How long is average life span?

[jill]

I am sure this question has been asked again and again, but I was brought to believe that Newfs lived on an average of 9 years....Dixie is 5 and due to mobility, seizure and thyroid issues, is nearing the end of her days...
Her sister/litter mate is still healthy...I see a lot of rainbow bridge notifications of passing around 6...Is there an average???
Thanks to you all who answer my questions...

 

[Angela]

I don't know if there is an average.
I've had 7 Newfs,
1 was 8 1/2 yr
1 was 7 1/2 yr
1 was 12 1/4 yr
1 was 11 1/4 yr

Plus the 3 I have now.

That's so sad about Dixie though, too young to have so many problems.

 

[ardeagold]

I have 6 Newfs now:

Chance will be 13 in August
Mira is 7.5 yrs old
Molly will be 7 on the 14th of July
Cole turned 4 in May
Frankie is 13 mos old

So far (knock on wood) all are healthy. Mira may have a thyroid problem and will be tested tomorrow. She does also spondylosis but has suffered no problems from it in two and a half years.

That is very sad about Dixie. I'm sorry for the problems she's had to endure.

There are many who live long healthy lives, and too many who pass away far too young. I believe the median age is probably around 10ish.

 

[mrs big dogs]

My previous Clancy was 12 yr
My Panda was 10 1/2 yr


Belle is now 5 and Bentley is 4 1/2 Both are very healthy at this time

 

[wrknnwf]

My Yogi was 12.5 when he passed. Hugo is 11.5, but ill with liver problems. Piper is just turning 8. I feel very fortunate that all of mine have reached these ages with few problems.

I know several Newfs who have passed that golden 9 y.o. mark, but just as many have had short lives.

 

[mareserinitatis]

My first Newf made it to 9. (And I still miss him.)

 

[Lori]

I'm sorry to hear Dixie is having problems. Please give her a hug from me. My first newf, Chelsea, had epilepsy so I know what you are dealing with. Unfortunately Chelsea went to the bridge at only 5 1/2 years old. She got really sick quick and we had to help her to the bridge within a week.

Chance was my second newf, a rescue we adopted at 7 months old. He was with us till he was 12 years and 2 months old!!

 

[teahcrew]

I just put my girl Story to sleep. She was over 14 by several months...

Joey, was almost 12 when I put him down.

Bella was two. She had very very bad seizures and it was humane to put her down so early.

But if you average those out, the average would be between 8 and 9. But Bella was Story's sister...so had she not had epilepsy, she probably would have lived as long as Story did.

genetics help. But so does the care behind the dog.

I adopt older newfs. I am never disappointed with the amount of time they have left....

 

[Pipelineozzy]

I think mine have averaged between 11 and 12 years, with one making almost 14 and one just over 13. The youngest was nine.

 

[Jeannie]

I've always heard that 10 was considered lifespan and 7 was average. That being said my Sara lived to be 6 weeks shy of 13, Panda was 13 years, 2 months and 5 days. My Samantha is 13 years 6 months, 2 weeks and 1 day. My Adam is 8 and Chase is 6. Our Saint Sadie is 10 or 11.

I'd think genetics plays a lot into the age factor, but then again in my Samantha's litter all but one sibling including her mother died of some sort of cancer. My Samantha was on predizone the majority of her life because of allergies, go figure that one out.

 

[Peter Maniate]

This is an article that I wrote on the lifespan of Newfoundlands:

http://www.hannibalkennels.on.ca/articles/breedlines_2002_03.html

PS The NCA study in the 1990's actually found the overall average lifespan to be six years of age but this statistic was terribly skewed by many Newfs dying before two years of age. The average of just under 10 years of age is for the Newfoundlands who made it to at least two years.

Here is another article which deals with the trends in Newf longevity and is more encouraging:

http://www.hannibalkennels.on.ca/articles/breedlines_2009_09.html

PS Kali, who was third oldest in 2008, lived to 15 years of age and was second oldest in 2009 and oldest Canadian Newfoundland that year. She was featured on the front page of the Newf News (official publication of the NDCC) last year in a photo with four generations of descendents. Angelik is still going strong and will hopefully turn 14 years later this year.

 

[R Taft]

Wow Peter, I surely crave for that award too. My Breeder has had many long-lived newfies so there is always hope.

I am so sorry to hear about Dixie :hugs: :hugs: Ronnie

 

[BLCOLE]

My first Newf lived to 11.5. The second one died suddenly at 9.5.

 

[bauernicomom]

Our first Newf lived until she was 11 yrs. old. The last two years she was on heart and thyroid medication but otherwise very healthy. Best dog ever.

Our second Newf died one day shy of his 8 birthday from anaplasmosis from a tick bite.
Had he not gotten anaplasmosis, he would have lived much longer. He was very healthy
up until then. Miss him dearly. It was too early for him to go.

We now have a 19 month old wild girl. Love her to pieces.

 

[TerriW]

My two earlier Newfs both made it just to 10.

 

[AngusMcDubhsMom]

Angus was just 2 1/2 and Maneen was 10 1/2. Gracie is doing well at over 8.I guess the ones who die young even out the numbers of the ones who last into the double digits, but they all go too soon.

 

[mulenag]

Oh, Anne you are so right...they all do go too soon.

We currently have a 2yr old and our first Newf was taken from us at the age of 6 due to cancer.

 

[Emma & Nigel's Mom]

You know, I was just thinking of posting a question like this, too. Emma is now 7-1/2 and some days she has limping issues, most days she is fine. Yet, this is the eternal question.

I was actually thinking of making a poll to take here, so that we could get a good visual aide with our own group of Newfies. I just wasn't sure how to do it...

 

[Melissakins]

Grady who was our rescue boy was a week away from 7. He had spinal issues. Sophie and Bava are almost 6 and 6

 

[Erika]

Gerik aka Piggyluv would have been 14 in Sept........Gunther is 7 1/2 and Gigi is 81/2.......guess it all depends on a lot of factors. Piggyluv was the picture of healthy and mobility until his final hours. Gunther and Gigi are A...OK right now no health issues. We lost a pyr girl Glory at age 11 to cancer. Thats a long life for a Pyr.