The 25 Dog Breeds With the Longest Life Spans

Shih Tzu, 15-20 years

Shih Tzu is the Chinese word for “little lion” but they are anything but. They’re famously friendly and make great lap dogs—not exactly lion behavior. They were bred with the purpose of creating great companions and one that will be around a very long time in canine terms. This breed is affectionate and does well in small living spaces, however they do have a tendency towards unhealthy weight gain.

Shih Tzus are moderately easy to train and will be up for a game of fetch almost any ol’ day. And you better like throwing sticks because this breed will be around anywhere from 15-20 years.