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The Longest Living Big Dogs

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All dog lovers want to have their furry companion for as long as possible. When we get dogs,
we have to choose the breed based on a lot of different factors. Your lifestyle, their size, and
even their lifespan play a part in your choice. Many people want a big dog as their choice of
companion. In today’s video from The Most, we look at the longest living large dog breeds.
Hopefully this video will help you maximize your time with your four-legged family member.

Let’s go!

The Newfoundland
First up, we have the Newfoundland. Our list was easy at the top with a few large breeds
clearly living longer, on average, than others. It’s at the bottom of the list that we had to make a
few difficult choices. According to the American Kennel Club, there are about half a dozen large
breeds that will live 10-12 years. Those include popular breeds like the St Bernard, the
Rottweiler, and the Giant Schnauzer. However, we chose to include the Newfie, as they’re
lovingly called because this giant breed is gaining popularity recently. This is probably because
despite their size, they make excellent family dogs. Their loving and protective nature make
them excellent choices for families with young children. As a matter of fact, the AKC their sweet
and gentle temperament is the single most important breed characteristic for this gentle giant.

Originally bred as water rescue dogs, these giants are strong swimmers. While they are
strongly loyal to their families, they’re not necessarily great guard dogs because of their trusting
nature. Responding well to gentle guidance, the Newfie is an easily trainable dog, capable of
quick mastery of a wide variety of skills.

The Anatolian Shepherd Dog

Our next entry may not be as well known as the others on our list, but it frequently has a long
life and is an excellent family guard dog. The Anatolian Shepherd Doghas an average lifespan
of 11-13 years. Originally bred in modern day Turkey, these imposing herding dogs were bred
to be rugged flock guard dogs.

The Anatolian is an interesting mix of characteristics. They are known to be very territorial, as
their guarding job would require. However, they are also known to be very patient with their
family members. They are quick learners who are highly intelligent. Although they are
exceedingly large, frequently topping 150 pounds and standing almost 30 inches at the
shoulder, they are quick and nimble.

If you’re looking for a rugged, athletic, and loyal companion to be around for the long haul, the
Anatolian Shepherd may be the choice for you.
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Akita
Next up, we have the Akita. The Akita has shown up in our lists before, making an appearance
in our list of “worst dogs for families”. The Akita is a large dog breed originating in Japan as a
guard dog. With an average lifespan of 11-15 years, your Akita will be with you for a long while,
especially for a big dog. Akitas can be fiercely loyal companions.

The protective nature of the Akita, while an excellent trait for a guard dog may be tough for first-
time owners. When there are visitors or other animals around the house, the Akita can become
very territorial and even aggressive towards strangers or other animals. However, the loyalty of
the Akita to their owners means that they are often very affectionate and even silly with their
closest family members.

Irish Setter
Moving away from working dogs, we have the Irish Setter. Most commonly known for its
beautiful red coat, the Irish Setter is an excellent all-around hunting and family dog. Having an
average lifespan of 12-14 years, the Irish Setter is known to be a long-lived and overall very
healthy companion.

Being overall very kind, patient, and willing learners, the Irish Setter makes for an excellent
family dog. Even though they are known for their sweet personalities, they can be a bit of a
trickster. It is not uncommon for Irish Setter owners to tell of the care-free nature of their red-
haired companion. Being a hunting dog, the Irish Setter needs lots of exercise, but is a willing
learner and eager to please.

Belgian Malinois
Our last entry on our list of the longest living big dogs, we have the Belgian Malinois.
Commonly known as a police dog, the Malinois is an exceptionally healthy and long-living big
dog, with an average life span of 14-16 years, easily topping our list.

These dogs are confident, very intelligent, and exceptionally hard working. The AKC says in the
breed standard that to deny the Malinois work to do is to deprive it of its reason for being. So, if
you’re considering a Belgian Malinois, be ready to put it to work, otherwise you may have a
problem on your hands.

Being eager learners and workers, the Malinois excels at tasks requiring skill. That is why so
often we see them as police and armed forces dogs. However, we also see them as champions
in agility and obedience competitions.
Again, if you’re considering this breed, be ready to put in as much work as they do. But, if you
are willing, they are, and you’ll have an active and healthy companion for a long time.

Closing

If you love these breeds or have had some of them, let us know your experiences. Show your
support for the breeds on our list. What breeds did we miss?00

What video would you like to see next? Leave a comment below.

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