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The short answer: Pugs live a median of 11.6 years in the largest study to date (10,026 UK Pugs, 2024), which ranks the breed 121st of 156 and about a year below the all-dog median of 12.5. Two other datasets land lower: 10 years median age at death among 691 Australian Pugs (2025), and a UK life table that gave a Pug puppy a life expectancy of just 7.6 years at birth, dragged down by an unusually high first-year death rate. The "13 to 15 years" on most breed pages describes a well-bred, lean Pug that avoids the breed's three killers: airway obstruction (BOAS, the leading cause of death at 8.2%), seizures (6.7%, mostly Pug dog encephalitis), and spinal cord disease (4.7%). Pugs have 54× the odds of BOAS and 13× the odds of corneal ulcers of other dogs, and obesity, their single most common diagnosis (17.4%), makes every one of those worse. Below: the numbers with sources, what Pugs die of and when, why vets now say the Pug "can no longer be considered a typical dog", and what actually gets a Pug to 15.
Written by Marc Brannigan, Co-Founder & CEO of HempMy Pet. Last updated 26 October 2026. Part of our breed lifespan series.
Pug Lifespan: The Numbers
Breed pages say 13 to 15. Facebook says 19. The vet says 10. All three are describing different Pugs; here is what the population data actually measured.
| Figure | What it measures | Source | Take |
|---|---|---|---|
| 11.6 years (95% CI 11.4–11.8) | Median lifespan, 10,026 UK Pugs (2,782 deaths), vet, insurance and registry records | McMillan et al., Scientific Reports 2024, 584,734 dogs | Best estimate. Rank 121 of 156; hazard of death 1.34× the all-dog average (p < 0.001). All dogs: 12.5. |
| 10 years | Median age at death, 691 Pugs that died among 7,909 under primary veterinary care in Australia over 10 years | Wong, Williamson & Taylor, Veterinary Sciences 2025 | Primary-care deaths; males had lower survival than females (p = 0.02); intact Pugs died earlier than neutered. |
| 7.62 years (95% CI 6.99–8.20) | Life expectancy at birth, 196 UK Pugs, cohort life table | Teng et al., Scientific Reports 2022 | The shocking number. Driven by a 9.7% probability of dying in the first year (Shih Tzu: 3.3%). A Pug that reaches 8 still has 3.0 years ahead on average; one that reaches 10, 2.0 years. |
| 13–15 years | Breed expectation | AKC, PetMD and most breed pages | What the healthiest Pugs achieve; not the average. In the UK life table, only 15% of Pugs were still alive at 12. |
| 1.86× (95% CI 1.72–2.01) | Odds of a Pug having at least one disorder in a year versus other dogs (4,308 Pugs vs 21,835 others) | O'Neill et al., Canine Medicine and Genetics 2022 | The authors' conclusion: the Pug "can no longer be considered as a typical dog from a health perspective." |
Sources: McMillan KM et al., Longevity of companion dog breeds, Scientific Reports 2024 (Supplementary Table S3) · Wong K, Williamson P, Taylor RM, Demography and Causes of Mortality of Pugs Under Primary Veterinary Care in Australia, Veterinary Sciences 2025 · Teng KT et al., Life tables of annual life expectancy and mortality for companion dogs in the United Kingdom, Scientific Reports 2022 (Table S29) · O'Neill DG et al., Health of Pug dogs in the UK: disorder predispositions and protections, Canine Medicine and Genetics 2022.
A Pug that survives its first year has a decent chance of a long life. The problem is the first year: nearly one in ten UK Pugs in the life-table cohort did not get through it, three times the rate of a Shih Tzu.
How the Pug Compares
| Breed | Median lifespan (McMillan 2024) | Rank of 156 |
|---|---|---|
| Pekingese | 13.3 | 53 |
| Shih Tzu | 12.8 | 83 |
| Boston Terrier | 11.8 | 116 |
| Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 11.8 | 117 |
| Chihuahua | 11.8 | 118 |
| Pug | 11.6 | 121 |
| Boxer | 11.3 | 127 |
| Bulldog | 9.8 | 147 |
| French Bulldog | 9.8 | 148 |
Same study. Flat-faced (brachycephalic) breeds as a group had a median of 11.2 years against 12.8 for medium-muzzled breeds; the Pug does better than the two Bulldogs and worse than nearly every other small breed. Small breeds overall: 12.7. See our French Bulldog and Boston Terrier guides.
