Comparing weight and life expectancy across different dog breeds
Dogs come in a huge range of sizes, from tiny breeds like Chihuahuas to giant breeds like Great Danes and Mastiffs. I wanted to use this dataset to see whether there is a noticeable relationship between a dog breed's weight and its expected lifespan. The following table includes information about each breed's temperament, breed group, energy level, weight range, and expected lifespan.
| Breed | Temperament | Group | Energy Level | Min Weight (kg) | Max Weight (kg) | Min Life (yrs) | Max Life (yrs) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | Friendly, Active, Outgoing | Sporting Group | Needs Lots of Activity | 24.9 | 36.3 | 10 | 12 |
| German Shepherd Dog | Confident, Courageous, Smart | Herding Group | Regular Exercise | 22.7 | 40.8 | 7 | 10 |
| Golden Retriever | Friendly, Intelligent, Devoted | Sporting Group | Needs Lots of Activity | 24.9 | 34.0 | 10 | 12 |
| French Bulldog | Adaptable, Playful, Smart | Non-Sporting Group | Calm | 12.7 | 12.7 | 10 | 12 |
| Bulldog | Friendly, Courageous, Calm | Non-Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 18.1 | 22.7 | 8 | 10 |
| Beagle | Friendly, Curious, Merry | Hound Group | Energetic | 5.9 | 13.6 | 10 | 15 |
| Poodle (Standard) | Active, Proud, Very Smart | Non-Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 18.1 | 31.8 | 10 | 18 |
| Rottweiler | Loyal, Loving, Confident Guardian | Working Group | Regular Exercise | 36.3 | 61.2 | 9 | 10 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | Affectionate, Sprightly, Tomboyish | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 3.2 | 3.2 | 11 | 15 |
| Boxer | Bright, Fun-Loving, Active | Working Group | Energetic | 6.8 | 36.3 | 10 | 12 |
| Dachshund | Friendly, Curious, Spunky | Hound Group | Regular Exercise | 5.0 | 14.5 | 12 | 16 |
| Pembroke Welsh Corgi | Affectionate, Smart, Alert | Herding Group | Energetic | 12.7 | 13.6 | 12 | 13 |
| Siberian Husky | Loyal, Mischievous, Outgoing | Working Group | Energetic | 15.9 | 27.2 | 12 | 14 |
| Great Dane | Friendly, Patient, Dependable | Working Group | Energetic | 49.9 | 79.4 | 7 | 10 |
| Australian Shepherd | Smart, Work-Oriented, Exuberant | Herding Group | Energetic | 18.1 | 29.5 | 12 | 15 |
| Doberman Pinscher | Loyal, Fearless, Alert | Working Group | Needs Lots of Activity | 27.2 | 45.4 | 10 | 12 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | Affectionate, Gentle, Graceful | Toy Group | Calm | 5.9 | 8.2 | 12 | 15 |
| Miniature Schnauzer | Friendly, Smart, Obedient | Terrier Group | Regular Exercise | 5.0 | 9.1 | 12 | 15 |
| Shih Tzu | Affectionate, Playful, Outgoing | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 4.1 | 7.3 | 10 | 18 |
| Boston Terrier | Friendly, Bright, Amusing | Non-Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 5.4 | 11.3 | 11 | 13 |
| Bernese Mountain Dog | Good-Natured, Calm, Strong | Working Group | Energetic | 31.8 | 52.2 | 7 | 10 |
| Pomeranian | Inquisitive, Bold, Lively | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 1.4 | 3.2 | 12 | 16 |
| Havanese | Intelligent, Outgoing, Funny | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 3.2 | 5.9 | 14 | 16 |
| Shetland Sheepdog | Playful, Energetic, Bright | Herding Group | Regular Exercise | 6.8 | 11.3 | 12 | 14 |
| Brittany | Bright, Fun-Loving, Upbeat | Sporting Group | Needs Lots of Activity | 13.6 | 18.1 | 12 | 14 |
| English Springer Spaniel | Friendly, Playful, Obedient | Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 18.1 | 22.7 | 12 | 14 |
| Pug | Charming, Mischievous, Loving | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 6.4 | 8.2 | 13 | 15 |
| Mastiff | Courageous, Dignified, Good-Natured | Working Group | Regular Exercise | 54.4 | 104.3 | 6 | 10 |
| Cocker Spaniel | Gentle, Smart, Happy | Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 9.1 | 13.6 | 10 | 14 |
| Vizsla | Affectionate, Gentle, Energetic | Sporting Group | Energetic | 20.0 | 27.2 | 12 | 14 |
| Chihuahua | Charming, Graceful, Sassy | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 2.7 | 2.7 | 14 | 16 |
