Give Your German Shepherd Plenty Of Exercise
All dogs need exercise to prevent obesity and keep them in shape, but German Shepherds have high energy levels and can turn to destructive behaviors if they dont get enough exercise.
A bored German Shepherd could easily turn to eating things they shouldnt when left alone, and if they swallow something that doesnt pass through their digestive tract, it could kill them, so exercise really can directly impact their lifespan.
German Shepherds need at least an hour of exercise every day, and the more, the better. They were bred to work all day, so a tame 30-minute walk twice a day may not be enough to expend all their energy.
Some exercise options to consider with your German Shepherd include:
- Running around a dog park
- Playing fetch in the back yard
- Jogging with you on leash
- Running next to you as you bike
- Hiking
- Doggy daycare
How The German Shepherds Lifespan Compares To Other Breeds
They arent the dogs with the shortest lifespans. Dogs in their size group can be as short-lived as the Bernese Mountain Dog or Rottweiler, neither exceeding 9 years for their life expectancy.;
This places the German Shepherd lifespan as longer than some. They share the same life expectancy as Golden Retrievers, but they arent as prone to cancer.;
Feed The Proper Food For Canines
Food can make your German Shepherd sick and develop nasty diseases that will potentially shorten their lifespan.
To best serve the needs of their canine companions, pet owners need to pay attention not only to what foods are included in a dogs diet but also to how they are prepared.
For example, there has been an enhanced demand among consumers for meat products that do not include horns and dung as ingredients, mainly due to misconceptions about animal nutrition.;
Fortunately, with such easy access to information, these days , producers have noticed by reformulating or removing some low-quality meats entirely from dog product lines.;
German Shepherds puppies with developing bodies need a particular blend of nutrients to reach their full size and remain healthy. Good quality puppy food will keep your pup in top shape, resulting in an even healthier adult dog later on down the line. A healthy dog lives longer!
If unsure about canine nutrition, please speak to a veterinarian who specializes in animal nutrition that may be able to offer advice on the right food for your German Shepherd.
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New Research Reveals Secrets Of The Demographics And Disorders In German Shepherd Dogs
A new study conducted by the VetCompass Programme at the Royal Veterinary College has revealed novel insights into the demographics and disorders of German Shepherd Dogs. This information will raise awareness of the susceptibility of German Shepherd Dogs to a variety of health conditions, inform diagnosis and treatment, and will help potential owners to decide between a male or female puppy.
German Shepherd Dogs are one of the UKs most popular dog breeds, and have been widely used for herding, guarding, police, military and guide-dog roles. However, over recent decades, the physical shape of the German Shepherd Dog has become more extreme and there is now much debate about consequential impact on the health of the breed. This VetCompass study adds to current knowledge by providing key data from hundreds of UK vet practices about the health and demographics of this breed.
This new research revealed:
- German Shepherd Dogs are falling out of favour in the UK, dropping from 3.5% of all dogs born in 2005 to 2.2% in 2013.
- 63.43% of German Shepherds had at least one disorder recorded during 2013, which is similar to other breeds previously explored, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels and Pugs.
- The average lifespan of German Shepherds overall was 10.3 years which is similar to other breeds of this bodysize.
- The most common disorders recorded in German Shepherds were ear infection , osteoarthritis , diarrhoea , overweight/obesity and aggression .
Take Them To The Vet Regularly
Dogs tend to hide their symptoms when they dont feel good. At the same time, most health conditions are easier to treat the sooner theyre caught. Thats why you should take your German Shepherd to the vet at least once a year when theyre younger and twice a year after they turn 7.
It may seem silly to take a healthy dog to the vet, but your German Shepherd may not be as healthy as you think. That seemingly pointless vet visit could save your dogs life.
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Tips For Euthanasia In The Veterinary Practice
Average Age For German Shepherds
Most German Shepherds live in between ten and thirteen years. Owners of small breeds of dogs might see their animals live up to seventeen or twenty, but larger dogs put more strain on their bodies and simply do not live as long, no matter how well they are taken care of. A dog that is neglected or does not get proper exercise will actually die much earlier than age eleven.
While some German Shepherds do live far beyond age thirteen, this is fairly uncommon and impossible to predict, especially if you do not know the lineage of your dog and what health problems they might encounter as they transition into old age.
