Home Choose Dog breeds side by side, to scale Choose Dog breeds side by side, to scale Height and weight from the official FCI standards, median lifespan from a 2024 study of 584,734 dogs, and when each one becomes a senior.
The dogs next to a person The 36 breeds with a height in their standard, five at a time, next to a 5 ft 11 in man and a 5 ft 3 in woman. Real side-view photos.
Not in the comparison: Dachshund (standard), Bulldog, Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Yorkshire Terrier, Chihuahua, Pug, because their standard gives no height. Real side-view photos: authors and licenses in Sources and method .
All the pets compared
How we chose them: the 20 most registered breeds in the United States in 2025 (American Kennel Club), plus the Border Collie and the Shiba, 16 breeds that are very common in Europe (from the Great Dane to the Chihuahua) and four Italian breeds: the Neapolitan Mastiff, the Italian Greyhound, the Lagotto Romagnolo and the Maremma Sheepdog. For Italy we couldn’t find a readable ranking from ENCI, the Italian kennel club.
The 42 breeds, one by one
Height 65-75 cm males · 60-68 cm females
Weight 60-70 kg (132-154 lb) males · 50-60 kg (110-132 lb) females
Median lifespan 9.3 years
Senior from 6-7 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 197)
Height 64-68 cm males · 60-64 cm females
Weight 45-50 kg (99-110 lb) males · 40-45 kg (88-99 lb) females
Median lifespan 8.1 years
Senior from 6-7 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 343)
Height 56-57 cm males · 54-56 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.1 years
Senior from –
FCI group retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs (FCI 122)
Height 53 cm males
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.1 years
Senior from –
FCI group sheepdogs and cattle dogs (FCI 297)
Height 39.5 cm males · 36.5 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 14.6 years
Senior from –
FCI group spitz and primitive types (FCI 257)
Height 32-38 cm males and females
Weight up to 5 kg (11 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 14 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group sighthounds (FCI 200)
Height 27-35 cm males · 24-32 cm females
Weight 9-14 kg (20-31 lb) males · 8-13 kg (18-29 lb) females
Median lifespan 9.8 years
Senior from 8-10 years
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 101)
Height 56-61 cm males · 51-56 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.2 years
Senior from –
FCI group retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs (FCI 111)
Height 60-65 cm males · 55-60 cm females
Weight 30-40 kg (66-88 lb) males · 22-32 kg (49-71 lb) females
Median lifespan 11.3 years
Senior from 8-9 years
FCI group sheepdogs and cattle dogs (FCI 166)
Height not in the standard
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.2 years
Senior from –
FCI group dachshunds (FCI 148)
In the standard The standard measures the chest, not the height: 37 to 47 cm in males and 35 to 45 cm in females, for the standard size. There are also the smaller miniature and rabbit sizes.
Height 45-60 cm males and females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 14 years
Senior from –
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 172)
In the standard The standard has 4 sizes: standard 45–60 cm (with a 2 cm tolerance), medium 35–45, miniature 28–35, toy 24–28. The median lifespan is the study’s “Poodle”.
Height 33-40 cm males and females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 12.5 years
Senior from –
FCI group scent hounds and related breeds (FCI 161)
In the standard The standard gives a “desirable” minimum and maximum height.
Height 61-68 cm males · 56-63 cm females
Weight 50 kg (110 lb) males · 42 kg (93 lb) females
Median lifespan 10.6 years
Senior from 6-7 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 147)
Height 62-66 cm males · 58-63 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.4 years
Senior from –
FCI group pointing dogs (FCI 119)
Height not in the standard
Weight 25 kg (55 lb) males · 23 kg (51 lb) females
Median lifespan 9.8 years
Senior from 8-9 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 149)
In the standard The standard gives only the weight, not the height.
Height not in the standard
Weight 5.4-8 kg (12-18 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 11.8 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 136)
In the standard The standard gives only the weight, not the height.
Height not in the standard
Weight up to 3.2 kg (7 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 13.3 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group terriers (FCI 86)
In the standard The standard gives only the weight, not the height.
Height 51-58 cm males · 46-53 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.7 years
Senior from –
FCI group sheepdogs and cattle dogs (FCI 342)
Height 68-72 cm males · 63-68 cm females
Weight 40-45 kg (88-99 lb) males · 32-35 kg (71-77 lb) females
Median lifespan 11.2 years
Senior from 8-9 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 143)
Height 25-30 cm males and females
Weight 10-12 kg (22-26 lb) males · 9-11 kg (20-24 lb) females
Median lifespan 13.2 years
Senior from 8-10 years
FCI group sheepdogs and cattle dogs (FCI 39)
Height 30-35 cm males and females
Weight 4-8 kg (9-18 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 13.3 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 183)
Height 57-63 cm males · 53-59 cm females
Weight over 30 kg (66 lb) males · 25 kg (55 lb) females
Median lifespan 11.3 years
Senior from 8-9 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 144)
In the standard In the standard, weight goes with height: over 30 kg (66 lb) for a male of about 60 cm, about 25 kg (55 lb) for a female of about 56 cm.
Height 18-24 cm males and females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 12.2 years
Senior from –
FCI group spitz and primitive types (FCI 97)
In the standard The standard says 21 cm, give or take 3 cm, and a weight “corresponding to its size”.
