How many German shepherds live and what does it depend on?

The German Shepherd is a breed with a rich and long history. Initially, the animal was used as a shepherd dog, and now dogs can be seen at this work. Having got a pet in the house, the question arises about the life expectancy of the pet. How to prolong his life, and what factors affect this?

The average life expectancy of canids is 12 years. True, it is believed that the life of dwarf rocks is longer compared to tall counterparts and is 17 years. This is true: the weight of a large animal affects the functioning of the cardiovascular system, musculoskeletal system. The lighter the beast, the less stress the organs experience.

Veterinarians note that tall dogs are more likely to suffer from joint dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, arthritis. However, thinness is also harmful to health. Lack of weight leads to the development of kidney disease. Each breed has its own life cycle measured, which depends on the genes and anatomical features of the animals. The more complex the exterior of the dog, the shorter will be its life. Signs of many ailments are:

• deformed skull, flattened muzzle;
• drooping, tightly pressed ears;
• bulging eyes;
• iris color (blue eye color is often associated with deafness);
• weak pigmentation of the skin (tendency to allergic reactions);
• size of limbs, their length;
• body size, forehead shape.

Comparing the exterior of the pet, it can be concluded that a harmoniously folded shepherd will outlive its cousin with short paws, an elongated body or with long overgrown ears (basset hounds, dachshunds and others). Another reason that affects the health of a pet is genetic abnormalities. The more demanded the breed, the higher the chance of acquiring a puppy with an ailment. These anomalies are obtained due to violation of unscrupulous breeders breeding rules.

Other factors affecting life expectancy:

• diet
• external conditions of detention;
• Lifestyle;
• sex of the animal;
• general health.

Dogs living on the street have a shorter lifespan than dogs that a person cares for. Animals kept at home always receive food on schedule, they are taken to the veterinarian, monitor hygiene, and so on. Dogs living in the village also have a long life. Fresh air, natural food, unlimited walks have a beneficial effect on the health of the pet. However, if you do not follow the dog, teach simple commands, then it can run away or get lost. There have been cases when an animal specifically killed a neighbor or robbers.

German shepherds, who constantly walk in the fresh air, receive mental and physical stress, better retain their shape and are not as susceptible to diseases as lazy or inactive dogs. The maximum recorded age of the shepherd was 2 decades.

The most important thing for a German shepherd is activity. Dogs need long, frequent walks. It is advisable to walk the pet three times a day, combining a walk with games. If there is a special platform with shells, then work out climbing stairs, jumping. A great option would be a pool where the dog can frolic in the water, the animal swims well. An active lifestyle allows you to maintain the physical condition of the dog at the right level. The life span of animals, which due to circumstances cannot be mobile or are in confined spaces, are subjected to psychological violence, is reduced.

To extend the life of the shepherd, it must be properly fed, but not overfed. This applies to any pets. The diet must be balanced in accordance with the health of the dog, its activity. The food must include cottage cheese, boiled vegetables, raw meat of beef or poultry. The amount of protein in food should be about 70% of the entire portion.

According to the results of the studies, it is known that every 2 kilograms of excess weight reduces the life of the animal by about a month. The breed of German Shepherds is in good health. In rare cases, such ailments as dysplasia, osteochondrosis, dermatitis, allergies are observed.

Most breeders are inclined to believe that it is better to feed a shepherd with natural food than even a super-premium feed, with the addition of vitamin-mineral complexes. The natural feeding menu should include the following products:

• lean meats, poultry, geese, turkey;
• offal, you should rarely give dogs a liver, exclude kidneys;
• boiled sea fish without bones, skin;
• chicken and quail eggs twice a week, in any form;
• cottage cheese, if there is no lactose intolerance, you can give your pet milk;
• cereals: oatmeal, buckwheat, rice, barley, millet, barley;
• all kinds of boiled vegetables, except corn, cabbage, which are served fresh;
• various fruits;
• pumpkin seeds, pine nuts.

