How many years do German Shepherds live?

Life expectancy of a German Shepherd: how long do they live on the street and at home?

German Shepherds are kept in apartments and country houses. “German” feels great in the yard in a warm booth or enclosure. At the same time, it is not worth putting it on a short chain. The dog must have freedom of movement and the opportunity to enter the house.

German Shepherd

Stray dogs live much shorter lives than pets. Cold, infections, parasites, poor nutrition do not improve health.

Note! The street takes 5-7 years of life.
Instead of the required 12 years, a dog can only live 5-6.

Age compared to human years

To calculate how many years shepherd dogs live in comparison to a human life, the formula “dog year = seven human years” is used. However, these are rather rough calculations. Comparing the main stages of growing up helps to accurately calculate the correspondence of ages. For example, dogs begin to erupt teeth at seven weeks, and humans at 9 months. Accordingly, we can say that seven-week-old puppies are the same age as nine-month-old babies.

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The age correspondence between shepherd dogs and people is presented in the table.

Note! The average lifespan of shepherd dogs and people is the same. For the first it is 12 years, for the second it is 75 years.

Age differences in the German Shepherd. Features of caring for a dog at different ages

When they are puppies, German Shepherds look little like their adult relatives. In color they are more reminiscent of wolf cubs. The true color (black or black) begins to appear in the puppy after 3-4 months.

How to determine the age of a German Shepherd puppy

At 4-5 months, the puppy’s ears begin to take on a standing triangular shape, and the process can be delayed if there is not enough calcium and trace elements in the diet.

At the age of 4 months, baby teeth are replaced by permanent teeth, and by 7 months, the missing molars grow in.

By 9-12 months the puppy reaches the size of an adult dog. By one and a half to two years, growth reaches its peak; now they are large, energetic, playful animals with snow-white teeth, shiny eyes and fur. Read about height and weight standards here.

By the age of 3, the period of adolescence ends and maturity begins. The dog becomes sedate, reasonable, and less playful. The chest expands in width (with sufficient physical exertion), the animal reaches its prime, which lasts up to 7-8 years.

After 8 years, the German Shepherd enters old age. The eyes and fur are no longer so shiny, the teeth turn yellow, the incisors wear out a little, and tartar may form.

The dog rests more and more often, his joints may hurt - this is expressed in a cautious gait. Gray hair may appear. Typically, the graying process starts from the head.

But, despite the signs of aging, on average, the German Shepherd is still fully functional and ready to serve faithfully. At home, the dog can remain cheerful and active longer. Caring owners are concerned about an important question: how many years do dogs of different sexes live on average?

There is an opinion that the average lifespan of castrated males and sterilized females is longer.

At the age of 10, old age becomes more noticeable . The muscle mass gradually decreases, the coat is no longer so smooth, and in places it is tousled. The skin around the eyes and mouth becomes slightly saggy, and you can even see wrinkles. Gray hair is already visible on both the back and chest, and molars may fall out. The gait becomes slow and senile. At this age, an old dog already needs a gentle regime - heavy physical activity and long hikes are excluded.

Also, a lot depends on the dog’s quality of life: whether the dog lives on the street (in a kennel) or in a house. How much does it move and how much attention do its owners pay to it?

Differences between the life expectancy of females and males

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It is believed that the average age of any dog ​​is 12 years. The larger the animal, the shorter its lifespan. Babies up to 30 cm at the withers sometimes live up to 15-20 years. Large breeds rarely reach 15 years of age. This is due to weight and load on the cardiovascular system.

German and East European Shepherds are medium-sized dogs. Males, as a rule, are more massive and larger than females:

• males – 65 cm and 40 kg;
• females – 60 cm and 32 kg.

However, this does not mean that the “guy” will necessarily live less than the “lady”. How long shepherd females live depends on the number of matings. Pregnancy takes up a lot of resources and often causes chronic diseases. With proper care, both sexes live the same number of years.

Is it possible to extend the life of a pet and how to do it?

Before becoming the owner of this breed, evaluate your capabilities, think in advance what kind of nutrition you can provide for your pet. Because diet plays a big role in the lifespan of an animal.

Every pet needs proper nutrition with all the vitamins it needs. It is important to decide for what purpose you purchased the dog. If you plan for her to participate in exhibitions, then you need to feed such a shepherd exclusively with dry food of the highest quality. This food is full of proteins and other beneficial substances that are necessary for joints, bones and ligaments.

If the diet consists of natural products, then 70% of it should consist of raw meat. Boiled vegetables, cottage cheese, and oatmeal must be present in the menu of this breed. Until the age of two, the dog also needs to take vitamins.

The German Shepherd requires a regular active lifestyle with physical activity. This is not a decorative species that can be taken outside just to relieve oneself.

If your dog lives indoors, you should be careful with your training regimen. An active lifestyle is inherent in shepherd dogs at the genetic level. In male dogs, if there is an excess of energy, excess excitability may occur, which will lead to a nervous state. If a pet is regularly in the apartment, this may result in an attack on the owners.

Many breeds can be easily trained to follow different commands, but shepherd dogs are distinguished by their mentality and intelligence, so it is worth using the dog's physical and mental resources for reasonable purposes. The cable can even remember phrases spoken by the owner.

It has been proven that the life expectancy of shepherd dogs living in the private sector exceeds that of those living in an apartment. So long walks and running behind a bicycle will be accompanied by a longer life expectancy.

