than others. We compiled the list based on a range of factors for which data were available, including life expectancy and size, as well as other more intangible factors such as temperament, playfulness, and cuteness.
Here are 20 dogs that stay puppies the longest
Bichon Frise
> Weight: 12-18 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-15 years
Bichon frise translates into English as ‘curly-haired small dog’. This breed’s most distinctive feature is its white coat of hair, which accentuates its dark, inquisitive eyes. It has been described as a fluff ball of a dog and as a canine comedian, reflecting its winning personality — and securing its place on our list.
Boston Terrier
> Weight: 10-25 pounds
> Life expectancy: 13-15 years
Just as Boston is a historic city with a young population, this dog is a relatively old breed with a young heart. Recognized by its tuxedo-like coloring, this dog, nicknamed “The American Gentleman,” it’s compact and classy. It excels at canine sports and is eager to please so it is popular as a therapy dog.
Brussels Griffon
> Weight: 8-12 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-15 years
Named after its city of origin, the Brussels griffon, also known as the Griffon Bruxellois, is a toy dog and somewhat larger than others on our list. Its large expressive eyes and flat face give it a unique puppy-like appearance, whatever its age. The Brussels griffon comes in a variety of colors, including red, reddish brown, and black.
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
> Weight: 13-18 pounds
> Life expectancy: 9-14 years
This toy breed has been popular since the days of King Charles II, who they got their name from. The cavalier is considered the nobleman of the dog world, with an even temper. It is small for a spaniel and goes through its puppy stage slowly, staying frisky even when older. It also draws you in with its large, round eyes and big heart, which is why it’s on our list.
Chihuahua
> Weight: 6 pounds or less
> Life expectancy: 12-20 years
Named for a state in Mexico, the Chihuahua is the smallest breed of dog with a giant-sized personality. It has a long life expectancy of up to 20 years but looks like a puppy no matter its age. It’s also smart — it has the biggest brain relative to the size of any dog. It has even been described by the AKC as a “Tiny dog, giant personality.”
Cocker Spaniel
> Weight: 20-30 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-14 years
One of the world’s most popular breeds is the cocker spaniel. This dog is the smallest of the sporting dogs and packs a lot of cuteness into a small package. With a handsome face, big soulful eyes, and a tail that wags the dog, it’s no surprise it has topped the AKC popularity rankings at various times over the years. That doesn’t just go for the purebred cocker — all the spaniels and crossbreeds such as the cockapoo have legions of fans who love their handsome features and puppy-like qualities.
> French Bulldog
> Weight: Under 28 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
The French bulldog is another one of the most popular small breeds, with its wrinkly face and protruding bat-like ears. Based on that description alone, you might wonder why it’s on our list. But it’s an irresistible puppy-like dog with a big heart and a playful personality. It’s also bigger than many other breeds on our list and is considered good with small children.
Golden Retriever
> Weight: 55-75 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
The golden retriever is by far the biggest dog on our list and it doesn’t have a particularly long life span. However, it’s one of the most popular breeds of any size and is adorable as a puppy and as a full-grown adult. It has a friendly, playful, and gentle disposition making it one of the best breeds for families.
Havanese
> Weight: 7-13 pounds
> Life expectancy: 14-16 years
The Havanese is not only the only dog breed endemic to Cuba but it is the national dog as well. These small, happy, and sociable dogs are known for their long, silky coats, one of their distinguishing features. They have a rather relaxed temperament and prefer to be with their owners quite often. The Havanese has a long life expectancy and manages to look like a puppy — even when it has an old-man beard.
Japanese Chin
> Weight: 7-11 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-12 years
The Japanese chin is a toy dog that, despite its name, originated in China. In some respects it is more kitten-like than puppy-like — it likes to climb on top of things and washes itself by licking its paws and rubbing them on its face. Much like a cat, they have a rather independent personality, but enjoy being a lap dog too. Puppies lose much of their coat between five and 12 months of age and can look almost naked before the fur grows back. Another idiosyncrasy is its fondness for snorting and sneezing.
Lhasa Apso
> Weight: 12-18 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-15 years
The Lhasa Apso is an ancient breed from Tibet, where it served as a companion and watchdog in isolated monasteries. It is of an aristocratic nature, having also been used as a guardian for the inner royal household. It can be cute, mischievous, and deeply devoted — and frolicsome as a puppy or adult. In fact, it’s difficult to tell a puppy from an adult because of the breed’s extensive facial hair and floor-length coat, in addition to its comedic personality.
