GSD Lifespan - Page 1

What is the typical lifespan for a GSD?  Interested only in working lines--no show dogs.  Are working lines typically more healthy and live longer.

Thanks for any info.

sue

I dont know who is healthier than who, that may be a loaded question.   I had a fine gsd still strong at 14 until he was shot by a guy who still has his coming.      All of mine lived to at least 11 years old.

I dont know who would have documented data on life span.  

Ask your vet or maybe a K9 officer. The oldest GSD I ever met was almost 17 (he was pretty stiff but mentally sharp and otherwise very healthy). He was an exceptionally small pet dog that weighed about 45-50 pounds and his owner fed him home cooked rice and chicken.

Our experience has been as follows:

Back yard bred of no particular lines, American Shepherd, 13 years old, died of DM.

A black rescue, said to be of American shopw lines, 13 years old, died of probably intestinal cancer.

Red and black German show x working lines, 13 years old and living.

And I know of several who were 14 or nearly 14 though no longer mobile at that point. We have a GSD-X who is now 14 and acts like a 10 year old dog. IMO, the to-be-expected life span is 12, regardless whether show or working lines.

My Loki's father lived until he was 14 years old and I am hoping Loki follows. 

Mine live between 12 & 15 years.