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What's the average dog lifespan? Do dogs live past 10 or 11 years?

Updated On September 23rd, 2025

Pet's info: Dog | German Shepherd | Male | unneutered | 1 year and 9 months old

My oldest gsd dies at age if 10yr 9mnths and i got one labrador also who is 6yrs now so is it true that my friend told me whether take any breed maximum age is 10 to 11 yrs but there are cases like 1 in million whi lives more than that so minimum age of any dog of any brred is 10 years is that true?

1 Answer

Most Helpful Answer

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Answered By Rebeccah Wood

Licensed Veterinary Technician, Registered Laboratory Animal Technologist

Published on September 7th, 2017

Hello there! The average age of dogs, in general, is 8-12 years. This can vary greatly depending on the dog's breed, size, and medical conditions. Larger breed dogs, for example, tend to have shorter lifespans as their size takes a bigger toll on their bones and joints. Popular purebred dogs, like labs, boxers, and golden retrievers, also have a higher incidence of certain conditions and types of cancers which may shorten their lifespan. There are so many factors that determine how long a dog will live - your vet can give you a better idea of your dog's estimated lifespan as he or she knows Bruno's personal medical history. The oldest dog I've ever encountered was 21 years old, so there's nothing that says a dog can't live a healthy life past 10 years old. I hope this helps! :)

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