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Silver Sable German Shepherd
Silver sable German Shepherds are similar to grey GSDs, except they are much lighter in color. Some of these dogs might make you think that youre dealing with a Siberian Husky German Shepherd crossbreed!
This is a unique color combination for German Shepherds, with or without the sable pattern. Also, instead of a black mask and black saddle markings, these pups will sometimes have markings that are grey in color.
Because of such color overlap, some experts think that silver sable German Shepherds and grey sable German Shepherds should be considered as the same coat color.
German Shepherd Life Span How Long Do German Shepherds Live
The worst part of being a dog owner is that youll eventually have to say goodbye to them. Sure, its unpreventable, but can you really do nothing about it?
Actually, you can. Dogs can go beyond the average lifespan of a German shepherd. Regular exercise, proper diet, constant veterinary care. There are countless remedies. Unfortunately, many dog owners dont know about this. Thats why they dont bother doing something to change their German shepherds lifestyle.
Thats why I created this blog post to inform owners of the German shepherds life expectancy.;Understanding this aspect of their dogs better will give you a sense of urgency. That way, youll become much more eager to prolong your German shepherds life span.
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Neuter Or Spay At The Appropriate Age
According to the HumaneSociety.org, neutering or spaying your dog will increase their life expectancy by a considerate amount. A University of Georgia study of 70,000 animals made some significant findings.
Male dogs;that were neutered had a;13.8% increase;in their life expectancy and;female dogs;had a;26.3% increase;in their life expecancy.
One interesting reason that unaltered dogs have a reduced life expectancy is because they are more likely to seek out other mates. This results in more fights with other dogs leading to infections or injuries. They are also more likely to get hit by a car.
How Much Should A German Shepherd Puppy Eat
So, youve just brought your adorable ball of fur home and now are not quite sure how often to feed him. Learning about and setting up a proper routine for your pups feeding schedule is quite a significant task for both his or her health and training your puppy to learn where and when to expect meal times.
Initially, when your puppy is four to six weeks old, you can start introducing some wet food along with his mothers milk. Make the transition slow and steady. Start with small amounts three to four times per day and continue over a two week period. After that point, your puppy can safely eat wet food alone. When he or she reaches eight weeks, you can start transitioning to dry food. During the transition, be sure to add only ten percent of dry kibble each day, to the existing wet food diet to give your dogs digestive system time to properly adapt to the change.
Number of Meals
Puppies usually require three or maybe more meals per day. So, following the chart on your bag of puppy food, simply divide the daily feeding amount by three , feeding it to him or her throughout each day. An example of a puppys common daily feeding schedule would be 7 am, then noon, and then 5 pm.
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German Shepherd Age In Human Years And Dog Years
One human year equals seven dog years is a popular myth which has been dispelled in recent times. The reason it stays so prevalent is because theres no easy way to calculate a dogs life.;
Dogs age at different speeds throughout their lives.
These popular dogs from Germany are considered adolescent between five to eight months of age. They reach young adulthood at 18 months to a few years of age.;
Look at Big Boy Bane grow from a little puppy to a one year old dog:
The AVMA places a one year old doggy to be about 15 a teenager. When they hit the two year mark, they will be a young adult at 24 to 25 years old.
After that, they should be gaining five years for each additional birthday they pass. Therefore, a ten year old GSD would be akin to a 63 to 70 year old human.;
Below is a simple table to help dog owners easily convert their dogs years into the human equivalent:;
| Human Years | |
| 20 | 115 |
This calculation cannot be applied to all dog breeds, which is why there isnt one universally accepted conversion rate.
Small dogs age slower, and so do mongrels. Its the large breed pedigrees that have the shorter end of the stick.;
If youre set on a German Shepherd, maybe you can check out German Shepherd cross breeds. They often inherit the Alsatians traits while being more long lived.
Is A Sable German Shepherd The Right Dog For You
If you love black and tan German Shepherds, youll also love sable German Shepherds. These dogs make amazing and loyal family pets, and they can even be great nanny dogs for your kids.
However, you need to be aware that these are large and active dogs. They need to learn how to behave around small children and other pets. While they are friendly, some socialization is necessary, especially if you dont intend to keep your sable GSD as a guard dog only.
