Who is the oldest GSD you know? - Page 1

My dogs always seem to get something harrowing by the time they are 10...kidney failure or stomach cancer or something. Who has a REALLY old GSD, and how common is extreme old age, such as 14+? 

Well my oldest one was 17 and I currently have two 14 year olds, both still sound and reasonably active.  Most of mine live into their teens.

Margaret N-J

My oldest lived to exactly 14 then died on her own in her sleep.  The others have lived to 11 and 12 - not long enough IMO.  I have a friend with a reasonably healthy 15 year old still plugging along.

molly

My oldest made it to 14 1/2. She was very active until her last 9 months or so.

I lost another one at only 9 years, but she was a rescue, and I believe was chronically malnourished from early puppyhood. She weighed only 35 lbs. when I got her as a full grown adult.

I know one that is 13, losing some physical control but still hanging in there.

I was told by someone that got a pup from me that her pup lived to be seventeen.

I was breeding GSD's with the New Skete bloodline back in 1979-1980's and then years later , to make a long story short, I got in touch with the same breeder that I had started out with and purchased a relative of my dogs from  way back and the girl that was getting a pup from me, said her sister-in-law had a dog that lived to be 17 years old, mind you, this is now 20 years later, she put me on the phone with her, and yes, it was an all black GSD named Whitney, her father named her after a famous singer, and I was like who's that, and the dad said Whitney Houston, I didn't know her at the time, but I sure as heck do now!
  Such nice stories we get to hear........

AMAZiNG. 17 YEARS!!! Thanks for all your stories.

I ask because I'm getting in a 13 year old rescue whose person died. Poor old fella. I don't imagine I'll ever find a home for him, but that's ok. He has to stop somewhere. Isn't he handsome?

Yes, but not with what you'd call grace and speed. Jumping up into the truck isn't going to work, which makes it difficult as that's all I have...we will crate him and lift him crate and all. As soon as life is more painful than fun for him, I will let him go. 

Well, here's my girl at 13, doing a play bow and woof, begging someone to throw the ball for her!  She was a little stiff in one front leg due to an old injury, but stil had lots of spunk!

Bless you for taking this old fellow on!