Do Hybrid Dogs Live as Long as Purebred Dogs?

One of the most difficult parts of owning dogs is saying goodbye to your friend, so the urge to pick a long-lasting breed is understandable. In terms of sticking power, hybrid dogs have some advantages over their purebred counterparts, but life span really comes down to one thing: Size.

  1. Hereditary Conditions

    • Mutts or hybrid dogs can actually outlive purebred dogs, in part because the latter may come with hereditary ailments that can shorten a life span. For example, certain dog breeds -- including the Bermese mountain dog, Rottweiler, golden retriever and boxer -- have significant rates of cancer that lead to earlier deaths. Flat-faced dogs like pugs may suffer breathing issues or overheat.

    Genetics

    • Mutts have mixed breeding and the benefit of a larger gene pool. Consequently, they are less likely to inherit their parents' breed-specific health problems and may live longer as a result. A lightly mixed-breed dog, such as one with two sets of purebred grandparents -- for example, the offspring of a purebred Yorkie and a purebred toy poodle -- will have less genetic diversity than the "really mixed breed" offspring of two mixed-breed mutts. The Yorkipoo puppy will have some gene mixing that could ward off poodle or Yorkie health problems, but not as much gene mixing as a dog with genes from four or more breeds.

    Average Life Span

    • The average dog life span is 12.8 years, which represents an increase from previous generations. Better medical care and healthier diets play roles in increasing life span. For large breeds like the Great Dane and Rottweiler, the average life span is 8 to 9 years. Medium breeds like the Irish setter and poodle live 12 years. Small dogs like the papillon and toy poodle live 15 years. Size is a good indicator of how long a hybrid dog will live, but predicting his life span is tricky even for experts.

    Factors that Decrease Life Span

    • The larger your dog is in pounds the shorter his life will be, in general. An otherwise small dog, such as a bulldog, will have a shorter life expectancy than a dog who is about the same size but more slender. Gender also plays a role in life span: Male dogs live slightly less than female dogs.