What Pugs Die Of
The Australian mortality study is the first to put numbers on it. Every one of the top causes traces back to the shape of the dog.
| Cause of death | Share of 691 Pug deaths | What it is |
|---|---|---|
| Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome (BOAS) | 8.2% (the leading cause) | Narrow nostrils, an overlong soft palate and a collapsing larynx in a skull too short for them. Respiratory causes were the most common among unassisted (non-euthanasia) deaths at 25%, and occurred in every age group, including young dogs. Heat and excitement are the usual triggers. |
| Seizures | 6.7% | In Pugs, usually Pug dog encephalitis (necrotising meningoencephalitis), an inherited inflammation of the brain that typically strikes between 6 months and 7 years and is fatal. Neurological causes made up 29.6% of all euthanasias. |
| Degenerative spinal cord disease | 4.7% | Pug myelopathy: hind-end weakness and incontinence from malformed vertebrae and spinal cord constriction, usually in middle-aged and older Pugs. Rarely fatal on its own; commonly the reason for euthanasia. |
| Other neurological, respiratory, cancer, kidney, heart | remainder | Pugs are actually protected against some things: 0.23× the odds of a heart murmur and 0.31× the odds of aggression compared with other dogs. |
Wong et al. 2025 (above). Male Pugs had lower survival than females (p = 0.02).
Why: The Pug Is Built Against Itself
The 2022 UK study compared 4,308 Pugs with 21,835 other dogs on 40 common disorders. Pugs had higher odds on 23 of them.
BOAS odds ratio 53.9 (95% CI 36–80) and stenotic nares 51.3. A Pug that snores, snorts, cannot exercise in warm weather or sleeps with a toy in its mouth to keep the airway open is showing the disease, not a "breed quirk". Surgery (nostril widening, palate trimming) in young adulthood changes the trajectory; so does keeping the dog thin, because fat narrows the airway further. Pugs also had 3.2× the odds of heat-related illness of a Labrador in a separate UK study.
Prominent eyes in shallow sockets, OR 13.0 for corneal ulceration. Ulcers are painful, can rupture the eye, and are the most common reason a Pug sees an emergency vet. A squint, a watering eye or a Pug rubbing its face is a same-day appointment.
17.4% of Pugs were recorded as obese in a single year, against 6.9% of other dogs (OR 3.9), and other research names the Pug as the UK breed most predisposed to obesity. The breed standard's "never lean and leggy" wording is part of the problem. In a dog whose airway is already half-closed, extra weight is not cosmetic.
A genetic test exists for the risk haplotype; dogs carrying two copies have much higher risk. Seizures, circling, pressing the head against walls, or sudden blindness in a Pug under 7 are the signs. There is no cure; a breeder who tests parents and avoids at-risk pairings is the only prevention. Our seizures entry covers what seizures look like and what to do in the moment.
The corkscrew tail is a vertebral malformation, and the same gene affects the rest of the spine. Hind-leg weakness, a wobbly gait and incontinence in a middle-aged Pug are the usual presentation. Keeping the dog lean and strong slows it; there is no fix once the cord is damaged.
Skin-fold infection in the nose roll, ear infections (OR 2.0), retained baby teeth (OR 4.3) in a crowded mouth, anal-sac impaction (OR 2.2). None of these shortens life; all of them make it worse if ignored. Wipe the fold daily, clean the ears weekly, brush the teeth.
Sources: O'Neill 2022 (above) · Hall EJ et al., Incidence and risk factors for heat-related illness in UK dogs, Scientific Reports 2020 (Pug OR 3.24 vs Labrador).
Does Crossbreeding Fix It?
A 2026 UK study examined 51 purebred Pugs against 51 "Jugs" (Jack Russell × Pug) and 48 "Puggles" (Beagle × Pug). The crosses had longer muzzles and more open nostrils, and significantly less respiratory, eye, skin and joint disease, with lower vet bills, while their temperament and the owner-dog bond measured the same as the purebred Pug's. The researchers' conclusion was that crossbreeding "offers major opportunities to improve the welfare of extreme brachycephalic dogs." No longevity data on the crosses exist yet, but crossbred dogs in general had a median of 12.0 years in the 2024 study, and the diseases that kill Pugs are the ones the crosses mostly lack.
Source: A solution right under our nose? Crossbreeding extreme brachycephalic dogs, Animal Welfare 2026.