If the animal lives in an enclosure, you should remember that it needs to be let out for a walk every day. This breed of shepherd belongs to purebred dogs. This is not a yard dog that serves as territory guard. Therefore, in the first place for a pet’s long life are: a properly selected diet full of vitamins, an active lifestyle and physical activity.

How to find out the age of a pet

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You can find out the age of a shepherd by changes:

• ears;
• eye;
• wool;
• muscles;
• teeth.

Puppy and adult shepherd

Teeth change begins at 3 months. The ears remain soft for up to five months. They hang down and rise when the puppy is surprised or alarmed by something. Six-month-old puppies have fully erect ears. By this time, all teeth have been replaced.

The eyes of newborns are blue. In one-month-old puppies, the pupils are different and the eyes become darker in color. The older the dog, the more distinct the pupils. The eyes are fully formed by one year.

The first molt occurs at 4 months. Puppy fluff is gradually replaced by adult hair. The older the animal gets, the coarser the coat becomes. Adult young shepherd dogs are fit, strong, and muscular. With age, the body becomes decrepit, the skin sags, the coat becomes dull and gray.

Behavior gradually changes. Puppies and teenagers are active and restless. From two to four years the dog shows the best results. She is active, resilient, playful. Afterwards, it is necessary to reduce the load so that the dog does not quickly run out of steam.

Note! When the shepherd begins to weakly respond to calls to play, it means old age has set in.

Main causes of premature death

Injuries are a common cause of premature death. It is important to take care of your pet's safety while walking. This requires education and the firm hand of the owner. If the dog does not obey the owner, he can break off the leash and run out onto the roadway. Disobedience also leads to poisoning: a dog that has not learned the “fu” command picks up poisoned food.

Your pet must be vaccinated and treated against parasites (fleas, worms). After walks, you need to examine your paws and treat wounds and cuts with antiseptic. Training is carried out according to the recommendations of dog handlers. There is no need to give excessive physical activity. This threatens fractures, problems with the spine and heart.

The owner is not always to blame for shortening the life of a shepherd dog. Dogs do not live to old age due to hereditary diseases. The most common:

• renal failure;
• diseases of the pancreas and liver;
• malignant tumors;
• intestinal volvulus.

Important! Your dog should be taken to the vet regularly, even if there are no signs of illness. This is especially important during the period of growth. The doctor will notice the slightest deviations and prescribe treatment and prevention.

How to increase the life of a pet

The lifespan of a shepherd is largely influenced by external conditions: diet, physical and mental stress, relationships with humans.

Proper nutrition

It is necessary to monitor nutrition and weight gain. Obesity takes years off your life: excess weight increases the stress on the heart, bones and muscles. The dog should not be fed smoked, salty, sweet or fatty foods.

Shepherd with a bowl

The food must be balanced. During the growth period, the shepherd dog requires a lot of vitamins and minerals. It is difficult to choose a nutritious diet on your own, so veterinarians recommend commercial food. They already contain the required amount of useful elements and substances, as well as balanced fats, proteins, and carbohydrates.

Toddlers are fed four times a day, teenagers three times. An adult dog is transferred to two meals a day. One serving should be 800 g. During training and winter it increases by 200 g.

Caring for an older dog

An adult dog showing signs of aging requires special care. A separate diet is prepared and physical activity is reduced to a minimum. Visits to the veterinarian should be regular to quickly prevent the development of the disease.

The daily routine remains the same: feeding by the hour, walks, hygiene procedures. Any change will cause stress. If the dog is used to living in the yard, you should not move it to a home environment.

Dog lifestyle

How many years German Shepherds live is influenced by their lifestyle. In addition to physical activity, mental development is required. Your pet will be able to exercise its muscles and gain impressions while traveling. Shepherd dogs are hardy enough for hiking in the mountains, forests, and long trips.

Shepherd dog in nature

Note! A reclusive lifestyle is depressing. When a dog is locked up, its character deteriorates and depressive disorders occur.

The meaning of a shepherd's life is to serve man; his praise gives strength and improves mood. Therefore, even if a pet is old and seriously ill, it needs the care and affection of its family. Until euthanasia, owners must remain close to their beloved dog.

Factors influencing life expectancy

Seven fundamental factors influence how long German Shepherds live at home.

• Pet sizes . Life expectancy varies depending on the height and weight of the animal. The age of a large individual is somewhat shorter than that of a small representative of the breed.
• Keeping the animal . Life expectancy is directly related to the lack of walks, training, and exercise. Animals deprived of activity (leash, chain) do not live the time allotted to them.
• Gender . According to veterinarians, German bitches live one and a half, or even two years longer than how many years a male German Shepherd lives.
• Nutrition. For active and energetic Germans, a complete diet, including a large vitamin complex, as well as micro- and macroelements, is extremely important. They support proper metabolism, strengthen the immune system and help the body resist all kinds of diseases.

• Communication and psychological atmosphere . The length of a pet's lifespan directly depends on the conditions of detention. The life path of dogs that are in constant isolation and without contact with the owner (and this is significant stress for the animal) is short.
• Hereditary diseases . All genetic diseases lead to the premature death of the animal. These include breed diseases - inflammation of the joints, dysplasia, osteochondrosis, arthritis. As well as dermatitis, allergies and other inherited skin diseases.
• Excess weight . Overfeeding is known to lead to obesity. All internal organs suffer from the load, and with age, life support systems fail. Love for a pet does not consist of feeding treats, but in additional games, walks, hikes or basic communication with a beloved friend.