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's dog, and even now dogs can be seen behind this work. Having started a pet in the house, the question arises about the lifetime of the pet. How to prolong his life, and what factors affect it?

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

Veterinarians note that older dogs are more likely to suffer from articular dysplasia, cardiomyopathy, and arthritis. However, thinness also harms the health. Lack of weight leads to the development of renal diseases. Each breed has its own life cycle, which depends on the genes and anatomical features of the animals. The more complex the dog's exterior, the shorter its life will be. Signs of many ailments are:

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

Comparing the pet's exterior, one can come to the conclusion that a harmoniously folded shepherd will outlive its fellow with short legs, an elongated body or long overgrown ears (basset, dachshunds and others). Another reason that affects the health of the pet - genetic abnormalities. The more popular the breed, the higher the chance to get a puppy with a disease. These anomalies are obtained due to the violation by unscrupulous breeders of the selection rules.

Other factors affecting life expectancy:

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

Dogs living on the street have a shorter lifespan than dogs that a man takes care of. Animals kept at home always receive food on a schedule, they are taken to the vet, hygiene is monitored, and so on. Dogs living in the village, too, 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, do not 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 exertion, retain their shape better and are not as susceptible to diseases as lazy or sedentary dogs. The maximum recorded age of a shepherd dog was 2 decades.

The most important thing for a German shepherd is activity. Dogs need long, frequent walks. It is advisable to walk your pet three times a day, combining a walk with games.If there is a special platform with shells, then work out climbing stairs, jumping. An excellent option would be a pool where the dog can frolic enough 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 of animals that, due to circumstances, cannot be mobile or are in confined spaces, is 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 data of the health of the dog, its activity. In the food must include cottage cheese, boiled vegetables, raw beef or poultry. The amount of protein in food should be about 70% of the entire ration.

According to the results of the research it is known that every 2 kilograms of excess weight shorten the life of an animal by about a month. The breed of German Shepherd dogs is of good health. In rare cases, such illnesses as dysplasia, osteochondrosis, dermatitis, and allergies are observed.

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

• lean meats, poultry, geese, turkey;
• offal, should rarely give dogs 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 milk to your pet;
• grain crops: oat-flakes, buckwheat, rice, barley, millet, barley;
• all types of vegetables in boiled form, except for corn, cabbage, which are served fresh;
• various fruits;
• pumpkin seeds, pine nuts.

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

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

Diseases, defects:

• cryptorchidism;
• spondylomyelopathy;
• violations of the body, limbs;
• wrong bite, hanging ears;
• low pigmentation of the skin and others.

In dogs, the skin is also vulnerable, 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, since it is influenced by many factors: dog nutrition, conditions of detention, bite characteristics, and so on. Consider the main points. In puppies until six months of age there is a change of teeth with the replacement of canines.At the age of 1 year, the dog's teeth are white, there are bumps on the enamel. After two years, the tubercles become less pronounced, are erased, 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 clear that the animal's teeth are stowed, some may loose. Possible manifestations of caries, tartar.

The age determination on the dog's exterior occurs like this. Being puppies, German Shepherds are almost unlike their adult counterparts. Coat color is close to wolfish. Puppies acquire their true zonary, 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 there is not enough calcium in the diet, trace elements.

On the ninth month, the puppy reaches adult height. By one and a half years the animal was fully formed, it is active, massive, energetic. At about 3 years, the adolescent period ends, maturity comes. The dog becomes more restrained, calm, reasonable. Thoracic from physical activity increases in volume. The flowering of the forces of the German Shepherd lasts until the age of eight. In this period, one might say, comes old age. Teeth turn yellow, wool grows dull. The animal is resting more. There may be problems with the joints.

Some hairs are colored gray. Usually the beginning of the process is manifested in the area of ​​the muzzle. Despite its age, the animal is still healthy. At home content the dog may be more active, cheerful. In the tenth year, the muscles are reduced in volume, the hair becomes less smooth, ruffled. The skin is hanging. Gray hair is visible across the back of the animal, on the chest, molars may be missing. The dog moves a little, the walk becomes shuffling.

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

The dog can get under the wheels, and being a puppy can be left without parents or lost. In some countries, there is a program for catching homeless animals with their subsequent resuscitation and transfer to the hands of new owners. However, there is another option - killing a stray dog.

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

Often, females have postpartum hormonal disruptions, causing the pet's behavior and endocrine system to change. Females are at risk of developing diabetes. Females can die before the age of ten due to unsuccessful pregnancy, mating. Before choosing a puppy, you should carefully weigh all the pros and cons of the breed, gender, conditions of detention.

To learn how to properly care for a German Shepherd, see the following video.