The oldest GSD? - Page 1

I recently had to let my old girl go, at the age of 16 years and 8 months old.  She was ancient!   Her organs were still healthy, and aside from some arthritis in her knees from blowing out both knees (at 11 years and 13 years old) she was in great shape.  In the last few months she had a hard time getting up on her own, but once I helped her up, she would practically run for her dinner.  It was in the last week or so, that she really had trouble staying on her feet once I helped her up.  That is when I decided her time was up.  It was fair to her anymore.

I am very curious about any documented cases of a GSD older than this.  Any one?

By the way, my girl's name was Rhena v.h. Antverpa, daughter of Jago Lindenhalle and Njenta v.h. Antverpa.  She had her BH when I got her but we got all the rest of her titles together (2X high in trial).  She was an amazing girl and I feel grateful that I got to spend so many years with her.

My next door neighbour a few years ago who had a GSD that lived to the ripe old age of 18. The dog ate a home cooked meal which was an ongoing stew type deal in their crock pot. The gentleman complained that his wife cooked more for their dog then him. LOL

Melissa

The oldest one I ever had was  14 years 2 months when we put him down.

In Oregon, years ago, I met a gentleman who *swore* that his purebred GSD lived to be 22. Not sure about the truth of, but it was impressive.

Campaigner's Gunsmoke, one of the more important GSD studs in the Shiloh Shepherd lineage, lived to be 17 years old. He was a national select champion, too!

j.c., funny you should mention that...

It's my personal belief that the lifespan of the German showlines has been shortened by too much inbreeding on the same lines. When I got my first GSD in the '70s, the consensus was the average lifespan was 10 to 13 years. Now I hear people saying they consider any years past 10 to be 'a gift'!

Heck, the average lifespan for giant breeds like the Irish Wolfhound is 9 years. What the heck has happened??? 

Some people will tell me I'm full of crap, but any geneticist will tell you a sure sign of inbreeding depression is weak, sickly offspring and a shortened lifespan.

My first GSD (working lines) only made it to 11. But considering he had fairly severe HD I was blessed to have those years with him. My second GSD was Am showlines and had to be put down at 11 years also due to cancer.

So now Murphy (working lines) is 10 and a half and will be lucky to make it to 11. He blew out both his kness at a young age and is now having difficulty getting up. The vet also thinks he may have degenerative spine disease. It's a day to day thing with him right now.

So to have have a GSD live to even 16 years is hard for me to imagine.

My oldest was jake he was 12 when we had to put him down due to cancer. When I was young and very stupid i got him from a pet store. He was a vey handsome red/black. Very healthy. i lucked out with him,did not know that there were even puppymills around. I was 18 when i bought him. Still miss him he was the best :(