Dog breeds: size, lifespan and care basics
How big does a breed get, how long does it live, and when does it count as a senior? This table puts thirty popular breeds side by side, with the AKC and Royal Kennel Club figures and the AAHA senior rule. Each breed’s page explains the numbers and what daily life with the dog is like.
Updated
Small breeds
| Breed | Adult weight (AKC) | Life expectancy (AKC) | Senior from | Sheds (RKC) | Exercise (RKC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Beagle | “under 20 pounds (13 inches & under), 20–30 pounds (13–15 inches)” | 10–15 years | 11 years 3 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Boston Terrier | 12–25 lb (5.4–11.3 kg) | 11–13 years | 9 years 9 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 13–18 lb (5.9–8.2 kg) | 12–15 years | 11 years 3 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Chihuahua | up to 6 lb (2.7 kg) | 14–16 years | 12 years | Yes | Up to 30 minutes per day |
| French Bulldog | under 28 lb (12.7 kg) | 10–12 years | 9 years | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Havanese | 7–13 lb (3.2–5.9 kg) | 14–16 years | 12 years | No | Up to 30 minutes per day |
| Miniature Schnauzer | 11–20 lb (5–9.1 kg) | 12–15 years | 11 years 3 months | No | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | up to 30 lb (13.6 kg) for males and up to 28 lb (12.7 kg) for females | 12–13 years | 9 years 9 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Pomeranian | 3–7 lb (1.4–3.2 kg) | 12–16 years | 12 years | Yes | Up to 30 minutes per day |
| Pug | 14–18 lb (6.4–8.2 kg) | 13–15 years | 11 years 3 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Shetland Sheepdog | 15–25 lb (6.8–11.3 kg) | 12–14 years | 10 years 6 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Shih Tzu | 9–16 lb (4.1–7.3 kg) | 10–18 years | 13 years 6 months | No | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Yorkshire Terrier | “7 pounds” | 11–15 years | 11 years 3 months | No | Up to 30 minutes per day |
Medium breeds
| Breed | Adult weight (AKC) | Life expectancy (AKC) | Senior from | Sheds (RKC) | Exercise (RKC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Shepherd | 50–65 lb (22.7–29.5 kg) for males and 40–55 lb (18.1–24.9 kg) for females | 12–15 years | 11 years 3 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| Border Collie | 30–55 lb (13.6–24.9 kg) | 12–15 years | 11 years 3 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| Bulldog | 50 lb (22.7 kg) for males and 40 lb (18.1 kg) for females | 8–10 years | 7 years 6 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Dachshund | standard and miniature: see the AKC page | 12–16 years | 12 years | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| English Springer Spaniel | 50 lb (22.7 kg) for males and 40 lb (18.1 kg) for females | 12–14 years | 10 years 6 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
Medium to large breeds
| Breed | Adult weight (AKC) | Life expectancy (AKC) | Senior from | Sheds (RKC) | Exercise (RKC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basset Hound | 40–65 lb (18.1–29.5 kg) | 12–13 years | 9 years 9 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Belgian Malinois | 60–80 lb (27.2–36.3 kg) for males and 40–60 lb (18.1–27.2 kg) for females | 14–16 years | 12 years | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| Siberian Husky | 45–60 lb (20.4–27.2 kg) for males and 35–50 lb (15.9–22.7 kg) for females | 12–14 years | 10 years 6 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
Large breeds
| Breed | Adult weight (AKC) | Life expectancy (AKC) | Senior from | Sheds (RKC) | Exercise (RKC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bernese Mountain Dog | 80–115 lb (36.3–52.2 kg) for males and 70–95 lb (31.8–43.1 kg) for females | 7–10 years | 7 years 6 months | Yes | Up to 1 hour per day |
| Boxer | “65–80 pounds (male), females are about 15 pounds less than male” | 10–12 years | 9 years | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| Doberman Pinscher | 75–100 lb (34–45.4 kg) for males and 60–90 lb (27.2–40.8 kg) for females | 10–12 years | 9 years | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| German Shepherd | 65–90 lb (29.5–40.8 kg) for males and 50–70 lb (22.7–31.8 kg) for females | 12–14 years | 10 years 6 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| German Shorthaired Pointer | 55–70 lb (24.9–31.8 kg) for males and 45–60 lb (20.4–27.2 kg) for females | 10–12 years | 9 years | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| Golden Retriever | 65–75 lb (29.5–34 kg) for males and 55–65 lb (24.9–29.5 kg) for females | 10–12 years | 9 years | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| Labrador Retriever | 65–80 lb (29.5–36.3 kg) for males and 55–70 lb (24.9–31.8 kg) for females | 11–13 years | 9 years 9 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
| Rottweiler | 95–135 lb (43.1–61.2 kg) for males and 80–100 lb (36.3–45.4 kg) for females | 9–10 years | 7 years 6 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
Extra-large breeds
| Breed | Adult weight (AKC) | Life expectancy (AKC) | Senior from | Sheds (RKC) | Exercise (RKC) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Dane | 140–175 lb (63.5–79.4 kg) for males and 110–140 lb (49.9–63.5 kg) for females | 7–10 years | 7 years 6 months | Yes | More than 2 hours per day |
Where the numbers come from
Weight, height and life expectancy are the American Kennel Club’s figures for each breed; where the AKC gives words rather than numbers, we quote them. Size, exercise, grooming and shedding are the lines of the Royal Kennel Club’s breed pages. The senior age applies the 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines, which define the senior stage as the last 25% of the estimated lifespan, to the upper end of the AKC range.
The breeds are grouped by the size the RKC gives them. These are not the Waltham size groups of the puppy weight charts, which are set by adult weight.
Sources
- American Kennel Club. Dog breeds. akc.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
- The Royal Kennel Club. Breeds A to Z. royalkennelclub.com (opens in a new tab) (accessed )
- Creevy KE, Grady J, Little SE, et al. Journal of the American Animal Hospital Association. 2019 AAHA Canine Life Stage Guidelines. 2019. doi.org (opens in a new tab) (accessed )