| Miniature American Shepherd | Good-Natured, Intelligent, Devoted | Herding Group | Energetic | 9.1 | 18.1 | 12 | 13 |
| Border Collie | Affectionate, Smart, Energetic | Herding Group | Needs Lots of Activity | 13.6 | 24.9 | 12 | 15 |
| Weimaraner | Friendly, Fearless, Obedient | Sporting Group | Needs Lots of Activity | 24.9 | 40.8 | 10 | 13 |
| Maltese | Gentle, Playful, Charming | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 3.2 | 3.2 | 12 | 15 |
| Collie | Devoted, Graceful, Proud | Herding Group | Regular Exercise | 22.7 | 34.0 | 12 | 14 |
| Basset Hound | Charming, Patient, Low-Key | Hound Group | Couch Potato | 18.1 | 29.5 | 12 | 13 |
| Newfoundland | Sweet, Patient, Devoted | Working Group | Regular Exercise | 45.4 | 68.0 | 9 | 10 |
| Rhodesian Ridgeback | Affectionate, Dignified, Even-Tempered | Hound Group | Regular Exercise | 31.8 | 38.6 | 10 | 10 |
| West Highland White Terrier | Loyal, Happy, Entertaining | Terrier Group | Regular Exercise | 6.8 | 9.1 | 13 | 15 |
| Belgian Malinois | Confident, Smart, Hardworking | Herding Group | Energetic | 18.1 | 36.3 | 14 | 16 |
| Shiba Inu | Alert, Active, Attentive | Non-Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 7.7 | 10.4 | 13 | 16 |
| Chesapeake Bay Retriever | Affectionate, Bright, Sensitive | Sporting Group | Energetic | 24.9 | 36.3 | 10 | 13 |
| Bichon Frise | Playful, Curious, Peppy | Non-Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 5.4 | 8.2 | 14 | 15 |
| Akita | Courageous, Dignified, Profoundly Loyal | Working Group | Energetic | 31.8 | 59.0 | 10 | 13 |
| Saint Bernard | Playful, Charming, Inquisitive | Working Group | Regular Exercise | 54.4 | 81.6 | 8 | 10 |
| Bloodhound | Friendly, Independent, Inquisitive | Hound Group | Regular Exercise | 36.3 | 49.9 | 10 | 12 |
| Portuguese Water Dog | Affectionate, Adventurous, Athletic | Working Group | Energetic | 15.9 | 27.2 | 11 | 13 |
| Bullmastiff | Affectionate, Loyal, Brave | Working Group | Energetic | 45.4 | 59.0 | 7 | 9 |
| English Cocker Spaniel | Energetic, Merry, Responsive | Sporting Group | Regular Exercise | 11.8 | 15.4 | 12 | 14 |
| Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier | Friendly, Happy, Deeply Devoted | Terrier Group | Energetic | 13.6 | 18.1 | 12 | 14 |
| Papillon | Friendly, Alert, Happy | Toy Group | Regular Exercise | 2.3 | 4.5 | 14 | 16 |
| Australian Cattle Dog | Alert, Curious, Pleasant | Herding Group | Needs Lots of Activity | 15.9 | 22.7 | 12 | 16 |
| Dalmatian | Dignified, Smart, Outgoing | Non-Sporting Group | Energetic | 20.4 | 31.8 | 11 | 13 |
| Scottish Terrier | Confident, Independent, Spirited | Terrier Group | Regular Exercise | 8.2 | 10.0 | 12 | 12 |
| Alaskan Malamute | Affectionate, Loyal, Playful | Working Group | Energetic | 34.0 | 38.6 | 10 | 14 |
| Samoyed | Adaptable, Friendly, Gentle | Working Group | Energetic | 15.9 | 29.5 | 12 | 14 |
To look more closely at the relationship between weight and lifespan, I selected four small breeds and four large breeds from the dataset and compared them side by side.
| Small Breed | Min Weight | Max Weight | Min Life | Max Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chihuahua | 2.7 | 2.7 | 14 | 16 |
| Pomeranian | 1.4 | 3.2 | 12 | 16 |
| Yorkshire Terrier | 3.2 | 3.2 | 11 | 15 |
| Maltese | 3.2 | 3.2 | 12 | 15 |
| Large Breed | Min Weight | Max Weight | Min Life | Max Life |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Great Dane | 49.9 | 79.4 | 7 | 10 |
| Mastiff | 54.4 | 104.3 | 6 | 10 |
| Saint Bernard | 54.4 | 81.6 | 8 | 10 |
| Newfoundland | 45.4 | 68.0 | 9 | 10 |
The comparison shows a noticeable difference between the selected small and large breeds. The four smaller breeds have maximum expected lifespans between 15 and 16 years, while all four larger breeds have maximum expected lifespans of 10 years. The larger breeds also have lower minimum expected lifespans. Based on this comparison, the smaller breeds in this dataset generally have longer expected lifespans than the larger breeds.
