These Are the 21 Longest Living Companion Dog Breeds

The Welsh springer spaniel is a hunting dog, strong and agile with a muscular build. It’s a purebred that’s considered generally healthy with only minor health concerns.

Standing at only six inches tall, the miniature dachshund weighs up to 11 pounds. With a nutritious diet and enough exercise to keep toned, this pup enjoys a long, healthy life.

Both playful and alert, the Italian greyhound grows to weigh up to 14 pounds. This is a purebred lapdog that loves to chase. Though it may appear delicate, this breed enjoys a long life with minimal health concerns.

The Cairn Terrier is a small ball of furry cheer, weighing up to 14 pounds. Reputable breeders preserve the health of these pups, which is why they are generally healthy.

The standard poodle is intelligent and active, growing to weigh up to 70 pounds if male and 50 pounds if female. These dogs are healthy as a result of responsible breeding, though they may develop minor issues (especially the toy and miniature varieties).

The Australian cattle dog is strong with a muscular build and savvy enough to outsmart you. Proper testing on both the sire and dam prior to breeding results in a healthy pup.

These social and affectionate dogs are small, standing at 10 inches tall, and weighing, on average, 12 pounds. They have a long history of good health, though they are susceptible to developing dental disease.

Lively and loyal, the German spitz mittel may be different sizes, including toy, medium, and large. Most German spitz mittels are healthy, but there have been cases of progressive retinal atrophy (PRA), patella luxation, and retinal dysplasia (RD) in this breed.

The Swedish Vallhund is a herding dog that’s friendly and bursting with energy. In 2017, a genetic test made it easier for breeders to identify carriers of retinopathy, which has helped to ensure healthy offspring.

These long-haired pups are amusing and intelligent. These dogs are generally healthy, especially when obtained from conscientious breeders who are aware of hereditary kidney dysfunction and work toward eradicating it.

This confident pup is affectionate and grows to weigh up to 70 pounds. Large munsterlanders are robust dogs when they come from a reputable breeder, as they focus on reducing the possibility of disease.

With a schipperke, you’re never bored. These dogs are full of energy and curiosity and weigh between 10 and 16 pounds on average. Responsible breeding results in a healthy, long-lived companion pup.

The border terrier is a happy pup, generous with its affection. Generally healthy due to assiduous breeding, this pup enjoys a long life. However, this breed may be sensitive to heat, which requires limiting outdoor play on hot days.

Another happy pup, the Coton de Tulear will charm you within seconds of meeting. This small breed dog is nearly free of genetic health conditions, which means they can enjoy a long, healthy lifespan.

You can’t miss a Lakeland terrier, as it stands boldly, and full of confidence. This breed only weighs about 17 pounds and there are minimal health conditions reported at low incidences, which gives owners peace of mind.

The Havanese is an outgoing pup that’ll give you the gift of laughter throughout its lifetime. These pups require daily grooming to keep their silky coats healthy and they generally live long, healthy lives.

This small pup is friendly and compact, weighing only five to 10 pounds on average. The papillon is a brave breed, seemingly unaware of its size. Owners should take great care to avoid accidentally hurting these tiny pups that have a long lifespan to enjoy.

Attentive and active, the Shiba Inu is extremely affectionate. At one time, this pup was a hunter. Today, the most common problem for Shiba Inus is allergies.

These fluffy pups have gentle and playful personalities. They’re small, only weighing six to 10 pounds on average. Most of these dogs are healthy, especially when they are acquired from a good breeder.

The Tibetan spaniel is a playful pup that stands 10 inches tall and weighs nine to 15 pounds on average. These are relatively healthy dogs who should be thoroughly tested before moving into their forever homes.

The pup with the longest lifespan is the Lancashire heeler. This dog is friendly and eager to learn new tasks. Breeders have been aggressive in eliminating health conditions, allowing this breed to thrive well into their teen years.