Size vs breed

[sonofapun]

What has more of an impact on life expectancy - the dog's breed or its size?

I have a cross breed, and all the breeds that make him up (retriever, poodle, couple of others) all have a lifespan of 12-15 years.

However, he's very large. Almost double the average weight, putting him more on a par with those very large breeds who tend to live only 9-10 years.

I know it's all a matter of genetics and luck at the end of the day, I'm just not sure what category he falls into.

I think it's breed but based on things that breed has... like a squished nose. I had the best rottie that ever was and he was healthy as an ox until just before 10 when he got bone cancer which is turns out is really common. He was gone 3weeks and 6 days after symptoms started and that's twice as long as the vet gave him. Average lifespan was 8-10. Weeks thought he'd live forever.

Current doggo is an Akita (0/10 do not recommend) and allegedly they are healthier so live longer 12-15 but they are so prone to bloat , stomach and skin allergies that I feel they are more at risk.

I wanted a dogue de Bordeaux but read their lifespan was only 5-8 years so decided against.

Size tends to have more of an impact on life expectancy than breed. Larger dogs, in general, live shorter lives because they age faster and are more prone to health issues like joint and heart problems.
Since your dog is bigger than average, his lifespan might be closer to that of large breeds, even though the breeds he's mixed with typically live longer. But things like diet, exercise, and regular vet visits can make a big difference. So while size does matter, taking good care of him can help him live a long, happy life!

Thanks, ChatGPT.

The problem with AI helping to rule the internet is it knows the price of everything and the value of nothing.

Many kennel clubs merge the medium and standard poodle classes. Giving smaller averages.
Look at stud dogs and crufts winners, you quickly see that standard poodles come in at the upper end of the weight and height ranges quoted. I have ever met a standard poodle dog that is smaller than my pointer.

Retrievers are also very variable in size. He might be nowhere near double the average weight. You'd have to meet the parents and grandparents to be sure and that is unlikely to happen.

According to our local (now) ex-vet, nine years old is a real barrier. In his experience, Apart from the usual suspects not expected to make old bones (bulldog etc), if a dog makes it through 9 well enough, they can expect to live a decent breed lifespan. But many fall off the cliff at 9 like our BT. We put her to sleep just after her ninth birthday with lung cancer which had only been diagnosed a 48 hours before and she had been poorly for about 3 weeks.

To follow up, friends Akita was also put to sleep with cancer soon after his ninth birthday, although he had been declining for some months prior.

Interesting. Dog is coming up to nine and still seems fit as a flea so we'll see, I suppose.

Mines been declining for a year, almost to the day. It's his birthday tomorrow and last year we took him for "a birthday walk" and he moved his leg slightly in the wrong way has limped ever since 😭

I’m friends with a few GSD breeders. They all say get them to 10 then treat every day after that as a bonus one!

I don’t understand how an average is very helpful. I have a cocker spaniel, average life expectancy 12-14. He’s got lymphoma and is on chemo with an expectancy of a year - he’s 4 years old. The average life expectancy is meaningless on an individual basis, and mixed breed will be so dependent on multiple factors.

I guess what I'm trying to get to - which is maybe an impossible ask - is whether our nearly 9yo dog has another 1-2 years left in him, or more likely 5-6 years.

Of course there are no guarantees but how long he's likely to be with us with have an impact on some important work and housing decisions coming up

If he is slim and fit, probably 4-ish years.

No guarantees though, but IME big dogs don't tend to go much past 13.

My Australian labradoodle has a 'published' lifespan of 12-15 years. And my goodness, as soon as he hit 15 he deteriorated rapidly. From a wellness check at the vets where he was deemed a bit slow, certainly deaf, but otherwise healthy to four weeks later putting him to sleep with a suspected brain tumour. He could hardly walk the last few days.
My other 13 year old (English) labradoodle seems as fit as ever. But I'm figuring at 15 she will also deteriorate.
My friend keeps Gordon Setters which are very large and life span of 10. Three of hers have gone at that age but her oldest now is almost 12 and still walks well.
So smaller do last longer generally speaking, mutts probably last longer too. But you get exceptions. You can't say 'oh fit now has several years left'.