Maltese
> Weight: Under 7 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-15 years
The Maltese is an ancient breed and a classic lapdog. It’s small, like the island of Malta from which it got its name, dainty, and proud. It also has a fairly long life expectancy. It has a reputation for being affectionate and perky, which are endearing puppy qualities. Like many small dog breeds, its size alone leads you to think it’s an eternal puppy.
Miniature Schnauzer
> Weight: 11-20 pounds
> Life expectancy:12-15 years
It may not have the traditional eternal puppy look like many other breeds, with its old man face, walrus mustache, and bushy eyebrows, but the miniature schnauzer has many qualities that earn it a place on our list. It’s small and sturdy, intelligent and affectionate, energetic and playful. It’s classed by the AKC in the terrier group, and while it has different traits from the terrier breeds on our list, it shares their puppy qualities and appeal.
Pekingese
> Weight: 7 – 14 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-14 years
The Pekingese was destined to be a small dog. It was bred to be the lapdog for Chinese royalty and to be small enough to fit inside the huge sleeves of ancient Chinese garments. This earned them the name Sleeve Pekingese. The Pekingese of today have shorter legs, and longer coats than the original, which often adds to their puppy-like appearance. Surprisingly, it was used as a guard dog and can have an un-puppy-like fierceness. It’s a survivor. One of the two dogs to escape from the Titanic was a Pekingese named Sun Yat-sen.
Pomeranian
> Weight: 3-7 pounds
> Life expectancy: 12-16 years
The Pomeranian is the smallest of the spitz breeds, weighing from 3 to 7 pounds. It was named for the area of Central Europe it came from, the former Pomerania region in Germany and Poland. It was made popular by Queen Victoria, who was smitten by its puppy qualities. She had as many as 35 Pomeranians in her kennels and died with one by her side. The pom’s tiny body, enhanced with a big personality, has a fairly high energy level and loves to have fun.
Pug
> Weight: 14-18 pounds
> Life expectancy: 13-15 years
The pug is an ancient breed, originating in China. It has been with us for thousands of years and was recognized by the AKC in the 19th century. It has a distinctive wrinkly face and big, sad sympathy-winning eyes. The pug is considered even-tempered and charming and it has a large personality rolled up into a compact little body. Like many dogs, it likes attention and affection — all endearing puppy qualities.
Shih Tzu
> Weight: 9-16 pounds
> Life expectancy: 10-18 years
The Shih Tzu is a toy breed with a long life expectancy and devoted fans. Originating in Tibet many centuries ago, they were then sent to China as gifts for the royals. Although diminutive in size, its name comes from the Mandarin word for lion. Part of a breeding program, they were almost eliminated during the Communist Revolution when the program ceased to exist. The breed began appearing in the U.S. after World War II when returning veterans brought their pets back to America.
Toy Fox Terrier
> Weight: 4-9 pounds
> Life expectancy: 13-15 years
The toy fox terrier is energetic, intelligent, and playful. Used as ratters, toy fox terriers were bred in the last century for their size and hunting ability. Farmers who wanted a particularly small dog to catch rodents crossed fox terriers with toy dog breeds. This toy terrier has the typical determination of a terrier wrapped up in a tiny body. The toy fox terrier was not registered by the American Kennel Club until 2003.
Yorkshire Terrier
> Weight: 7 pounds
> Life expectancy: 11-15 years
The Yorkie is a very popular toy breed that grows up to a mere 7 pounds. Its confidence and playfulness have earned it the nickname “the tomboy toy.” While it stays puppy-like for a long time and is easy to baby because of its size, the Yorkshire terrier requires a lot of care and attention. The smallest of the terriers, this tiny pup originated in Yorkshire, England, where they earned their name. Their long hair can be high maintenance but if you elect to keep their hair short, also known as the puppy cut, it will not only keep them neater but increase their puppy-like appearance.
West Highland White Terrier
> Weight: 15-20 pounds
> Life expectancy: 13-15 years
One of the more popular tiny terriers, these dogs are like other dogs in the terrier group and can be feisty and energetic. With their bright eyes, sturdy little bodies, and pink ears, westies are hard to resist. They may look like tiny toys but they have a strong and tough demeanor. Bred to hunt rodents in Scotland, they love a good chase but are also great family dogs.