Alabai - a breed of dogs whose original appearance persists for more than five thousand years, it is also called the Central Asian Shepherd Dog. These beautiful, massive, strong and devoted animals are designed to help people in many ways. How many years live alabai, what factors affect the duration and how to extend the life of a pet, will be discussed in our article.
Life expectancy on the street
A person, especially a child, who first saw an adult alabaya, can be impressed by its size. Respect for this breed inspires the appearance of a dog: an average weight of 50 kg, height - up to 80 cm at the withers, a large physique due to the broad chest, massive head, strong legs. Tough and very thick wool of medium length is designed for harsh conditions, they are not afraid of extreme heat and night cold.
Since ancient times, the dog served as a guard, helped a person to herd the herds and protect the caravans in the harsh mountain conditions of Central Asia. She fearlessly fought with predators, protecting the owner and his property. Such conditions have hardened the character of this breed - both physically and morally they are very hardy.
Of course, alabay better keep on the street, in the yard. She is more accustomed to fresh air, but it is not recommended to put an animal on a chain. The dog must patrol its area, occasionally resting in a spacious aviary. The leash dog will be nervous and irritated, which negatively reflects on their health, quality and longevity.
Many draw an analogy between the life expectancy of the Central Asian Shepherd Dog (Alabai) and other Shepherd Dogs. However, to think so wrong. The life expectancy of alabayevs varies from 10 to 15 years, the maximum this period can be 17 years, but this figure is achieved under conditions favorable for the dog.
For them are important: care, attention, maintenance of physical activity, calm atmosphere, good nutrition, observation at the veterinarian. Given these conditions, an average of 12–14 years old lives Alabai, kept on the street.
How many years live at home?
Some people keep such large pets in the apartment, not thinking about how uncomfortable the dog is in cramped conditions, especially if the owners spend most of the day at work and can pay attention to alabai only a few hours a day, taking short walks. In such conditions, the life of a dog can last much less - they rarely live to be ten years old.
Limited movement, the absence of such an important jumping activity for the Central Asian Shepherd Dog can lead to heart disease, joint problems, weight gain, and diabetes.
If the owner does not find enough time (at least two hours a day) for walks and physical activities with his pet, then the life of such a dog will be not only bleak, but also short. The average life expectancy of alabayev living in apartments is only 8–9 years.
What factors affect the lifetime?
How long an Alabai dog will live depends not only on where it is kept (in an apartment or on the street), but also on other important factors. Most of them depend on the owner of the dog, his literacy and readiness to be responsible for his pet.
A number of important factors affect the duration of its existence.
- Physical activity and setting the mode of the day. The habit of the owner should include active and long walks with Alabai, during which the dog receives physical activity corresponding to its breed. A person should think carefully about whether to start alabaya, if he is not ready to actively engage and walk with the dog.
- Organization of proper nutrition, control over the pet's body weight. Alabai tend to gain weight, especially with age, their weight easily increases, and this leads to illness and shortening of life. Great weight gives the load on the spine of the animal, resulting in orthopedic problems with paws. Be sure to follow the moderation of food and the balance of nutrients in it. Given the age of the dog, you should add vitamin and mineral complexes to maintain its health.
- External atmosphere. Alabai are very sensitive to the psycho-emotional environment around them. The dog does not withstand constant stress and nervousness, conflicts and quarrels have a negative impact on his health. Categorically should not hurt the dog, sharp sounds and movements should be excluded.
- Regular care and hygiene. Important procedures for alabay are cleansing of the eyes, teeth and ears, hair cutting of claws and grooming. The hard coat of this dog usually does not require careful care, but not in a hot period. In the summer or during molting every other day, you should comb alabay and also bathe the dog in the pond, as the heat for her is a kind of stress. In addition, the cleanliness and habitat of the dog should be maintained, clean up of waste products, otherwise the spread of bacteria and infections cannot be avoided.
- Permanent health monitoring. Should not be neglected visits to the veterinarian, they should be on a regular basis, preferably one specialist. Throughout his life, a dog needs to be given a lot of vaccinations, to carry out anthelmintic and anti-flea preventive measures.
How to extend the life of the animal?
By providing the necessary and comfortable conditions for his dog, the owner can thereby prolong his life. In addition to proper nutrition, hygiene and visiting a veterinarian, several important recommendations should be followed.
- Save Asians from traumatic situations. During walks, you must use a muzzle, a strong leash and protective equipment for the paws of the dog - the vulnerable part of its body.
- Categorically you can not feed alabay sweet, salty, spicy, flour, even if she really wants it all.
- It is important for the dog to ensure constant communication with the owner. Alabai must constantly feel his relevance and need, otherwise he may fall into a long depression. Serving a person, guarding his house and territory without being chained - this is true alabaya happiness.
- The owner of the Central Asian Shepherd should be time to notice any change in the behavior of the pet. A bad mood, refusal to eat or play can signal an Asian being unwell.
For more information on alabai see the following video.