

These are the hazards in the environment that threaten an animal’s survival. The real answer is probably to do with evolutionary pressures. Parrots are quite small and have a very fast heart rate but they can live into their eighties and beyond. However, there are so many exceptions to this rule that it cannot be the whole explanation.

They simply run out of energy sooner and die. The theory is that smaller animals have a higher metabolic rate as indicated by a faster heart rate. We are bigger than dogs, so you would expect us to live longer. So, elephants live for 70 years but fruit flies live for just 24 hours. On the whole, we see that larger species live longer than smaller ones. When we ask this question, what we actually mean is why don’t dogs live as long as we want them to, which is at least as long as us! The answer is quite complex and there are many factors that decide how long a particular species will live.

There are no guarantees here, but anything is worth a try when it comes to our four-legged friends, right? Why Don’t Dogs Live Long? So, why don’t dogs live long? And just as importantly, what can we do to increase the life expectancy of our own dogs? Let’s take a closer look at this and come up with some practical steps that you can take to increase the chances of your dog having a long and happy life. Humans have been grieving the loss of dogs for thousands of years. However, the sad fact is that we will, at some stage, have to say goodbye to our much-loved companion. There is one downside to owning a dog that none of us like to talk about or even think about.
