How many shepherds live and what does it depend on?

Sheepdog is the most popular and diverse breed of dog. All its types combine common and unchanging qualities: loyalty, devotion to the owner, good nature and learning. Whatever variety you choose, you will find a reliable friend, defender and companion for the next 10-12 years, and possibly more. The whole variety of species of this breed is rooted in the distant past. The ancestors of the shepherd dogs were dogs that helped shepherds drive herds of livestock. These are freedom-loving animals, but their affection for the owner is amazing.

When a dog appears in the house - this is certainly a reason for joy. Pleasant efforts to care for the puppy, fun games and energy from the dog give the owner positive emotions. And they don’t attend to the idea that the life expectancy of a shepherd is much less than ours.

Shepherd dogs differ from each other not only in appearance, height, weight and shade of wool, but also have different life expectancies.

• German Germany is considered its homeland, but it is spread all over the world. Representatives of this breed are quite large - 60 cm at the withers and weighing up to 50 kg. The color of the coat can be black-red, white, black. Lives about 13 years.

• East European. Service breed created in the USSR. A calm and hardy dog, its height is from 62 to 75 cm, and weight is 30-50 kg. The color of the coat is diverse, resembles a German shepherd. Shelf life is 12-14 years.

• Caucasian. Large breed of dogs bred in the mountains of the Caucasus. Their weight reaches 100 kg with a height of about 80 cm. The color of the coat is very different: cream, white, gray, brown.Life expectancy is 11 years.

• Central Asian. This shepherd comes from the genus of the oldest dogs of the nomadic peoples of Asia. It is a little smaller in size, and its color is not very different from its Caucasian relatives. With good care and favorable conditions can live up to 15 years.

• Scottish. The dog, better known as a collie, weighs only 25 kg and is approximately 60 cm tall. Its chic, long coat of a red, sable or tan color requires careful grooming. The Scottish Shepherd Dog can live 17 years.

• Greek Shepherd dog native to the mountainous regions of Greece. Strong and muscular medium sized dog. Its weight can reach 50 kg, and height - a little more than 50 cm. The coat is white, black and gray. The average life expectancy is 12-14 years.

• Swiss Pretty young breed. Small dog: having a height of 60 cm, it weighs about 30 kg. A distinctive feature of this shepherd is a white coat. She lives from 10 to 12 years.

• Catalan. Her homeland is the Pyrenees mountains. These shepherd dogs are independent and independent, like real Spaniards. They have a peculiar appearance, and their long and dense coat of light shades requires careful care. The size of the dogs is less than average: the adult weighs 18 kg and the height is 40 cm. They can live 11-14 years.

All varieties of shepherd dogs are animals that love freedom, need constant physical activity. They just need a long daily walk. These are certainly beautiful and faithful dogs. But, first of all, you need to remember that these are reliable guards that can protect the owner and their territory. And the life span of the animal is directly related to the habitat created by the owner.

Shepherd dogs have a dense coat with a dense undercoat, therefore they feel quite comfortable on the street at any time of the year. But this is not a reason to leave the dog to sleep right in the snow. In order for the pet to live a long full life and delight its owner, you need to take care of its place of residence.

In conditions of street keeping, shepherds live for at least 12 years.

An ideal solution would be a fenced aviary with a solid wooden booth. The place for the enclosure must be selected so that in cold weather the dog can find a sunny place, and in the heat - hide in the shade. For German, East European and other small breeds of shepherd dogs, a fenced area of ​​10 square meters will be enough. m. Representatives of large breeds - Caucasian and Central Asian, will need more space - up to 20 square meters. m

Boards for the booth should be smoothly trimmed so that the dog does not accidentally get hurt. The size of the dog’s home should match the size of the dog. The size of the booth is considered optimal when the dog enters it without difficulty, turns around and takes a comfortable pose. Excess space can lead to hypothermia of the animal.

