That can happen with smaller breeds. I have a medium breed, so not hoping for that long. As for the larger breeds... Great Dane life expectancy is 8-10 years!

Anonymous wrote:That's wonderful - yes, 17 is old for a dog. I hope he lives many more years!

Can you share any tips for dog owners who want their own dogs to live long, healthy lives?

My suggestion is to be realistic about it - some breeds (generally bigger ones or ones known for having breathing problems) just won't last past 12 or 13. Other than that, don't treat a dog like a garbage disposal. Only give them foods that are known to be good for dogs. Exercise daily. Checkups regularly.

What a star!

Anonymous wrote:That's wonderful - yes, 17 is old for a dog. I hope he lives many more years!

Can you share any tips for dog owners who want their own dogs to live long, healthy lives?

NP.
Feed your dog a decent dog food, do not let them get overweight, take them to the vet on schedule, be vigilant for any health issues and give them good exercise and lots of love. Beyond that it’s largely a matter of luck. Some dogs get cancers and disease, some don’t. Some breeds are more prone to health issues than others and lifespan is also determined by the breed.

17 is a wonderful long age for a dog. My neighbor’s Shi Tzu made it to 15. Happy birthday to your pup!

Congratulations. Also did you know that Shih tzu are the dogs with the most historic wolf DNA? I know right - you'd never guess from looking at them.

Mine, too! Mini poodle mix. When is your pup's birthday?

And yes, it's old, but not uncommon for small dogs.

That's wonderful - yes, 17 is old for a dog. I hope he lives many more years!

Can you share any tips for dog owners who want their own dogs to live long, healthy lives?

He is a shih tzu. Pretty healthy for 17. Is that old?