The German Shepherd, is a large breed of dog. Strong and muscular in stature, they can be very imposing, and even aggressive at times. However many GSD owners will say their fearsome reputation is unwarranted, and they make beautiful family pets, that are great with children.
Before we look into the likely lifespan for a German Shepherd, lets have a brief overview of the history of this breed.
Yes, a German Shepherd is what most people think about when they hear the term working dog. There is a very good reason for this. Most law enforcement dogs you will encounter are of this wonderful breed. That’s not what they were meant to do though.
The German Shepherd was initially bred for the express purpose of helping farmers keep their livestock in line while they were out grazing. They were also meant to help protect the livestock from wild animals. That is where they get the reputation of being a very protective breed of dog.
This is probably one of the reasons why most people would love to have the German Shepherd as a pet. And they do make wonderful pets. They can be goofy when they want to, but their obedient nature, especially when trained, means they won’t be getting into too much trouble.
However, having a pet doesn’t mean you get to have them for the rest of your life. You are more likely going to be the person that the pet has for most of its life. That’s the saddest part about having a pet in your life.
But for how long are you going to have this beautiful dog around you?
The Average Life Span.
Many different sources will give you greatly differing answers to this question. A simple Google search will list it as living anywhere from 9 to 13 years. Other websites will list this breed as living anywhere from 10 to 14 years. The American Kennel Club, an authority on matters dogs, lists this breed as living anywhere from 7 to 10 years.
The thing you need to understand is that although this German Shepherd is a breed in itself, the dog you are looking at is an individual. This means that individual members of the breed will get to live different lives, and will be affected by different things. All of these things contribute to how long your individual will live.
It’s not uncommon to come across German Shepherds that are enjoying life at a geriatric 16 years of age. Also, it’s not uncommon to have individuals who cross the rainbow bridge even before they get to their eighth year of life.
German Shepherds are known to live happy lives. If you compare with other large breeds, the German Shepherd lives quite a long life. And this long life can be extended. All you would need to know is how to maintain one into its senior years.
A dog getting into its senior years is one of the toughest for any paw parent. However, it is absolutely helpful for you if you have all the knowledge necessary to help the dog live a long and fruitful life.
The GSD Lifecycle.
Just like a human, a dog will undergo similar stages in life. The only difference will be that they will go through these stages at a more rapid pace than a human. Their youngest years are the best for you to start training, and probably teach them some tricks.
Before age 2, the GSD is a goofy pup with floppy ears that don’t know which direction to face. Probably the cutest time in its life. At or around age two, you will start to notice some behavioral changes with the dog. It doesn’t want to follow orders, and even tries to challenge your authority as the leader of the pack.
You probably guessed it, but the GSD will reach adolescence at age 2. This is the age at which you will know what you can expect from your dog in the years ahead. The good thing is this will last a few short years. When adult maturity hits, you will have a more level headed dog to deal with.
Your dog is an absolutely active fur ball but you will notice a difference when age 9 hits. They tend to be slower than they usually are, and the energy will have slowly calmed down. The middle ages are now setting in.
This decline in energy will continue until it hits age 12. At this point, the dog is considered to be coming into its “retirement” years. From this point, you will need to pay extra attention to what you give to the dog. With specialized care, your dog will be able to live much longer than what the internet says.
Issues That Negatively Affect the GSD’s Lifespan.
Well, your goofball may be the pride and joy of your life. However, that doesn’t mean they are immune to anything that may come their way. In fact, there are issues that are known to affect dogs in the size and weight class the GSD falls in, as well as some that are frequent occurrences in them.
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Hip Dysplasia.
In medical terms, this is a malformation of the hip socket. Whereas a normal one will cover entirely the ball joint of the thigh bone, a socket experiencing hip dysplasia will not cover the ball completely. What this means is that it is very easy for the dog to dislocate its hip.
This is a congenital condition and most dogs live fine with them, but others aren’t so lucky. Age or rough play could cause the socket to degenerate further and the hip will dislocate. This is why its important to get the lineage of the puppy from a breeder before you get one.
This is also a good explanation as to why the AKC puts the lifespan of the GSD at 7 to 10 years. There are two lines of the GSD breed; the working line, and the show line. The rules for the show line demand for a GSD that has a sloped back. This increases the likelihood of the dog developing hip dysplasia.
This will lead to mobility issues as the dog will be in pain. Many owners choose to euthanize the dog to save them from the pain. The dogs from the working line will tend to live longer, and have less issues with hip dysplasia.
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Bloat.
This name is used to define two different medical conditions that a dog will experience. The first is gastric dilation. This is when gas fills inside the stomach of the dog. The second is Gastric dilatation with volvulus, which basically means that the stomach will twist into itself.
These conditions are serious as the bloat will cause the gas filled stomach to distend. In turn, this will restrict blood flow, leading to a condition known as shock. Gastric dilation requires the dog’s stomach to be pumped for some relief. Gastric dilatation with volvulus will require emergency surgery to deal with the stomach twist and potentially save the dog’s life.
- Degenerative Myelopathy.
This is a disease that is more commonly found in older dogs, and especially GSDs. This is a disease of the spine that progresses slowly as the dog ages from eight years and forwards. You may notice that your dog will lose coordination of the hind limbs, which can progress to losing the ability to use the hind limbs.
Helping Your GSD Live Longer.
Isn’t this the goal of every pet owner, to have their dog live their best life and live long enough to see both your graduation and wedding? The following tips are not a guarantee that your pup will live to a ripe old age, they however increase the chances that it will.
- Visiting the vet.
This is a must do for any pet owner. As much as you may love them, you won’t really notice, or pay much attention to any issues that the dog is facing, unless those issues are obvious. A visit to the vet for wellness checks is the best way to know your pet is in full health.
- Get your pup from a reputable breeder.
Capitalism has gotten to everyone. Most people, and breeders, nowadays are simply looking to turn a profit. The health of the dog or the overall improvement of the breed is not something that’s paid much attention to.
Before committing to raising a puppy, find a breeder who will furnish you with all necessary details on the health of the dog, as well as the lineage of the dog. This helps you see whether you are getting a dog that is free from the known issues.
- Good food and exercise are crucial.
It is unfortunate that a lot of dog food available is filled with fillers such as corn and by products of meat that aren’t necessarily healthy for your dog. You should always feed your pup with real meat, fruits and vegetables. This guarantees your pup is receiving all the nutrition it needs.
And after feeding, your pup will want to play. A GSD is a particularly active dog. Lack of exercise will see it turn to behaviors such as chewing up your couch. They were originally bred to work for an entire day. As such, getting them to go for at least an hour of physically strenuous exercise is crucial to keeping them engaged, and in good shape.