The Longest Living Dog Breeds in the US

The wetterhoun is a very athletic dog that was originally bred for hunting otters. The dog is a loyal companion and is almost always by its owner’s side, according to AKC.

One of the first records of the Croatian sheepdog is from the 14th century, when Croats brought a shepherd dog to their land. A systematic program to breed the Croatian sheepdog was started in 1935.

It’s rare to find a small dog with a relatively short life expectancy, but the basenji comes in at a light 24 pounds. And yes, this short-haired African hunting dog really doesn’t bark.

Stabyhouns are known to be very patient dogs, who love the family they live with. Bred by farmers with the goal to hunt moles and rabbits, these dogs have a great sense of smell, according to the AKC.

Kromfohrlanders have a very particular smile and are known to sneeze when greeting someone, according to the AKC. They are easy to train. These dogs are also very active and love to climb and jump.

The German spitz is a breed of spitz-type dogs from Germany that is very loyal to its owners. They also make a very good house watchdog because they naturally do not trust strangers, according to the AKC.

The Bergamasco is a sheepdog with origins in the Middle East, but it has long been associated with, and gets its name from, the town of Bergamo in the Italian Alps. The breed’s most distinctive feature is its coat, which consists of hair of three different textures layered over its body and legs. This protects it from the elements and from predators.

The Finnish spitz, a hunting dog originally from Finland, was bred to hunt birds. Nicknamed the “barking bird dog,” the Finnish spitz is very vocal. One Finnish spitz is chosen every year for his hunting prowess to be King of the Barkers.

The Sussex spaniel is a hunting breed of dog native to Sussex in southern England. This breed was among the very first recognized by the AKC when the club was founded in 1884.

The grand basset griffon Vendéen is a scenthound that originated in the Vendée region of France. It has a shaggy coat, complemented by a shaggy moustache, beard, and eyebrows. It is a low-set dog with short legs, bred so that hunters on foot could keep up with it.

The “Eskie” was once used as a circus dog and is known for its white coat and triangular ears. With its famous white double coat, this breed is particularly well-suited for colder climates.

PTTs are very independent. They were originally bred for foxhunting, a very popular sport in England. The breed was named after Reverend John “The Sporting Parson” Russell, who was very passionate about hunting dogs.

The only all-red terrier, this excitable breed is known for its sometimes reckless behavior.

The silky, as this terrier is often called, comes from Sydney, Australia. The dog is bigger than its close cousin, the Yorkshire terrier — the two are often mistaken for one another.

The toy fox terrier is energetic, intelligent, and playful. It was bred in the last century for its size and hunting ability. Farmers who wanted a particularly small dog to catch rodents crossed fox terriers with toy dog breeds. The toy fox terrier was not registered by the American Kennel Club until 2003.

Originally bred to aid Scottish farmers in catching pests, you probably know the most famous cairn terrier in the world as Toto from the “Wizard of Oz.”

Known as the Westie, this breed originated as a hunting dog in Scotland where the tenacious dog pursued vermin and has retained a strong prey instinct. It has an all-white double coat and an inquisitive expression. It is smart, independent, and energetic, and needs careful training and lots of exercise.

Pugs have a lot of personality in a small package, and they like attention and affection. They are intuitive dogs and sensitive to the moods of their owners, which makes them good companions. They can be strong-willed but are not aggressive. They like to play with children but some supervision may be needed.

The Alaskan klee kai is a spitz-type dog, developed in the 1970s as a companion dog that looks like, but is smaller in size than, the Alaskan husky. Klee kay means “little dog” in Athabaskan, the language of Alaskan Natives.

This dog rarely sheds, which is why it’s such a great candidate for someone who suffers from allergies. Just like any of the three types of Schnauzers, this breed has a wiry, tight-fitting coat that keeps debris off. What’s dug up outside, stays outside.

The shiba inu is the most popular breed in its homeland of Japan. The breed was introduced to the United States as recently as 60 years ago.

The Xoloitzcuintli was named after an Aztec god — the Aztecs revered the breed and believed it to have healing powers. One of the world’s most ancient breeds, it was actually registered with the AKC from 1887 to 1959 as the “Mexican Hairless” dog, but was dropped because of insufficient numbers being bred and registered. The Xoloitzcuintl was subsequently revived and officially recognized in 2010.

The Chinese crested is a small dog with a big heart. These alert and affectionate dogs are said to be cat-like, enjoying sitting in high places, according to the AKC.

