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”.
Tesco officially unveils Christmas Meal Deal menu for 2026 and confirms launch date
Emily Sergeant
Tesco has officially unveiled its Christmas Meal Deal menu for 2026, and has revealed when it’ll be arriving in stores.
Spooky season may not have even arrived yet, but it won’t be long before the most wonderful time of the year is here and most of the UK’s major supermarkets have already started stocking their shelves with Christmas food, drink, and gifts galore.
Tesco has now unveiled all the sandwiches and snacks forming part of its iconic lunchtime meal deal selection.
10 new seasonal mains and sides have been launched this year, as well as some classics and returning fan favourites too.
The retailer says its food on-the-go experts have worked hard to bring a variety of festive flavours and great-quality ingredients together this year, with something on offer to cater to all tastes and preferences.
Tesco officially unveils Christmas Meal Deal menu for 2026 / Credit: Tesco
Available in stores and online from next week, with Tesco Clubcard members paying just £3.80 or £5.50 to upgrade to a Premium Meal Deal, some of the all-new main options you can choose from in 2026’s festive lineup include the Fully Loaded Chicken, Stuffing, Braised Red Cabbage & Cranberry Sauce Sandwich, the Christmas Triple Sandwich, and the Pork Meatball Wrap with smoky sage and onion mayonnaise.
Other returning favourites include the Brie and Cranberry Sandwich, the Currywurst Sausage Sub, and the absolute classic Turkey & Trimmings Sandwich.
For veggies and vegans, there’s a new Tesco Plant Chef Christmas Veg Fest Wrap, and for those who follow a gluten free diet, you can grab the Gluten Free Festive Chicken & Trimmings sandwich.
When it comes to snacks to accompany those mains, the festive Mini Pork Pies and Pig in Blanket Sausage Rolls are returning to the lineup this year, alongside some new additions like the Pretzels with Salted Caramel Soft Cheese Dip, and Mini Cheese Twists.
The 2026 Tesco Christmas Meal Deal range will be in stores across the UK from Monday 12 October, and there’s thousands of combinations to try.
Featured Image – Tesco
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Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK – this is why
Emily Sergeant
A list of the top 10 most affordable cities in the UK has been revealed, and Manchester has made the cut for one very specific reason.
On a bit of a budget? Aren’t we all.
The cost of living crisis has been raging on for quite a few years now, and unfortunately, despite how much we all wish for it to, it doesn’t appear to be slowing down – with prices for everyday items, especially typical fridge and cupboard stables, shooting up by the day, even though supermarkets are showing efforts to prevent it.
And it’s the noticeable price increases in groceries that led delivery insurance provider, Street Cover, to uncover which UK cities don’t strain your food shopping budgets too much just yet.
As it was found that food and non-alcoholic drinks inflation reached 1.3% this past summer, a new study has revealed that Sheffield is officially the most affordable city in the UK, with several other northern locations on the list.
Manchester has been named one of the most ‘affordable’ cities in the UK / Credit: MCC | Aldi
The study compared the 2026 Grocery Index for the largest UK cities with the UK average, as well as available 2025 Grocery Indices, to track the changes in food affordability.
The cities are ranked by the index difference from the national average – which is 67.3 – but the report also uses direct monetary values for a grocery basket to provide some additional context too.
Manchester took sixth place on the list, with an average grocery basket price of £23.08, while some of the other northern cities in the top 10, besides Sheffield at number one, include Liverpool, Leeds, and Newcastle.
Top 10 Most Affordable UK Cities For Groceries
Sheffield
Milton Keynes
Liverpool
Reading
Newcastle
Manchester
Leeds
Bristol
Cardiff
Southampton
As the only other North West city in the top 10, Liverpool may have come in third place overall, but the study found that the grocery bill here is the smallest in terms of actual monetary numbers – with it setting shoppers back £22.08 for a regular supermarket basket, which is a whole £1 cheaper than in Manchester.
“Data shows households in the North East of England have the lowest average food spend in the country, around 11% below the UK average, while Yorkshire sits 6.6% below,” Al Taylor, who is the Head of Street Cover, commented on the study’s findings.
“Sheffield’s position at the top reflects lower property costs for retailers, less competition from premium chains, and a supermarket landscape dominated by value-led options.
“The practical implication for household budgets is significant – the difference between budget and premium shopping can easily be £1,000 or more per year for a family, which can be spent on other things or saved for future plans.”
Emily Sergeant -
29th April 2022 
