How Long Do Poodles Live? Average Lifespan Data & Care Guide
By Adam Mann
Updated on
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If you have a Poodle at home, it’s only natural to wonder how long you can expect them to live. But if you’re looking for a straightforward answer, that’s a bit more challenging with a Poodle. There’s a lot that goes into how long you can expect them to live. You can expect your Poodle to live for 10-18 years on average. With that in mind, we’ve highlighted everything you need to know about a Poodle’s average lifespan; just keep reading!
Poodle Average Lifespan
How long you can expect your Poodle to live depends on a lot of things, but perhaps nothing matters quite as much as their size. Smaller Poodles tend to have longer lifespans than larger Poodles, with the average Toy and Miniature Poodle living somewhere between 10 and 18 years, while Standard size Poodles typically live somewhere between 10 and 15 years.
In short, the larger the Poodle, the shorter the average life expectancy. Of course, there are a lot of other factors that can affect how long a Poodle lives, but somewhere between 10 and 18 years is the typical range.
How to Care for Your Poodles for a Long Lifespan
If you want your pup to live a long time—and who doesn’t—there are some things you can do to help ensure they live a long, healthy life. Of course, nothing is foolproof or guaranteed, but if you keep up with these things, you may certainly tip the scales in your favor.
Feeding & Diet
Just like how what you eat plays a significant role in how healthy you’ll be and how long you’ll likely live, the same thing is true for your dog. If you feed your dog high-quality food that meets all their nutritional needs and doesn’t have harmful ingredients or fillers, you’re likely reducing future medical problems and increasing their overall lifespan.
The right food also has to come in the right amounts. Over or underfeeding your pup can have negative effects on their health. So, be sure you’re feeding the proper amount of food based on the diet you choose and your dog’s weight. If you have any questions, ask your vet.
Exercise
Your doctor tells you how important exercise is for you, and the same is true for your dog. The more they can get out and move around, the better it is for them long-term. Not only does it help them avoid obesity, but it also helps strengthen heart and skeletal muscle and stimulate their mind. Give your pup plenty of time to run around and take them on plenty of walks throughout their life. It makes a big difference!
Care
There’s a lot that goes into caring for and loving your Poodle, and a happy and loving home goes a long way. While this might be an intangible that’s challenging to measure, providing for your dog in this way can help reduce stress and boost mental health, which can in turn help improve physical health.
Genetics
Sometimes, there’s nothing you can do if your pup draws the short straw in the genetic lottery. While there’s nothing you can do about this after you bring your pup home, it highlights why it’s so important to find a reputable breeder with two healthy parents before you choose that pet.
Healthy parents are more likely to produce healthy offspring, so do your research beforehand.
Healthcare
The best way to keep big health problems from cropping up with your Poodle is to catch them when they’re early. That’s why frequent health checkups and taking them to the vet as soon as you see something wrong is such a big deal.
While you might be able to catch and treat a health problem early on, if you let it go too long, it might become untreatable, or at least take longer to treat.
The Life Stages of a Poodle
Poodles generally have three life stages, although there is some debate about where one life stage stops and another begins.
1. Puppy Stage
The first life stage is the puppy stage. This stage starts as soon as the puppy is born and goes until the puppy is fully grown, usually between 6 to 12 months, depending on the size of the specific Poodle.
2. Adulthood
The next life stage is adulthood, and it begins directly after the puppy stage ends. Once a Poodle enters full adulthood, their energy levels may start to drop a bit, and they may become a little more mentally focused.
3. Senior Years
The final life stage of a Poodle is their senior years, and they begin at a slightly different point for each Poodle. You can tell a Poodle is entering their senior years when their energy levels start to decline, usually when they’re between 8 and 12 years old.
How to Tell Your Poodle’s Age
Once a dog reaches sexual maturity, it can be tough to determine their exact age from their physical appearance alone, but you can make an educated guess. There are a few different things you can look at to try and determine their age, but their level of care and genetics play a huge role in this.
You can start by looking at their teeth and the plaque buildup, with significant amounts of plaque buildup giving you a strong indication that they’re an older pooch. However, depending on your dog’s dental hygiene, this may not be a very accurate method.
Another method is by looking at their eyes. Older Poodles’ eyes tend to turn bluish or cloudy somewhere in that 7-10 year mark. If you ever need help determining how old your dog is, make sure to consult your vet.
Conclusion
Now that you know how long you can expect a Poodle to live and what you can do to help them live a few more happy and healthy years, it’s up to you to take the necessary steps to keep them thriving. Poodles can live long lives, and that’s a great thing when you view them as a member of your family!
- Related Read: Types of Poodles: A Complete Overview (With Pictures)
Featured Image Credit: Wally82, Shutterstock
