How Long Is A German Shepherd

What Happens If You Leave A German Shepherd Alone For Too Long

We have learned that German Shepherds shouldnt be left alone for too long. If they are left for extended periods they can develop a variety of both emotional and physical health issues.

Unfortunately, many dog owners dont understand the level of commitment required to properly care for a German Shepherd and this is one of the sad reasons why they are often abandoned, re-homed, or even worse, euthanized.

German Shepherds are very social dogs and need a job to do, even if that just means interacting with you. Regular activity and exercise is a must for this energetic, loyal, and protective breed.

If you leave your dog alone for longer than four hours per day, it will most definitely cause poor results. After all, there are reasons for the recommended guidelines! Some GSDs dont even do well with anything longer than three hours, even when theyre fully grown.

The best way to find out is to start with trial periods and increase in small increments. You can also invest in a dog camera, as mentioned above, where you can watch and interact with your dog, all from your smartphone.

Here are a few things to be aware of if you regularly leave your German Shepherd alone for more than four hours:

As you can see, there are all sorts of negative outcomes that result from not properly caring for your German Shepherd and failing to keep him happy and entertained. You might also notice that they become extra clingy and try to spend too much time with you when youre home.

Juvenile Period Weights And Heights

At the start of the or juvenile. or ranking, period male and female German Shepherd puppies weigh 40% of their adult weight and are at 40% of their adult height.

The juvenile period is also called the ranking period, because this is when puppies begin to understand submission and dominance.

Thoughts On How Long Do German Shepherds Live

Don’t Miss: Is My German Shepherd Too Skinny

A Day In The Life Of This Breed

Your morning with a Long Haired German Shepherd is going to start early.

How can these pups sleep when there is so much to do each day? They will wake you up ready to play with a toy in their mouth and a pep in their step.

As you yawn and make your way downstairs they will demand their large morning meal because these pups have an enormous appetite.

After breakfast it is time to start another active day.

Hopefully you have lots of activities planned for the day to keep you pup busy.

A long morning walk will keep your dog happy.

As you go about your business in the house your pup will stay close by but will want to dutifully watch out the window to make sure no intruders, or mail men, get too close to your house. They are the protector of the home and take this job very seriously.

Later in the day they would love a trip to the dog park where they can see all their dog buddies. They will run and run after their friends until somehow, all of that pent-up energy seems to finally disappear.

That will not stop them from wanting to play a bit of fetch in the backyard once you get home though.

After loads of exercise they will happily lay by your side and drift to sleep with you petting them while you watch TV before bed.

What Is The Oldest German Shepherd On Record

Do not believe what you find on the internet for this information. Trusted databases with verified age and breed records are not commonly available to the public. You can find YouTube videos and forum posts of people saying their GSDs are alive at 20 or 24 years of age but these claims have not been independently verified by birth/pedigree records and veterinarians.

Read Also: What Foods Can German Shepherds Not Eat

Are There Any Behavioral Problems With German Shepherds

First off, they are very large dogs and can come off very intimidating. Second, their instinct to protect their family or property is strong and can lead untrained German shepherds to becoming very protective, aggressive, and scary dogs. The keyword here is untrained, as any untrained dogregardless of breedcan have the same problems.

About The Breed: German Shepherd

The German Shepherd is a medium to large-sized working dog. Abbreviated as GSD, German Shepherds are one of the most popular dog breeds in the world, ranking second in our 2019 analysis of the top 50 dog breeds.

Originally bred to be herding dogs, the intelligence and agility of German Shepherds made them stand out and seen in many types of work today. Thanks to their strength, obedience, and trainability, German Shepherds make great working dogs as well as family pets.

In this edition of About The Breed, well look at the breed characteristics of the German Shepherd, examine the history of the breed, and answer some of the most frequently asked questions.

Recommended Reading: Akc German Shepherd Names

Long Haired German Shepherd Vs Short Haired: 5 Must Know Differences

The German Shepherd Dog is the second most popular breed of dog in America. Youve almost certainly seen them in dog parks, films or as working dogs.

What you may not have realized is that their coat comes in several different lengths.

Short-Haired German Shepherds are the classic GSD. These are the dogs you see working with the army, the police, or herding. Long Haired German Shepherds are somewhat rarer. Their coat is seen as a minor defect by the American Kennel Club, but they are still recognized by the association, and the coat issue is no more concerning than poorly shaped ears or incorrect tail carriage.

These differences, and 6 other key differences, will be discussed in this article to help you pick the perfect dog for you.

