George Carlin, a comedian, once said that life is a string of dogs. Most of the time, seeing muddy paws, wet noses, and cuddles with a side of dog hair is a heartwarming joy. Unfortunately, though, the sad truth is that dogs have shorter life spans than humans.

While there are no guarantees in life, if you want to put off that heart-breaking separation from your four-legged friend for as long as possible, these dog breeds are known for their longevity. Keep in mind that in general, small dogs often live longer than big dogs, so you’ll see a lot of small dogs on the list.

Maltese
The American Kennel Club says that these sweet puppies, which come from an ancient breed from the Mediterranean, are friendly, gentle, and not afraid of anything. They live about 14 years on average, which is longer than most small dogs.

Bichon Frise
Like their distant cousins the Maltese, the equally fluffy Bichon Frise can live to about 15 years, according to American Kennel Club, which makes them excellent candidates to be your fluffy BFF.

Chihuahua
The American Kennel Club says that these small dogs with big personalities live an average of 14 to 16 years.

Australian Cattle Dogs
Bluey, an Australian cattle dog, set the record for the oldest dog ever by living to be 29 years and 5 months old. He is now in the Guinness Book of World Records.

The record was set in 1939 and still stands, but many Australian Cattle Dogs have tried to beat it by living very long lives of their own.

Yorkshire Terriers
Yorkies, as they are called, may look small and fragile, but they are tough. Their big personalities and ability to go anywhere with them make them a very popular pet. The American Kennel Club says that, on average, they live between 11 and 15 years.

Beagle
The website of dog trainer Cesar Milan says that these working dogs live about 15 years on average. But these puppies often surprise people, and one very good beagle lived to be an amazing age of 27.

Jack Russell Terriers
Jack Russells seem to have a lot of energy that never runs out, so they keep going and going. Even though most of them die after 16 years, some have been known to keep going.

The fijock says that a Jack Russell puppy named Willie was written into the books at the age of 20.

Toy Poodles
Poodles and dogs that look like poodles usually live long, healthy lives, but smaller breeds tend to live longer. Milan’s website says that the average life span of a toy poodle is 16 years.

The AKC says that standard poodles have the same life expectancy as toy poodles, which is between 10 and 18 years.

Pomeranians
Pomeranians, like Chihuahuas, have a lot of personality for their small size, which makes them popular pet. AKC says that Poms can live up to 16 years, which is good news.

Dachshund
These low-riding pups tend to live between 12-16 years on average, according to AKC. Even so, they can get old like the rest of us and have health problems, especially back problems.

Papillon
These smart and personable pups with butterfly ears make excellent pets that quickly become part of the family. AKC says that these sweet dogs can live up to 16 years, which is great.