They are not suitable for people who live in confined apartments and who dont like to spend at least an hour a day walking. They need lots of exercise and mental stimulation in order to behave, and you have to provide this to them.
If you have kids, then another important thing is to teach them how to respect their new family member. Sable German Shepherds are known to love to have some space from time to time.
In the end, the perfect dog breed for you only depends on your preferences and what you can provide for your new pet. If you want a fluffy and loyal family member and you are ready to commit to him, then a sable German Shepherd is an excellent choice.
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How Long Do German Shepherds Live 5 Signs Your Gsd Life Is Ending
Welcoming a German Shepherd into your family can be an exciting decision to make, but it also comes with a couple of important thoughts and expectations. Some of which would be its lifespan, how you can lengthen it, and how you can make the most out of its life.;;
How Long Do German Shepherds Live? German Shepherds reach their seniority once they turn 7 years of age, and while most GSDs live as long as a decade, the average lifespan would range from 9-13 years. Many dog owners would consider this a reasonably long life, but if you wish to cherish more time with your buddy, increasing your awareness of what commonly affects a German Shepherds longevity may help you stretch out its lifespan.
Quiet And Quickly Tired
When a German Shepherd reaches its senior years, youll notice how theyll gradually lose their energy and even show disinterest in toys or walks they used to be so excited about. When your dogs life is nearing the end, youll often find it lying around in quiet places that would exclude itself from other pets or people. It wont also move as much as it would try to limit itself from feeling even more uncomfortably frail than it already is.;
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Origins Of The German Shepherd
German Shepherds were born in the late nineteenth century in Germany.;Its;origin;comes from the crossing of several shepherd dogs, always seeking to maintain the qualities of resistance, intelligence and working capacity of their predecessors.
The captain of the German army at the time named Maximilian von Stephanitz , discovered a lobuno-looking dog called Hektor Linksrhein, who fulfilled;his ideals of strong, noble, and intelligent dog.;He bought it and had its name changed to Horand von Grafrath. This is eventually identified as the first German Shepherd ever to be registered.
From then on, and through careful;selective cross breeding, the German shepherd we know today was created. In addition to its use as a grazing;dog, it began working in cities as a police dog.
During the first World;War, the participation of German Shepherds as patrol dogs led to the mass purchase of them. This is also when German Shepherds started arriving in England. It was called Alsatian, as at the time it did not seem appropriate to use the word German.
In 1971 the English Kennel Club agreed to call it German Shepherd.
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.;
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Size And Work Load Matter
This breed is considered a working type of dog; hence, unlike Pugs or Chihuahuas, they exert more physical effort that would cause their bodies to tire sooner. This explains exactly why a well-cared-for GSD is still likely to live less long compared to smaller dogs. Moreover, some common ailments can be detrimental to a German Shepherds lifespan, and sadly, many of these issues are hereditary and are caused by improper breeding.
How Can Children Say Goodbye To The German Shepherd
The loss of a beloved pet and friend often hits children and young people particularly hard.;Sometimes this farewell is even the very first encounter with the subject of death.;Depending on their age, you should have a child-friendly conversation with your offspring and give an honest answer to all questions.
Avoid white lies like The dog is going on a trip or He ran away.;This only leads to months waiting at the window for the hairy friend to return.
The sentence The dog fell asleep forever can also have a negative effect and the child may be afraid to fall asleep in the evening because it believes it will no longer wake up.
The grief is very great, especially in children, when the dog dies
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How Can We Keep Our Dogs Young
An older dog might seem content just laying around the house, but if your dog is just middle-aged and not actually old, it is very important to keep them moving. If they are allowed to just hang out around the house, theyll probably age faster and definitely will not be as happy or as healthy as they continue to advance in life. Heres what you can do to make sure that your older German Shepherd stays as healthy as possible in his or her golden years.
Meet new friends.
Signs That Your German Shepherds Life Is Ending
It can be difficult for any dog owner to dwell on the thought of losing a beloved friend, but eventually, that day will come, and you need to be prepared. If youve spent plenty of time with your dog, youll easily notice drastic changes with its behavior, yet some signs can be uncertain. So without further ado, we will be discussing 5 of the most prominent signs that your GSDs life is ending. Lets begin.;
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