The German breed belongs to the universal service group. Dogs can be guards, escorts, search engines or fighters after passing special training. The character traits of shepherd dogs (fearlessness, obedience, concentration) allow dogs to easily get along with people, to do what is required of them without showing signs of stubbornness, aggression. These large dogs cannot tolerate a reclusive life, it is vital for them to fulfill physical activities, which can be represented in the form of sports competitions, games: frisbee, agility, wave pulling and others.

With German shepherds you can walk into the woods, hiking, walk in the mountains, just go for a run in the park or arrange a bike cross. It is important to remember that animal walking should not turn into torture for him, walks in hot weather should be moderate, you should not visit the street for a long time during cold rain or frost. Breed diseases and defects significantly reduce the working qualities of the dog and lower life expectancy.

Diseases, defects:

• cryptorchidism;
• spondylomyelopathy;
• violations of the structure of the body, limbs;
• malocclusion, drooping ears;
• low pigmentation of the skin and others.

Dogs are also vulnerable to skin, they often have seborrhea, pyoderma, scabies. There are individuals with disorders in the immune system.

The age of the animal is most often determined by the teeth. However, it is impossible to find out a specific figure, as many factors influence this: the dog’s nutrition, conditions of detention, bite features and so on. Consider the main points. In puppies before the age of six months, a change of teeth occurs with the replacement of fangs. At the age of 1 year, the dog’s teeth are white, tubercles are present on the enamel. After two years, the tubercles become less pronounced, they disappear, but the enamel remains snow-white. In the fifth year of life, the teeth turn yellow, there are no traces of tubercles. In the interval between 6 and 10 years, it is evident that the teeth of the animal are sharpened, some can stagger. Possible manifestations of caries, tartar.

Determining the age of the exterior of the dog is as follows. As puppies, German shepherds are almost unlike their adult counterparts. The color of the coat is close to wolf. Puppies acquire their true zoning, tan color in the fourth month of life. At the age of 5 months, the ears acquire a standing form, however, the process may not occur for a long time due to improper feeding of the puppy - in this case, insufficient amounts of calcium and trace elements are found in food.

By the ninth month, the puppy reaches adult growth. By one and a half years, the animal was fully formed, it is active, massive, energetic. At about 3 years old, the youthful period ends, maturity comes. The dog becomes more restrained, calm, judicious. The thoracic section from physical activity increases in volume. The heyday of a German shepherd lasts until the age of eight. In this period, one might say, old age comes. The teeth turn yellow, the hair grows dull. The animal is resting more. Joint problems are possible.

Some hairs turn gray. Usually the onset of the process is manifested in the area of ​​the muzzle. Despite its age, the animal is still functional. At home, the dog may be more active, peppy. In the tenth year, the muscles decrease in volume, the hair becomes less smooth, tousled. The skin is hanging. Gray hair is visible all over the back of the animal, on the chest, molars may be absent. The dog moves a little, the gait becomes shuffling.

Life expectancy also depends on the gender of the pet. Typically, females survive males for 2 years. Street males can die at an early age. As a rule, domestic dogs survive on average up to 7 years. Short life expectancy is due to external factors: food quality, stress, disassembly of the territory, disease, environment.

The dog can get under the wheels, and being a puppy to remain without parents or get lost. In some countries, a program is underway to trap homeless animals, followed by their resuscitation and transfer to the hands of new owners. However, there is another option - killing a stray dog.

Another factor for any animal is sterilization, castration. These actions can prolong the life of the pet. Animals that often mate or give birth a lot, compared with a sterilized individual, die earlier. Breeding dogs are more at risk for reproductive system diseases and various tumors.

Often, females experience postpartum hormonal disruptions, which is why the pet’s behavior and the endocrine system change. Bitches are at risk for developing diabetes. Females can die before reaching the age of ten due to an unsuccessful pregnancy, mating. Before choosing a puppy, you need to properly weigh all the pros and cons of the breed, gender, and living conditions.

On how to properly care for a German shepherd, see the next video.