Height 64-70 cm males · 58-66 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 10.1 years
Senior from –
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 45)
Height 80-90 cm males · 72-84 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 10.6 years
Senior from –
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 235)
Height 70-90 cm males · 65-80 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 9.3 years
Senior from –
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 61)
In the standard The standard gives a minimum and a maximum, but doesn’t penalize dogs taller than the maximum if they’re well balanced and move soundly. It covers both varieties, short-haired and long-haired.
Height 53.5-60 cm males · 50.5-56 cm females
Weight 20.5-28 kg (45-62 lb) males · 15.5-23 kg (34-51 lb) females
Median lifespan 11.9 years
Senior from 8-10 years
FCI group spitz and primitive types (FCI 270)
Height 64-70 cm males · 58-64 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 11.4 years
Senior from –
FCI group spitz and primitive types (FCI 255)
In the standard The standard says 67 cm for males and 61 for females, give or take 3 cm, and gives no weight. The median lifespan is the study’s “Akita”, which pools the Japanese Akita and the American Akita.
Height 65-68 cm males · 61-65 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.1 years
Senior from –
FCI group pointing dogs (FCI 2)
Height 56-62 cm males · 54-60 cm females
Weight not in the standard
Median lifespan 13.2 years
Senior from –
FCI group scent hounds and related breeds (FCI 153)
In the standard The standard doesn’t penalize dogs taller than the maximum if they have excellent type and balance.
Height 59-70 cm males · 57-65 cm females
Weight 30-40 kg (66-88 lb) males · 25-35 kg (55-77 lb) females
Median lifespan 12.8 years
Senior from 8-9 years
FCI group pointing dogs (FCI 99)
Height 60-66 cm males · 56-62 cm females
Weight 25-30 kg (55-66 lb) males · 20-25 kg (44-55 lb) females
Median lifespan 12 years
Senior from 8-9 years
FCI group sheepdogs and cattle dogs (FCI 15)
In the standard The standard says 62 cm on average for males and 58 for females, 2 cm less or 4 cm more. It’s the same standard as the other three Belgian Shepherd varieties (Groenendael, Tervueren, Laekenois); the median lifespan is for the Malinois alone.
Height 39-41 cm males · 38-39 cm females
Weight 13-14.5 kg (29-32 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 13.3 years
Senior from 8-10 years
FCI group retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs (FCI 5)
Height 25-30 cm males and females
Weight 5-6 kg (11-13 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 13.3 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group terriers (FCI 345)
In the standard In the standard, weight goes with height: 1 kg for every 5 cm, so about 5 kg (11 lb) at 25 cm and 6 kg (13 lb) at 30 cm.
Height 25-30 cm males and females
Weight 4-6 kg (9-13 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 13.7 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group pinschers, schnauzers, molossers and Swiss mountain dogs (FCI 185)
Height 21-25 cm males · 20-23 cm females
Weight 3-4 kg (7-9 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 13.1 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 65)
Height up to 27 cm males and females
Weight 4.5-8 kg (10-18 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 12.8 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 208)
In the standard The standard gives only a maximum height: no more than 27 cm (10.6 in). Weight is 4.5 to 8 kg (10 to 17.6 lb), ideally 4.5 to 7.5 kg.
Height 25-29 cm males and females
Weight 5 kg (11 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 12.5 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 215)
In the standard The standard says 25 to 29 cm, allowing 1 cm more for males and 2 cm less for females; weight is about 5 kg (11 lb), in proportion to size.
Height 43-48 cm males · 41-46 cm females
Weight 13-16 kg (29-35 lb) males · 11-14 kg (24-31 lb) females
Median lifespan not in the study
Senior from 8-10 years
FCI group retrievers, flushing dogs and water dogs (FCI 298)
In the standard The standard allows 1 cm more or less.
Height 67-73.5 cm males · 62-70 cm females
Weight 40-52 kg (88-115 lb) males · 35-45 kg (77-99 lb) females
Median lifespan not in the study
Senior from 6-7 years
FCI group sheepdogs and cattle dogs (FCI 201)
Height not in the standard
Weight 1-3 kg (2-7 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 11.8 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 218)
In the standard The standard considers only weight, not height: 1 to 3 kg (2.2 to 6.6 lb), ideally 1.5 to 2.5 kg (3.3 to 5.5 lb).
Height not in the standard
Weight 6.3-8.1 kg (14-18 lb) males and females
Median lifespan 11.6 years
Senior from 8-11 years
FCI group companion dogs (FCI 253)
In the standard The standard gives only the ideal weight, 6.3 to 8.1 kg (14 to 18 lb), not the height. Compare dog breeds
A mixed breed? Start from the size Mixed-breed dogs live a median of 12 years in the same study. Adopting comes first.
Small under 20 lb (9 kg) · senior from 8–11 years
Medium 20–50 lb (9–23 kg) · senior from 8–10 years
Large 50–90 lb (23–41 kg) · senior from 8–9 years
Giant over 90 lb (41 kg) · senior from 6–7 years
Always ask your vet: this site helps you understand, it doesn’t replace a checkup.
1Maltese25 cm (10 in) tall
