A new research study has revealed which dog breeds have the longest and shortest life expectancy in the UK.
According to the research – which has been conducted by the Royal Veterinary College, and is an analysis based on a random sample of 30,563 dogs from 18 different breeds and crossbreeds that died between 1 January 2016 and 31 July 2020 – Jack Russell Terriers have been found to live longer than any other breed, while French Bulldogs have the lowest life expectancy.
Jack Russell Terriers had the greatest life expectancy at 12.7 years, which was closely followed by Yorkshire Terriers at 12.5 years, and Border Collies at 12.1 years.
Springer Spaniels are next at 11.9 years, and crossbred rounds out the top five with 11.8 years.
On the flip side, four flat-faced dog breeds were found to have the shortest life expectancy in the UK, with French Bulldogs expected to live only 4.5 years, followed by English Bulldogs at 7.4 years, Pugs at 7.65 years, and American Bulldogs at 7.8 years.
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🐕 New research from our @VetCompass programme now enables owners to predict the remaining life expectancy of their dog from different ages, with results broken down by breed and gender to make these as useful as possible for owners of many breeds.
— Royal Veterinary College (RVC) (@RoyalVetCollege) April 28, 2022
As well as the differences in breed, the new research also found that there was a difference between the life expectancies of male and female dogs – with males living four months less on average.
And in both male and female dogs, neutered dogs were found to have a longer life expectancy than their non-neutered counterparts.
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Life expectancy was previously calculated using only the average age of death of dogs overall or for a particular breed, but researchers at the Royal Veterinary College say that this latest study is the most accurate data, as they used life tables to allow owners to estimate accurately how much longer their pet dog may live.
Life tables are tools that list the remaining life expectancy and probability of death across a range of age groups in any given population.
A new study has revealed which dog breeds have the longest and shortest life expectancy in the UK / Credit: Flickr | Giorgio Trovato (via Unsplash)
Speaking on the findings of the study, Dr Dan O’Neil – Associate Professor in Companion Animal Epidemiology at the Royal Veterinary College, and co-author of the paper – said: “Dogs have helped so many humans get through loneliness and isolation of the COVID pandemic.
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“These new VetCompass Life tables enable owners to now estimate how much longer they can benefit from these dogs.”
Dr Justine Shotton, President at the British Veterinary Association – also added that the lower life expectancy of some of the flat-faced breeds that appeared at the bottom end of the list, may encourage people to consider “health over looks”.
Stockport County’s Christmas dinner in a cup returns for 2025 as part of new festive food range
Danny Jones
We can’t believe it’s rolled around again already, but with the festive period well underway and the big day just a few weeks away, Stockport County have brought back their viral ‘Xmas dinner in a cup’for 2025.
Better still, the County Courtyard has seen some new Christmas specials added to its food menu, too.
The local football club are absolutely flying in League One at the moment, having spent plenty of time at the top of the table already and still well and truly contesting those promotion/play-off spots.
If you’re a Stopfordian, that’s plenty of cause for celebration right there, but with the Christmas dinner in a cup also up for grabs once more, the holiday season literally couldn’t taste any better right now.
For those who’ve never seen it before, it’s exactly what it says on the tin – well, cup: a little Sunday dinner in a County-branded takeaway coffee cup, complete with a healthy pour of gravy and pretty much all the trimmings you could hope for.
Yes, including sprouts, because all of you who still don’t touch them need to grow up already.
Currently priced at just £4.50, not only does it contain virtually all the major food groups (barring the customary matchday pints, of course), it might just be one of the healthiest and best value-for-money bits of footy scran around – certainly in Greater Manchester, anyway.
But, as mentioned, that’s not all this year; Stockport are also serving up the new festive hot dog and even a ‘leftover Christmas curry’ in a bowl, which might even be more warming on a cold night at Edgeley Park than the Xmas dinner in a cup or clinging onto a flask of Bovril.
Anyone else craving that curry with a cheeky bit of bubble and squeak now?
It’s also worth noting that you’ll only be able to get one of those on Boxing Day, by the way, when the Hatters host Lincoln City in the league.
As for the rest of it, County fans can get their hands on this seasonal scran for the first time this year at the weekend when Dave Challinor’s side take on Barnsley at 12:30pm, and two of the three specials will then be served at home every game over the holiday period.
Speaking of random Christmas food creations, there’s another limited-time-only and potentially divisive example that we’ll also be sampling this December…
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper… for some reason
Emily Sergeant
Aldi has launched its latest Christmas creation, and this one’s arguably wackier than anything else it’s brought out before.
There’s absolutely no denying that pigs in blankets are a staple of festive feasting, with millions of the little delicacies consumed throughout the UK each Christmas, but have you ever wished you could turn the taste of those pigs in blankets into a lickable wrapping paper to wrap all this year’s gifts in? Yeah probably not… Aldi‘s made it though.
It’s anticipated that more than 561 million pigs in blankets are going to be eaten over the festive period, new research has found, which is an average of 10 per person.
But if you just can’t bare to leave the taste of pigs in blankets behind, Aldi’s new wrapping paper is set to give shoppers a fun and tasty twist when it comes to gift-giving.
The limited-edition wrapping paper is inspired by Aldi’s very-own range of pigs in blankets, and is described as capturing the smoky, savoury flavour and smell of the festive treat, with stickers that peel back to reveal a truly unique ‘lickable’ experience.
Aldi has launched the world’s first lickable pigs in blankets wrapping paper / Credit: Simon Jacobs/PA Wire (via Aldi UK)
Not only does the novelty wrapping paper taste and smells like pigs in blankets, it also looks the part on presents too with its pastel pink design, festive holly, and snowflake patterns.
“Pigs in Blankets are a highlight of the festive season… so we wanted to create something special to celebrate the Christmas classic,” commented Julie Ashfield, who is the Chief Commercial Officer at Aldi UK, as the new creation launches.
“This unique, lickable wrapping paper is the perfect way to spread extra joy on Christmas Day.”
Want to get your hands on it then? Unfortunately, it won’t be as simple as popping to your nearest Aldi store and picking up a roll, as with a creation as unique as this, there’s only going to be limited stock and a special shopper competition to win it.
To be in with a chance of winning, you simply need to email [email protected] with your full name before the deadline at 11:59pm on 1 December.
Emily Sergeant -
29th April 2022 