Pug Life Stages
A Pug is a senior at about 9 (the last quarter of an 11.6-year median) and geriatric from 11. The dangerous years are, unusually, the first one and years 1 to 7 for encephalitis.
| Age | Stage | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| 0–1 year | Puppy, the highest-risk year | Buy from a breeder who tests for the encephalitis haplotype and shows BOAS-graded parents. Vaccinate on schedule. Never let the puppy overheat or get fat. Ask the vet to grade the airway at the first visits. |
| 1–3 years | Young adult | BOAS assessment and, if indicated, nostril and palate surgery while the larynx is still healthy. Neuter timing is less critical than in large breeds; the Australian data found intact Pugs died earlier. Learn the heat-stroke signs. |
| 3–7 years | Prime, the encephalitis window | Any seizure, head-pressing, circling or sudden blindness is a same-day neurology referral. Yearly exam, weight check at every visit, eyes checked at every visit. |
| 7–9 years | Pre-senior | Twice-yearly exams. Watch the hind end for weakness or scuffing nails (myelopathy). Keep the weight at the low end of normal; a Pug should have a visible waist. |
| 9–11 years | Senior | Shorter walks in cool hours, ramps instead of jumps, joint support daily. This is where our arthritis guide and senior-dog hemp guide apply. |
| 11+ years | Geriatric | Past the breed median. Airway and weight remain the levers; many Pugs that reach here go on to 14 or 15. |
How to Help a Pug Live Longer
- Keep it thin. Then thinner. Obesity is the Pug's most common diagnosis and it compounds the airway, the spine, the joints and heat tolerance. Ribs easy to feel, waist visible. This is the biggest single lever an owner holds.
- Treat the airway as a disease, not a feature. Get a BOAS grade in young adulthood and act on it. Pugs that have had nostril and palate surgery breathe, exercise and sleep better for the rest of their lives.
- Never let a Pug overheat. 3.2× the odds of heat illness. No walks in the heat of the day, no cars, no "just a quick one" in summer. Panting that does not settle within minutes in a cool room is an emergency.
- Buy tested. Encephalitis haplotype test on both parents, airway-graded parents, hemivertebrae-screened lines. A reputable Pug breeder will volunteer all three.
- Eyes: same day, every time. A corneal ulcer caught in the morning is drops; caught at the weekend it can be an enucleation.
- Harness, never a collar. Pressure on the neck of a dog with a compromised airway is pressure it cannot afford.
- Dental and fold care weekly. Crowded teeth and a damp nose fold are infection waiting to happen; neither is dramatic, both are daily quality of life.
- Twice-yearly vet visits from 7, with a weight check every time and an eye check every time.
Where Hemp Fits
Hemp does nothing for a Pug's airway, its eyes, encephalitis or the shape of its spine, and anyone implying otherwise is selling you something. Where it has evidence is the senior years: joint comfort and the everyday calm of an older dog. HempMy Pet's own 90-day study of 37 dogs with chronic joint discomfort, overseen by Dr. Robin Downing, DVM with Colorado State University researchers, found a benefit in 30 of the 32 dogs that completed it, and a 2024 placebo-controlled trial in 20 arthritic dogs found a 46% drop in pain scores at 2 mg/kg twice daily. For a 16- to 20-lb Pug that is the 250mg oil, a few drops on food, in years 9 and up, alongside the vet's plan. One Pug-specific note: our oils contain no essential oils or flavourings, and a Pug on any new supplement should be watched for a day for any change in breathing, because in this breed everything comes back to the airway.
For the senior Pug
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Frequently Asked Questions
How long do Pugs live?
A median of 11.6 years in the largest study (10,026 UK Pugs, 2024), ranking 121st of 156 breeds. Australian primary-care data put the median age at death at 10 years, and a UK life table gave Pug puppies a life expectancy of only 7.6 years at birth because of a high first-year death rate. The 13 to 15 years quoted on breed pages is what a well-bred, lean Pug with a managed airway can reach.
What is the leading cause of death in Pugs?
Brachycephalic obstructive airway syndrome, at 8.2% of 691 Pug deaths in the Australian study, followed by seizures (6.7%, mostly Pug dog encephalitis) and degenerative spinal cord disease (4.7%). Respiratory causes were the most common natural deaths (25%) and neurological causes the most common reason for euthanasia (29.6%). All three trace back to the breed's conformation.
Can a Pug live 20 years?
Almost never. In the UK life table only 15% of Pugs were alive at 12 and the oldest group was "13 and over"; the breed median is 11.6. Individual Pugs reaching 17 to 19 are reported by owners but not verified. Fifteen is a realistic ceiling for a Pug that stays thin and has its airway managed.
What is the longest-living Pug?
There is no verified record. Guinness does not list a Pug among its oldest-dog titles (the verified canine record is Bluey, an Australian Cattle Dog, at 29 years 5 months). Owner claims of Pugs at 18 or 19 exist on social media but have not been documented with records.