The pudelpointer is a versatile hunting dog from Germany. The dog, which has been assigned to the sporting group, is a cross between a pointer and a poodle, whose genes are more dominant, according to AKC.

The Portuguese pointer is a medium-sized hunting dog, known for being very devoted to its owners, according to the AKC. The breed originated in the Iberian Peninsula sometime in the 12th century.

The Jindo is an indigenous dog native to Jindo Island, off the coast of South Korea, where they are called Jindo-kae or JIndo-kyon. The dog is officially a South Korean natural treasure. Jindos even made an appearance at the opening ceremony of the 1988 Summer Olympic Games in Seoul.

The Italian greyhound is a much smaller version of its relative, the greyhound, is adaptable for both city and country life.

The bichon frise is a hypoallergenic dog with a history of being pampered by French royalty.

The Teddy Roosevelt terrier is naturally a hunting dog, especially of squirrels and vermin. The dog gets along with other dogs and pets in the house. Teddies, as they are often called, are easily trained, according to the AKC.

The American hairless terrier appeared in 1972, when a hairless puppy was born in a litter of rat terriers in Louisiana. A breeding program led ultimately to registration by the AKC in 2016. In fact, it’s the first hairless breed to have originated in the U.S. The lack of hair means it’s not suitable for hunting or ratting, but it does make an excellent watchdog.

The German wirehaired pointer is somewhat bigger than its close relative, the German shorthaired pointer. A dependable hunting dog, its coat provides protection from rough terrain and bad weather. As a pet it needs a lot of exercise.

This toy dog is named for the shape of its ears — “papillon” is French for butterfly. It was developed during the Renaissance by crossing other toy breeds with spaniels. It became popular with royalty and was featured in portraits by Rembrandt, Rubens and other famous artists. A papillion owned by Marie Antoinette waited outside the prison for the doomed queen.

The Belgian Malinois, a big, high-energy dog, got its name after being bred in the Belgian city of Malines.

Originating in the Mexican state of Chihuahua, these dogs are intelligent, loyal, and loving — but they are distrustful of strangers. Because they were bred for a warm climate, they don’t do well in the cold. Their tiny size makes them easy to carry around.

The Havanese is Cuba’s national dog. The breed is distinctive for its trademark curled-over tail.

The Norrbottenspets is a Nordic spitz from Sweden. There are not many Norrbottenspets in the world. In fact, they were even thought to be extinct by the Sweidish Kennel Klub until 1967.

The Hamiltonstovare, or Hamilton, is a hound dog, originally bred to hunt foxes in Sweden. Hamiltons are sometimes used as service dogs. The breed is very rare. There is only one breeder of this dog breed registered in the U.S.

Drevers are small-sized German hounds that are very social and get along well with other dogs, according to AKC. The breed has been bred since the 20th century, originally in Sweden, as a hunting dog.

The löwchen, or “little lion” in German, is a very popular dog breed in Europe, and has been for centuries. The dog’s origin, however, is uncertain. AKC calls the löwchens “small dogs with enormous heart.”

The Tibetan terrier is a double-coated dog that was bred and raised by Tibetan lamas nearly 2,000 years ago.

The Manchester terrier is a loyal and racy breed that comes in two sizes: toy and standard. The toy kind is a fearless dog that is distinguished from its standard sized counterpart by its pointed ear shape.

As the name suggests, this terrier is native to the city of Manchester in England. These dogs are very athletic and are known for their tight coat of mahogany tan and jet black.

The lagotto romagnolo originated in Italy, where it has been used to hunt waterfowl and truffles. Its hunting skills mean it has also been used in search and rescue. The lagotto romagnolo can be shy, so socialization is very important, particularly during the early weeks of its life. As a working dog it needs regular mental stimulation and physical exercise.

The coton de Tulear is also known as the “Royal Dog of Madagascar.” Coton is the French word for cotton, which the breed’s white coat resembles, and Tulear is a town in Madagascar. Coton de Tulear is a companion dog, an AKC designation that certifies a dog is able to perform obedience tasks. It is small but sturdy, with an expressive face and a hypoallergenic coat.

Before it was the biewer terrier, the dog was called German Yorkshire terrier. The dog can be traced back to the 1970s and to a German married couple who had decided to breed, raise, and sell Yorkshire terrier instead of having children.

The Pyr shep originated in the Pyrenees Mountains and is still used today as a sheep herder. It is extremely devoted to its owner and needs to be kept busy. It comes in rough-faced and smooth-faced varieties that can be born within the same litter.