Longest Living Dogs: 17 breeds of adorable dog with the longest average lifespans - including the Jack Russell 🐕

We’re officially a nations of dog owners, with the UK’s most popular pet living in around one-in-three households (and rising).

That means that there are around three million pooches living here, with more people choosing to join the army of dog lovers every week.

Of course, if you are looking to welcome a dog into your family, there are 221 different breeds of pedigree dog to choose from, alongside numerous crossbreeds, so there’s plenty of thinking to do before you select your family’s latest addition.

There’s even academic guidance to seek out, with Psychologist Stanley Coren’s book ‘The Intelligence of Dogs’ ranking breeds by instincts, obedience, and the ability to adapt.

Choosing the right breed is absolutely essential – for example opting for a small dog if you don’t have much room at home, or a hypoallergenic dog if you suffer from allergies.

And one thing you might like to consider is that different breeds are known for having different lifespans - although much will depend on the individual dog in question.

One of the terrible truths of dog ownership is that we are likely to outlive our adored pet, with the average dog living fewer than 13 years – but some breeds tend to have longer lives than others.

Here are the 17 breeds of dog that tend to live to a fair old age.