12 Longest Living Dog Breeds — our top picks
Jack Russell Terrier
Jack Russell Terrier: small-sized, very high athleticism and very high energy — a long life expectancy for a dog. Small, energetic hunting terrier with bold personality. Intelligent, fearless, and excellent working dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the Jack Russell Terrier needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat)
Chihuahua (Smooth Coat): very small-sized and medium energy — a long life expectancy for a dog. World's smallest dog breed with huge personality. Alert, confident, and devoted to their family despite their tiny size. Worth knowing before you commit: the Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) is vocal, which matters if you share walls.
Chihuahua (Long Coat)
Chihuahua (Long Coat): very small-sized and medium energy — a long life expectancy for a dog. Long-haired variety of the Chihuahua with soft, flowing coat. Same bold personality as smooth coat variety. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Chihuahua (Long Coat) needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Havanese
Havanese: small-sized, medium athleticism and medium energy. Cuban toy breed with silky coat and cheerful disposition. Adaptable and social companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Havanese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Papillon
Papillon: small-sized, high athleticism and high energy. Elegant toy spaniel with distinctive butterfly ears. Athletic and intelligent with surprising agility for their size. Worth knowing before you commit: the Papillon needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Bichon Frise
Bichon Frise: small-sized, medium athleticism and medium energy. Cheerful white powder-puff with hypoallergenic coat. Playful and adaptable companion with minimal shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Bichon Frise needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Russell Terrier
Russell Terrier: small-sized, high athleticism and high energy. Shorter-legged version of Jack Russell. Energetic, bold, and excellent family companion with moderate exercise needs. Worth knowing before you commit: the Russell Terrier needs serious daily exercise, and gets destructive without it.
Cairn Terrier
Cairn Terrier: small-sized, medium athleticism and medium energy. Small Scottish terrier with shaggy coat. Hardy, intelligent, and excellent family companion. Worth knowing before you commit: a strong prey drive makes off-leash recall a long project for the Cairn Terrier.
Toy Poodle
Toy Poodle: very small-sized, medium athleticism and high energy. Smallest variety of Poodle with intelligence and athleticism in a tiny package. Hypoallergenic and highly trainable. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Toy Poodle needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Yorkshire Terrier
Yorkshire Terrier: very small-sized, medium athleticism and high energy. Small terrier with silky coat and big personality. Brave, determined, and sometimes bossy despite their tiny size. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Yorkshire Terrier needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Maltese
Maltese: very small-sized and medium energy. Ancient toy breed with flowing white coat and gentle demeanor. Playful and affectionate companion dog. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Maltese needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Pomapoo
Pomapoo: very small-sized and medium energy. Pomeranian and Poodle cross creating tiny companion with big personality and reduced shedding. Worth knowing before you commit: the coat is real work — the Pomapoo needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
How this ranking works: each of DoggyQ's 321 breeds is scored on the traits that decide this particular question — the same trait ratings shown on each breed's own guide page, so you can check the reasoning rather than take a ranking on faith. Read more about our methodology, or see which breed you look like from a single photo.
Popular breeds that are a poor fit for owners hoping for as many years together as possible
English Mastiff
The English Mastiff is a popular choice, but giant-sized and low athleticism put it at odds with owners hoping for as many years together as possible. On top of that, the English Mastiff drools enough to notice.
Great Dane
The Great Dane is a popular choice, but giant-sized put it at odds with owners hoping for as many years together as possible. On top of that, the Great Dane does badly left alone all day.
Bernese Mountain Dog
The Bernese Mountain Dog is a popular choice, but large-sized put it at odds with owners hoping for as many years together as possible. On top of that, the coat is real work — the Bernese Mountain Dog needs frequent brushing and regular professional trims.
Which dog do you look like?
Take one photo and an AI model tells you which of our 321 breeds you most resemble, and which features gave it away. Free, no account, and your photo is never stored. It is a game rather than advice — but every match links straight into that breed's real guide.
See which dog you look likeFrequently asked questions
- Which dog breed lives the longest?
- Based on temperament and care needs, the Jack Russell Terrier ranks as the top choice for owners hoping for as many years together as possible, followed by the Chihuahua (Smooth Coat) and Chihuahua (Long Coat).
- How was this list of dogs for owners hoping for as many years together as possible chosen?
- Each breed is scored on the traits that matter most for owners hoping for as many years together as possible — such as energy, size, grooming and temperament — using DoggyQ's breed database. The same trait ratings are printed on each breed's own guide page, so you can check why a breed placed where it did.
- Which popular breeds are a poor fit for owners hoping for as many years together as possible?
- The English Mastiff, The Great Dane, The Bernese Mountain Dog all rank near the bottom for owners hoping for as many years together as possible despite being widely chosen — usually because the traits that make them appealing elsewhere work against them here.