Contents and Quick Navigation

Caring For Your German Shepherd

German Shepherds are fantastic dogs and its easy to see why they are such a popular breed. However their size and strength means they arent suited to all families and need a lot of space to burn off their energy. Youll need to make sure you have a lot of time to spend with these dogs and you are committed to providing for their exercise needs every day.

Recommended Reading: How To Grow Long Hair For German Shepherd

Pay Attention To Your Dog’s Needs

It is important not to neglect your older dog, simply because they start to seem more and more content just to lay on their dog bed and sleep. Especially if you have other dogs that seem like they need more attention and have more energy, you might start to neglect your older German Shepherds. Do not do this!

Even if your dog is over ten years old, they still need and want your attention and approval. Make sure they are given just as much love and respect when they are growing older and coming to the end of their life as they did when they were brand new puppies, full of energy.

What Happens When A German Shepherd Loses A Tooth

If the deciduous tooth fails, the permanent tooth has free path to grow. The change of teeth goes unnoticed by many four-legged friends, so that you as the owner will not notice. However, it comes to discomfort when changing teeth, causing severe pain. During the change of teeth, there may be accompanying symptoms such as eating loss.

Recommended Reading: How To Potty Train A German Shepherd Dog

Food For Pregnant German Shepherds

Pregnant German Shepherds have certain nutritional needs that arent met by standard dog food. Fortunately, more and more commercial suppliers actually have collections of dry and wet food out on the market that satisfy their nutritional requirements.

See example below from Royal Canin made specifically for German Shepherds. Click on the image to check the current price and availability on Amazon.

Regardless of what kind of food you give your dog, you dont want to go around taking a chance with their nutrition. Its easy to think that canine nutrition is like human and can be fixed up with certain pills, but its way more complicated.

If worse comes to worst, then youll want to ask your vet or a professional breeder for advice. Purebred German shepherds in particular tend to be kind of fussy when it comes to what they need to eat during this special time.

Variations Of German Shepherds

It is worth noting that these charts do not apply to the different variations of Shepherds, except possibly White German Shepherds .

East-European Shepherds, King Shepherds, and Shiloh Shepherds are bigger than standard German Shepherds. Miniature German Shepherds are much smaller and have completely different development requirements and problems.

Don’t Miss: What Temperature Can German Shepherds Withstand

Lifespan Of A German Shepherd: How Long Does A German Shepherd Live

Wondering how long does a German shepherd live? Or how can you take care of the health of your German shepherd? All of these are some of the few concerns every pet lover thinks about before buying a German shepherd as a pet. But, dont worry as here we will provide you with the answer to all these questions.

Contents

The Average German Shepherd Lifespan

The lifespan of a German Shepherd will vary depending on each dogs overall health and the care they receive throughout their life.

Though 10-12 years is the standard, there are ways to keep your Shepherd in the best shape possible, and help increase the likelihood of your furry friend to beat the standard age.

Below, well go into detail on the multiple ways you can prolong your GSDs life, and what to expect.

Read Also: When Do German Shepherd Ears Go Up

Grooming: Do German Shepherds Shed A Lot Are They Easy To Groom

About shedding….

I have good news and bad news.

The good news is that German Shepherds have only one shedding period a year.

The bad news is…. their shedding period lasts for 365 days. In other words, German Shepherds shed constantly.

How is this different from most breeds?

Most breeds shed a few hairs here and there throughout the year. But the vast bulk of their shedding occurs only twice a year for three weeks in the spring as their thicker winter coat switches over to a cooler summer coat, and for three weeks in the fall as the summer coat switches over to a winter coat.

Not German Shepherds. They shed a TON during those spring and fall coat-switching seasons. Plus they shed moderately the rest of the year.

So year-round, you’ll find hair on your clothing, on your carpets, and under your refrigerator. Frequent vaccuming will become a way of life.

You might be wondering, “How can a shorthaired dog shed so much?” The answer is that German Shepherds have a double coat. They have a short outer coat , plus a woolly undercoat . Breeds with a double coat always shed more than breeds who simply have an outer coat but no undercoat.

German Shepherds come in a long coat, as well as a short coat. Both coats shed heavily.

Now, about grooming….

How much grooming is required depends on whether a German Shepherd is shorthaired or longhaired.

Longhaired dogs need trimming

Along with brushing and combing, longhaired German Shepherds need trimming every few months.

Longest Living German Shepherd

Of course, median German Shepherd Dogs lifespan isnt the only important figure when determining how long German Shepherds live. You may also be curious how long it is possible for a German Shepherd Dog to live under ideal circumstances.

