This is, unfortunately, going to be a short list. Big dogs are notorious for their short lifespans. The average lifespan of a big dog is up to 10 years. That is too little time to spend walking this planet with our furry friends.
However, there are a few large dog breeds that usually have a lifespan longer than 10 years. Of course, we are talking about a lifespan where a dog is a healthy dog, with no injuries, a well-balanced diet, mental and physical exercise, etc.
- Central Asian Shepherd dog (12-15 years)
- Giant schnauzer (12-15 years)
- Tibetan mastiff (12-15 years)
- American Akita (10-15 years)
- Belgian Malinois (10-14 years)
- Anatolian Shepherd (10-13 years)
- Doberman Pinscher (10-13 years)
Why Do Large Dogs Have a Shorter Lifespan?
The latest discovery in the field of science is that big dogs have a trouble ‘keeping up with their defenses”. In other words, their bodies grow so fast that the cells don’t have the time to get rid off all the bad products (free radicals).
These free radicals eventually lead to a cell damage. And, because just like ours, a dog’s body is made up of cells, if they go ‘bad’ the whole organism – life, is in trouble.
There is another theory, but it goes under ‘hazardous occupation’ that big dogs often have. For example, a Great Pyrenees working on a farm protecting livestock against wild animals will have a higher chance of developing an injury that can lead to premature death.
On the other hand, a Maltese won’t have these troubles. They can get injured, of course, but the probabilities are not as high as in full-on working dogs.
So, bottom line, big dogs have more free radical which lead to cell damage, which often leads to cell mutation – cancer.
Large dog breeds, including guard dogs we mentioned, are prone to malignant mutations which can develop rapidly (over a few months) and quite early in their lives.
How to Help Your Guard Dog Live Longer
We can help them by giving them a happy, fulfilled and safe life. Of course, if you own a guarding or a working dog, they are susceptible to all kinds of injuries.
However, we can minimize these possibilities by making a healthy and safe work environment as much as possible (fences, having more than one dog, alarm systems, etc.) and of course, by taking them to regular vet checks, not just when they get sick.
Proper diet with high-quality food is a must. Big dogs have special nutritional needs, especially if they are working dogs. They’ll need food rich in proteins and low in carbohydrates.
Grooming and declawing is also very important in preventing injuries, thus helping our dog live a longer life. Cleaning skin folds for dogs with lots of wrinkles (e.g. Neapolitan Mastiff), checking ears for foreign objects, etc.
Annual vaccines, applying deworming products and other products against inner and outer parasites. All of these things help a dog live a longer and happier life.
A Thing To Remember
The last, but not the least important is showing affection to your dog, playing with him, taking him on a walk, or simply spending time with your four-legged friend is as equally important as the shots they need.
Guard dogs are often very smart dogs with a lot of energy. We need to give them exercise and mental stimulation daily! We can’t just leave a German Shepherd alone all day long for days or weeks.
Not just GSD, any dog, whatever the size or job they do is. It’s unacceptable. Dogs are a part of our family, and we need to take care of them.
Love and a sense of security goes both ways. They protect us and are loyal to us, but we need to give the same thing to them.
