Docile dogs live longer

London, Apr 28 (ANI): Disobedient dog breeds tend to die earlier than docile dogs, according to a study.

The research, which compared the longevity of different breeds, has been published in The American Naturalist, reports New Scientist.

To reach the conclusion, Vincent Careau at the University of Sherbrooke in Quebec, Canada, compared data from previous studies of personality in a number of dog breeds, and mortality data on the same varieties.

After controlling for size - big dogs tend to die younger than small ones - Careau's team found the most obedient breeds, such as German shepherds, poodles and bichon frises, tended to be the longest lived, while hard-to-train dogs such as pomeranians and beagles were more likely to die younger.

Another trait, aggressiveness, was linked to metabolic rate, with docile dogs such as collies burning calories more slowly than territorial great danes, for instance. (ANI)