The oldest living German Shepherd in ONeills studies was 18, which also seems to be a pretty firm maximum among unconfirmed owner reporting.

I did come across one owner who claimed their German Shepherd was 20, but I have no way of corroborating this.

Don’t Miss: When Do German Shepherd Puppies Lose Their Baby Teeth

Decreased Mobility And Balance

A loss in mobility and balance means that your dogs muscles are growing extremely weak upon old age, more so, the absence of its natural fun and outgoing behavior may only imply the nearing end of its life. Soon, youll notice that your dog will find it challenging to move from one place to another it will only feel unsteady on its feet hence, youll find it resting on the ground more often than not.

How Do You Tell If A Female Gsd In Heat

There are four stages in the heat cycle, and the signs that a female German shepherd is in heat depends on which stage shes currently in.

• Proestrus: This is the stage where males are attracted to female GSDs, while the female isnt. This lasts for an average of 9 days.The most obvious sign of this stage is when male dogs start to crowd outside of your house. This is because its how male dogs react to a female in heat. They become attracted.However, your pet is likely to reject them since she still isnt susceptive to mating. Plus, fertilization isnt possible at this point.Regardless, your female dog will start to show vaginal bleeding at this stage, although the blood becomes lighter as the period progresses.

• Estrus: The female GSD will be susceptive to mating at this stage and it can last anywhere from 4 to 21 days. This can be called the flagging stage.During the flagging stage, the dark red vaginal discharge will turn lighter. You may also notice your pet rubbing their rear end against furniture or other objects. These are indications that your female German shepherd is ready to mate. This is also the stage where mature eggs are released from the ovary.

• Anestrus: Anestrus is the period between each heat cycle and as previously said, it lasts for about 6 months. While we mentioned this as the fourth stage, its not exactly a part of the heat cycle.Regardless, at this stage, there will be no growth and development in the female German shepherds reproductive organs.

You May Like: Who Would Win In A Fight German Shepherd Or Pitbull

Health Issues Decreasing The Lifespan Of A German Shepherd

German Shepherds are active dogs that want various physical activities and exercises. Without exercise, the German Shepherd will not be in its best shape, can get lazy and fall sick as well.

Some physical and behavioral issues can have strong impacts on the life of a dog and result in causing a decrease in the lifespan. These issues can be as follows.

Average German Shepherd Life Expectancy

Sam Shepards

Sam Shephard is an experienced German Shepherd owner and has learned throughout the years how to optimize the breed’s health and wellness.

Compared to many other large breeds, German Shepherds actually live fairly long and happy lives, especially if they are kept active and regularly visit the vet. While you may not want to think about your beloved pet entering his or her senior years, it is helpful to know exactly what you can expect when it comes to your dogs life expectancy and when you should start treating your German Shepherd like the senior that he or she is.

German Shepherd Life Expectancy

Most German Shepherds live between ten and thirteen years.

Don’t Miss: Do German Shepherd Ears Stand Up Naturally

Changes In The Behavior

You will notice some changes in the behavior of the German Shepherd. It is prevalent when a dog is in heat.

Due to the hormonal changes, her behavior can drastically change. So if your dogs behavior has changed recently, she can be in heat.

Your dog can be more active, jump, and run. Every dogs behavior changes in a different way.

German Shepherd Long Stock Coat

This coat is most often referred to as a coat coated or long coat. A long coat has longer, fluffier fur with a thick undercoat.

They usually have fluffy fur around their ears and on the back of their legs and are traditionally beautiful animals.

Some German Shepherd owners prefer the appearance of a coated shepherd over a stock coat Shepherd.

The long coat gene is a simple recessive gene, thus making coated dogs somewhat rarer. Both parents are required to be coated or carry the recessive gene in order to produce long coated puppies.

Even after many years of carefully planned breeding, a few coated puppies are occasionally born into a stock coat litter.

Hardcore breeders are not happy when a coated puppy appears in a litter and will try to breed this out of their kennels bloodline.

Long hair puppies pop up from two stock coated dogs because each parent is carrying the recessive gene.

A lot of breeders will not breed these two dogs again. Both of these dogs could be bred to different mates who do not carry the gene, and both could potentially produce litters without any coated offspring.

As a buyer, a coated puppy can be an indication that the whole litter is going to be a good one. This is because the sires and dams who have produced the offspring are carriers of strong genetics from their ancestors.

Puppies with this recessive gene generally have a strong-boned body structure, are exceptionally good-natured, and are of sound character.

You May Like: Do German Shepherds Get Cold Outside