Which breeds of dogs age well?

[shelldockley]

Bit of a weird question, but I'm wondering from peoples experience, which breeds of dog age well? I don't mean dogs that live longest, but I mean breeds that don't get too ill for a long time in their later years.

I only have experience with boxers and spaniels. We've had 3 boxers, the first 2 lived for around 12 years and died after a few weeks of illness. The third is still going at 10, starting to get a bit slower (and greyer) but still full of life. The first spaniel lived til about 14 years, the second is now 12 but both were blind and deaf for about the last 4 years.

They were all great dogs and perfectly happy, but it's been sad watching the spaniels wander around bashing their heads all the time:( Just wondering if anyone has made similar observations with regards to breeds.

Purely anecdotal but sil has a Jack Russell who is 16 yrs old and bounds around like a puppy.

I think greyhounds and whippets tend to age quite well. It's probably the combination of their slim frames together with the copious amounts of sleep they insist upon.

Some have heart murmurs, but I don't think it causes health issues in many.

I have been told that JRT age well as do other terriers. Fingers crossed this is true!

I've read in at least three places that miniature poodles are one of the longest if not the longest living breed of dogs 18 yrs old being common. I'm assuming this is because they are always laughing at the world and I've also read that those who are happy and laugh live longer!
We are a first time min. poodle owner we've always had gun dogs before and they are an absolute pleasure to own.

Small terrierists can often be found happily well into their mid teens and beyond.

In general, lurchers and sighthounds (greys and whippets etc) age very well. Very common to meet elderly sighthounds well into their middle teen years, still enjoying themselves. One of my friend's greys is nearly blind but still very much enjoys himself - there's no need for this to have an adverse impact on QOL if it is managed well.

I see lots of old dogs at work and agree with everything so far.

Small non-pedigree terriers tend to go on forever and remain sprightly and active, as do sighthounds and lurchery types (though they have terrible teeth and often spend the last years of their lives practically toothless. Not a problem if you feed them mush ). Poodles of all sizes fare well, though you don't see many standards, ditto schnauzers.

Boxers do not do well - they're known for their lumps, cancers and heart conditions. Flatcoats have a ridiculous rate of osteosarcoma. Labs and retrievers tend to wind up arthritic and painful. Obviously none of the giant breeds do well in old age. Of the large pedigree dogs Siberian huskies age well, IMO, average age is something like 14.5.

I know a 19 yr old JRT!!

Toboldygo is right. I feel sad when I think of the possible cancer in my golden and the arthritic hips of my GSD.

Working style border collies do ok too I think.

Border collies age brill. You can't normally tell the difference between a pup and a old timer

Our old border collie x lived until 15. He was very young and bouncy until he was about 13, then developed arthritis in his back hips and although it was managed on (with half an ibuprofen every day on vet's advice), he did seem to suddenly become old, rather than gradually. I think arthritis in BC's is quite common because of their narrow hips (apparently).

I met a 21 year old JRT once, it was her birthday. She was a tiny shakey little old lady in a woolly coat, but she was out and walking through Soho.

I have a Lab/Border Collie X.

His body is 13, his spirit is 2. He's slightly deaf, his sight isn't what it once was but he loves life and still bounds about like a puppy (most of the time).

We had a lassie type collie x spaniel as children and she lived to 17 and was about 15.5 before she had any major problems ( a stroke) . My mum has 2 border terrier xJRT and they are 12 and still very lively , the boy has had cruciate problems this year but has recovered well without surgery.

My previous border collie lived until 13 and remained alert and sprightly despite progressive skin cancer. She quickly went down hill 2 days before we had to make the heartbreaking decision for her to be pts. Even then she wagged her tail to the end despite losing the use of her legs. So intelligent she knew when it was time to say goodbye and I swear to this day her eyes said to me " it's ok mum, I'm ready."
Would never have any other breed.
Have got a mum and daughter bc duo now!

Lots of lurchers seem to go to 15 / 16 and do really well to the end.