How long do German Shepherd dogs live? The flippant answer would be Until They Die, which could be at any moment including the moment of birth. However, if we are talking average and maximum lifespan, there are some definite figures available. Let’s have a look at the stats.
So, just how long do German Shepherds live? German Shepherds live on average for 9 – 13 years. The longest recorded lifespan is 18 years, with unconfirmed reports that they can live even longer. According to comments from owners, GSD crosses seem to live longer than purebreds.
The overall average lifespan for GSDs is 10.95 years, which is 10 years, 11 months and 28 days, plus-minus. The range of 9 – 13 years seems to be the most common age at which they finally go.
Birth is Close to Death
Vast improvements in medical assistance during human birth has made us forget what a dangerous and potentially deadly process it is.
Birthing in dogs, even when assisted by a vet, can be deadly.
Stillbirth is when a puppy is born already dead. In a study of German Shepherd Dogs in Norway, the percentage of stillborn puppies was found to be around 5.4%.
Another study involving a breeding kennel belonging to Police of the Czech Republic recorded stillbirth percentages as high as 39.1%.
Besides stillborn puppies, the risk of death during the first week and up to 8 weeks after birth is quite high in dogs. A death rate (perinatal mortality rate) of 17 to 30% has been reported.
Among German Shepherd Dogs, a study in Australia found the highest contributor was the birth of abnormal pups which accounted for 8.5% of perinatal deaths. These were either because the abnormal pup was born dead, or died within a short time after birth, or had to be euthanized.
Are these puppy deaths included when the average lifespan of a GSD is calculated? It is hard to find out, but the answer seems to be no.
How Long do German Shepherds Live Compared to Other Dog Breeds?
How does the lifespan of the GSD compare to other breeds?
In a study in 2014 of 5663 dogs registered with the UK Kennel Club, the researchers could identify 4 categories of lifespans:
- Long-lived with no specific cause of death at a raised proportional mortality (e.g. West Highland White Terrier, Bearded Collie, Gordon Setter).
- Long-lived with at least one cause of death at higher proportional mortality (Labrador [old age, old age combinations and arthritis], Golden Retrievers [old age], Border Collie [seizure]).
- Short-lived with no cause of death at a raised proportional mortality (German Shepherd Dog, Whippet).
- Short-lived with at least one cause of death at higher proportional mortality (Dobermann [cardiomyopathy], Bernese Mountain Dog [lymphoma], Flat-Coated Retriever, Rottweiler and Newfoundland [bone cancer], Cavalier King Charles Spaniel [cardiomyopathy and heart failure]).
This is very interesting reading but what does it mean?
The GSD is in category 3, which the researchers say “may represent a general variation in longevity associated with factors that apply across all dogs, such as body size, but with no obvious disease or disorder as an accentuating driver for death.” (Lewis et al., 2018).
In other words, it looks like a decrease in the lifespan of dogs is associated with an increase in body size, but there is no specific disease or debilitating condition that determines the lifespan of the GSD.
Unlike category 2 and 4 dogs, where you can see in brackets which breeds die on average sooner than the median age for dogs (11 years and 3 months) and the medical conditions associated with it.
What are the Most Common Medical Causes for Death in German Shepherds?
As all dog owners know, dogs can meet an accidental death.
They may be run over in a street or road, ingest poison or other harmful chemicals, get mortally wounded in a fight, and many other incidents. And of course, working dogs, especially military, police, and search and rescue dogs may meet their end in the line of duty in a way that we do not even want to think about. (But here is a heartbreaking record of GSDs who gave their lives to fight in humans’ wars.)
The most common causes of death for German Shepherd Dogs were investigated in a study in 2013. These were the results:
- Musculoskeletal (joint) disorder (16.3%)
- Inability to stand (14.9%)
There are other disorders that did not result in death, but which are of interest. The most common German Shepherd disorders recorded were:
- ear infections (7.89%),
- arthritis/joint disease (5.54%),
- diarrhoea (5.24%),
- overweight/obesity (5.18%)
- aggression (4.76%). Male dogs were more likely than female dogs to have aggression (6.75% versus 2.78%).
It is worth noting that hip dysplasia was included as a separate disorder and did not feature in the top 5 list above.
The reason given in the study was that the presence of osteoarthritis is not necessarily required for a hip dysplasia diagnosis.
How to Extend Your German Shepherd’s Lifespan
A puppy that has made it through birth and the perinatal period is a creature whose further life and development are hugely influenced by its owner.
Let’s ignore for the moment the puppies that are destined to be used as breeding stock or working dogs, and concentrate on those who will become pets.
Remember: “Pet” is just another word for “best friend”. You need to treat him like that.
- It’s obvious that you need to feed your dog the best food possible, and not too much either. Obesity is a killer disease! But what is the best dog food? It should contain at least 22% protein for GSD puppies and at least 18% protein for adults. Other considerations are that carbs should be low and fat must be from healthy sources.
- Food, mouth, teeth. Decayed teeth and mouth ulcers can cause infection in the rest of the body, especially the heart and kidneys. Mouth ulcers often result from something that gets stuck in the teeth so accustomise your dog to allow you to inspect its teeth for foreign objects.
- Regular exercise is vital to the German Shepherd. Not only does it keep him fit it also keeps weight down, promotes good blood circulation, provides mental stimulation (toys are fun), and lots of other things that all add up to Happy, Healthy Hound! A comfortable old age depends very much on how well the dog was exercised during his life. (Tip: try swimming!)
- Get vaccinations and keep it up as recommended by your vet. Different regions of the world have different pathogens that can kill dogs if they are not vaccinated e.g. rabies.
- In the same vein, get to know your dog’s health and when you see something is amiss, act. Do not wait. If you suspect a physical injury, the same. Do not think it will heal all by itself. Internal injuries are difficult to spot. General signs of unwellness should be investigated by your vet. Any bleeding through vomiting, coughing, or from the anal orifice is extremely serious and must be attended to at once.
- Love it lots!
Related Questions
The University of Washington is running the Dog Aging Project in collaboration with the public and their dogs. The aim is to find out everything they possibly can regarding aging in dogs and the factors that affect it. The ultimate aim is to establish if the positive effects on heart health that has already been found when giving dogs rapamycin will result in longer and better lives.
1. W. Lewis, B. M. Wiles, A. M. Llewellyn-Zaidi, K. M. Evans & D. G. O’Neill
(2018) Longevity and mortality in Kennel Club registered dog breeds in the UK in 2014. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology, volume 5, Article number: 10
