Long Nose Equals Long Life: Sorry, but this doesn't apply to people. Small dogs with long snouts tend to live longer that flat-faced dogs. That seems to be true in my experience.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Sorry, but this doesn't apply to people. Small dogs with long snouts tend to live longer that flat-faced dogs. That seems to be true in my experience.

Smaller dogs with long noses, like miniature dachshunds and shiba inus, live the longest, according to an analysis of over 580,000 dogs in the UK. After studying data from various sources, including vets, pet insurance companies and animal welfare charities, researchers found that small, long-nosed dogs of both sexes had the highest life expectancy, surviving 13.3 years on average. With an expected lifespan of just 9.1 and 9.6 years old, male and female medium-sized, flat-faced dogs had the worst outcomes, respectively. “Many flat-faced breeds, small or large, don’t do well, for example French bulldogs, St Bernards and presa canarios,” says Kirsten McMillan at Dogs Trust, a welfare charity in the UK.
NewScientist

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

Yes, for some reason, the shorter the snout the shorter the life.
Sinus issues?

kvanhook Loc: Oriental, NC

The oldest alligator died at 83. Many make it to 70. Long noses must be the answer.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

kvanhook wrote:

The oldest alligator died at 83. Many make it to 70. Long noses must be the answer.

Hmmm.
Cyrano de Bergerac only lived to be 36.
But it was rough times then.

fourlocks Loc: Londonderry, NH

In our quest to create new sub-species we've developed lots of pedigree dogs that suffer because of our efforts. Dachounds (sp?), for example, suffer spine problems from their elongated backs. Greyhounds have high rates of broken leg and hip problems. Breeds like pugs, bulldogs, etc. that have pushed in faces suffer from sinus and breathing problems among others. I'd bet these physical problems lead to average earlier deaths.

Longshadow Loc: Audubon, PA, United States

fourlocks wrote:

In our quest to create new sub-species we've developed lots of pedigree dogs that suffer because of our efforts. Dachounds (sp?), for example, suffer spine problems from their elongated backs. Greyhounds have high rates of broken leg and hip problems. Breeds like pugs, bulldogs, etc. that have pushed in faces suffer from sinus and breathing problems among others. I'd bet these physical problems lead to average earlier deaths.

Exactly.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

fourlocks wrote:

In our quest to create new sub-species we've developed lots of pedigree dogs that suffer because of our efforts. Dachounds (sp?), for example, suffer spine problems from their elongated backs. Greyhounds have high rates of broken leg and hip problems. Breeds like pugs, bulldogs, etc. that have pushed in faces suffer from sinus and breathing problems among others. I'd bet these physical problems lead to average earlier deaths.

Right. Manipulating dogs to look "cute" isn't very good for the dogs. My dachshund is going on 13, and his back is fine.

Ollieboy

My pug lived for 14 years and 1 month. No health issues either.

jerryc41 Loc: Catskill Mts of NY

Ollieboy wrote:

My pug lived for 14 years and 1 month. No health issues either.

We had three pugs, but they didn't quite make it to 14. They're wonderful dogs, though.

nervous2 Loc: Provo, Utah

Going to have to adjust the mortality tables on my proposed dog life insurance company. Interesting stuff, as is always the case, Jerry.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

jerryc41 wrote:

Sorry, but this doesn't apply to people. Small do... (show quote)

Getting that flat face requires more cross and inbreeding, after all they are all descended from long nose wolves. And the cross and inbreeding leads to problems that can shorten their lives.
My little Irish Shorty Jack Russell mix had a mom who was miniature dachshund and chihuahua, Dad was purebred Jack Russell. All long nose types and she is 14 1/2. My wife's golden shin zhu (under the fur he is fairly long nosed) is 16 1/2.

BassmanBruce Loc: Middle of the Mitten

Hmmmm, in my experience, the louder and more obnoxious the dog, the longer it lives!!!

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

jerryc41 wrote:

Right. Manipulating dogs to look "cute" isn't very good for the dogs. My dachshund is going on 13, and his back is fine.

flyboy61 Loc: The Great American Desert

we were relieved to find our Shihtzu had the longer nose...he is going on 14, and I hope for more years of his company.

robertjerl Loc: Corona, California

flyboy61 wrote:

we were relieved to find our Shihtzu had the longer nose...he is going on 14, and I hope for more years of his company.

Yes, I hope ours live to be very old so I can love and spoil them more.
In the case of Tara, my Irish Shorty, I first saw her at less than a week, the size of a largish mouse and brought her home from the neighbor's house at 7 weeks and about 2 lbs. She fit on my hand, nose on my middle fingertip and tail tip just reaching the wrist. I was already retired so when she got tired of playing or trying to get the cats to play I would put her in my lap as I read in the recliner, and she would walk up to my left shoulder, stick her nose in my ear and go to sleep. That rhythm of her gentle breath would put me to sleep, so we napped together.