Do male or female Pugs live longer?
Females. In the Australian mortality study of 691 Pug deaths, males had a significantly lower probability of survival than females (p = 0.02). The same study found intact Pugs died earlier than neutered ones, the opposite of the pattern in large breeds like the Rottweiler.
Do black Pugs live longer than fawn Pugs?
There is no evidence either way; no study has compared Pug colours for lifespan. Black and fawn Pugs share the same skull, airway, eyes and spine, which is what determines how long they live. Be wary of "rare" colours (brindle, white, merle) sold at a premium: they are not breed-standard and colour-focused breeders rarely do the health testing that matters.
At what age is a Pug a senior?
About 9, using the rule that the last quarter of a breed's expected lifespan is senior, and geriatric from 11. Twice-yearly vet visits with a weight and eye check should start at 7, when spinal weakness and joint problems begin to show.
What do Pugs usually die from at home?
Breathing. Among Pugs that died without euthanasia in the Australian study, respiratory causes were the most common at 25%, and they occurred at every age. Heat stroke, airway collapse during excitement or exercise, and aspiration are the usual stories. A Pug that cannot settle its breathing in a cool room needs an emergency vet.
Is the Pug a healthy breed?
By the numbers, no. UK Pugs had 1.86 times the odds of having at least one disorder in a year compared with other dogs, with higher odds on 23 of 40 common conditions (BOAS 54×, stenotic nares 51×, corneal ulcers 13×, obesity 3.9×). The study authors concluded the Pug "can no longer be considered as a typical dog from a health perspective." Individual Pugs from careful breeders can be healthy; the breed as a whole is not.
Do Pug mixes live longer?
Probably. A 2026 study found Jugs (Jack Russell × Pug) and Puggles (Beagle × Pug) had longer muzzles, wider nostrils and far less respiratory, eye, skin and joint disease than purebred Pugs, with the same temperament. No lifespan figures exist for the crosses yet, but crossbred dogs in general had a 12.0-year median against the Pug's 11.6, and the crosses lack most of what kills Pugs.
How can I make my Pug live longer?
Keep it thin (obesity is the breed's most common diagnosis and worsens everything else), get the airway graded and treated in young adulthood, never let it overheat, use a harness, treat any eye squint the same day, and buy from a breeder who tests for Pug dog encephalitis and grades for BOAS. Twice-yearly vet visits from age 7.
The Short Version
Eleven and a half years is the honest median, with a dangerous first year and an encephalitis window that runs to 7. The airway, the brain and the spine are what take Pugs, and the shape of the dog is the cause of all three. Keep the Pug thin, fix the airway early, keep it cool, buy tested, and 15 is a real possibility.
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Marc co-founded HempMy Pet in 2016 with his business partner Natalie Mondine, the company's COO. HempMy Pet breeds its own hemp genetics, grows them on its certified-organic Colorado farm, and formulates every batch in-house under human-grade standards — seed to sale, nothing sourced overseas. Every batch is third-party tested and the certificates of analysis are published. He is not a veterinarian. More about us.
HempMy Pet ran its own 90-day study of 37 dogs with chronic joint discomfort. Of the 32 that completed it, 30 (93%) showed a benefit, and 94% of owners reported their dog's quality of life had improved. It was overseen by Dr. Robin Downing, DVM, MS of the Downing Center for Animal Pain Management, with Lori Kogan, Ph.D. and Peter W. Hellyer, DVM of Colorado State University's College of Veterinary Medicine & Biomedical Sciences, and published in the Journal of the American Holistic Veterinary Medical Association. It was an open-label pilot with no control group. Read the methodology.
Why Dr. Downing: in 2005 she became only the third veterinarian in the world credentialed as a Diplomate of the American Academy of Pain Management. She founded the International Veterinary Academy of Pain Management, is a Diplomate of the ACVSMR, a Certified Veterinary Pain Practitioner and a Certified Canine Rehabilitation Practitioner, and was the AVMA's 2020 Bustad Companion Animal Veterinarian of the Year. Chronic joint pain is her life's work. Read the published paper (PDF).
Every lifespan, prevalence and odds figure on this page is taken directly from the peer-reviewed studies linked in the text (McMillan 2024, Wong 2025, Teng 2022, O'Neill 2022, Hall 2020, the 2026 crossbreeding study). The 2024 placebo-controlled hemp trial referenced is Frontiers in Veterinary Science 2024 (PMC11272626). This article is general information for dog owners, not veterinary advice, and is reviewed as new evidence is published.
These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease. This article is general information, not veterinary advice. If your dog is unwell, contact your veterinarian.
