Editor’s note: This Q&A has been lightly edited. There are many factors that influence a dog’s lifespan. A dog’s breed and size play a significant role. Smaller dogs (like Yorkies) tend to live longer ...

Source: Chevanon Photography, Pexels/free download. An essay by Jon Zeller called "Can Dogs Tell the Difference Between Breeds?" has resulted in countless emails flying into my inbox this morning.

Dog shows are very popular events in which dogs who are thought to be perfect ambassadors for their breed are paraded around by their humans and judged for just how good of a match they are for ...