The booth and aviary must be regularly cleaned and disinfected. It is very good if the shepherd is accustomed to relieve the needs beyond. A dog living on the street should be checked daily for insect bites, ticks, splintering and minor injuries.

With frequent walking, the shepherd's claws grind on their own and do not cause discomfort to the animal. If physical activity is not enough, this provokes their excessive growth, which can lead to injuries of the paws. In this case, claws should be trimmed with special veterinary forceps.

A dog living in an aviary sheds in spring and autumn.The owner's task is to comb out and remove the molt in time, avoiding the formation of lumps of wool. You can bathe your pet as it gets dirty, but try to do it infrequently, and only in the warm season. The undercoat of the animal creates an air gap that preserves the optimal body temperature, both in cold and in heat.

If it is not possible to keep the dog on the street, it does not matter. A representative of any breed of shepherd breed is able to adapt to life in the apartment. The animal’s place of residence will not prevent him from setting a longevity record of 15 or 16 years.

When planning a puppy purchase, you need to consider that the dog will need a certain personal space. Daily walks on the street in any weather, twice a day and lasting at least an hour should not scare you. We must be prepared for the fact that the wool during molting will need to be cleaned several times a day in all corners of the apartment.

Once in the apartment, the puppy of the shepherd must go through the period of adaptation: to study all new objects, get acquainted with family members. For its safety, access to wires, shoes, clothes, and children's toys should be limited.

A permanent place to sleep and rest the shepherd should be away from heating appliances and drafts. These factors can have a negative effect on the health of the pet, and, consequently, on its life expectancy.

The life of a shepherd is influenced by many circumstances. Each of these factors can significantly shorten the animal's age. In order for a dog belonging to a breed of sheepdog breed to live a maximum period, special attention must be paid to:

• health and physical development;
• food quality;
• accommodations;
• heredity;
• mental state of the dog.

The life of a shepherd may depend on its gender. It is noted that females live on average 2 years more than males. The size of the animal also plays an important role.

Proper and rational nutrition of a pet has a positive effect on life expectancy. Be sure to alternate dry and liquid foods and not deprive the dog of meat. To maintain active activity, the protein part of the diet should be 70% of the shepherd feed.

Congenital abnormalities and diseases that can affect the life span:

• too small growth and disproportion of the body;
• deformation of the bones of the skull (long or short muzzle, narrow forehead);
• violation of sexual function, cryptorchidism;
• unexpressed pigmentation of the coat or iris.

However, it also happens that the owner is to blame for the premature death of the animal. Owing to his ignorance or inexperience, and sometimes intentionally, the owner may endanger the life and health of the dog. Keeping a shepherd dog in a cramped, hot room, lack of physical and mental stress, frequent breeding for commercial purposes leave their negative mark.

For a long and high-quality life, a shepherd does not need so much. Maintaining the physical shape of the dog will be the key to its health, and, therefore, longevity. Games and walks outside the city, in the park area or at special training sites will help the animal stay mobile and cheerful.

A balanced and healthy diet is another factor that will extend the life of the shepherd. Being overweight is the number one enemy.When it appears, almost the entire body suffers: joints, spine, cardiovascular system. When the dog reaches adulthood, its menu must be reviewed and adjusted.

Regular combing and bathing of a pet are not only necessary elements of hygiene. During their conduct, the animal is examined for wounds or tumors.

Visit the veterinary clinic for a full examination and routine vaccination of the dog should be annually or at the first sign of illness. Such symptoms are dry nose, darkened or dry mucous membranes.

It has been observed that sterilizing a dog can extend her life by several years. In the absence of sexual desire, the animal has less chance of developing genital oncology. The operation is performed for individuals who have reached 5 years of age, and exclusively by a specialist.

In order for the shepherd to live a long and happy life, delighting the owner, you need to sincerely love your dog. She feels it intuitively. And the implementation of all the rules for the care and maintenance will be a guarantee of good pet health.

You can find out how to care for a German shepherd by watching the video below.