Planning to make a dog, any reasonable person will surely ask the average life expectancy of four-legged friends. Unfortunately, the dog life is pretty short, but every caring and loving owner is able to influence its duration. In the article, we consider how many years do dogs live, from which factors the duration of their life depends, as well as how to extend the life of the animal.
Life expectancy of different breeds
It is known that the lifespan in mammals has a close relationship with body sizes and brain sizes. The larger the brain and solidly the complex, the longer life is measured by the body. For example, elephants live about 70 years (there are cases when these animals have lived to 80 years or more). Paradoxically, but in the case of dogs, this condition does not work. Practice shows that dogs of large breeds live much less than their smaller fellow. In some cases, this difference is twice.
According to experts, a significant difference between the duration of the lives of dogs of large and small rocks is due to the increased loyalty of the Constitution of the first, which has become a concomitant, practically a "side" effect in the process of selection.
An indicative example of the foregoing is the life expectancy of representatives of one of the largest breeds of dogs - German dogs. They live significantly less than their fellow breeds. According to observations, on average, the life expectancy of the German Dog ranges from 6.5 to 8 years. For comparison, Pomeranian Spitz, Shi-Tzu, Chihuahua, Toy Poodle, Yorkshire Terrier and Jack Russell, are considered to be the most long-livery rocks.
Representatives of the pet family, whose life expectancy is extremely small - it is predominantly giant dogs: Irish Wolfhound, Danish Brocholmer, English Mastiff, Tibetan Mastiff, Senbernar, Spanish and Pyrenean Mastiff, Newfoundland. In most cases, their short life is explained by genetic predisposition to severe diseases and pathologies. Among such diseases and violations are most often noted by such as:
- Dysplasia joints (most often hip);
- obesity;
- Endocrine disorders (hypothyroidism);
- cardiovascular diseases;
- diseases of the gastrointestinal tract;
- volvulus;
- Ophthalmic diseases leading to blindness;
- Oncological processes and malignant neoplasms.
Table: Comparative duration of life expectancy of different breeds
Breed name | average life expectancy |
German dog | 7 years |
Danish Brocholmer | 10-12 years old |
English mastiff | 6-10 years old |
Tibetan mastiff | 10 years |
Neapolitan Mastiff (Mastino-Neapolitano) | 8-10 years old |
Caucasian Shepherd Dog | 10 years |
English bulldog | 6 years |
Rottweiler | 8-10 years old |
Moscow Watchman | 10 years |
Cane Corso | 10 years |
Pomeranian spitz | 16-18 years old |
Shih Tzu. | 16-18 years old |
Yorkshire Terrier | up to 20 years old |
Jack Russell Terrier | up to 20 years old |
Higher life expectancy of yard dogs is largely due to the harsh conditions of the existence of street populations of animals. Speaking with simple words, during the time that the package exists in its natural habitat (in particular, on the street or in the wild), there is a gradual survey of patients and weak individuals. Due to such natural selection, the most healthy, viable representatives that are able to leave after themselves as strong and endless offspring remain. Besides, the life expectancy of the dog largely depends not from its breed, but from its affiliation to purebred collections, in general . It is known that noone-free dogs live much longer than their thoroughbred relatives. This feature is due to the fact that in the process of removing a certain breed, breeders and zoologists use closely related types of animals, which further determines their genetic defects, predisposition to those or other diseases.
However, I. Men's dogs often detected genetic diseases and violations, which are also explained by the bloodary mixing of blood . It is noteworthy that genetic mutations among migratory animals can negatively affect both their health and psyche.
Nevertheless, veterinary studies show that noone-free dogs are less likely to suffer from genetic and acquired diseases. They have a stronger immunity, endurance and adaptability to life in a wild environment. Moreover, it was established that, living at home, the mounds of less thoroughbred relatives need care, lighter and with the smallest damage to themselves suffer diseases and injuries.
Mongrel dogs most often hold on the chains, which is categorically contraindicated for purebred animals. Natural adaptability to the complex conditions of existence is one of the indisputable advantages of the mongrel.
What factors affect the length of existence?
The life expectancy of any dog (both thoroughbred and docking) depends on a number of numerous factors. The most significant of them are such as:
- heredity;
- Lifestyle;
- conditions of detention;
- power and menu mode;
- Stress factors and stability of the psyche;
- Features of education;
- The frequency of labor (for the bitches).
Heredity
The hereditary factor is one of the most significant life expectancy of any animal. Regardless of whether the dog is pioneering or moon, a tremendous value in the duration of its life has a genetic predisposition to one or another diseases caused by heredity.
In most thoroughbred (and most often large) dogs, serious problems with the musculoskeletal system, cardiovascular, respiratory and endocrine systems are usually identified. Clear animals have the effect of this factor cannot be determined with maximum accuracy.
Lifestyle
The life expectancy of the animal largely depends on his lifestyle. Moreover, it must correspond not only to temperament, but also the physiological features of the dog. So, forcibly forcing the phlegmatic and heavy German dog to regularly transfer exorbitant and long-term physical exertion, one can provoke a sharpness of severe diseases from a dog or to create a risk of developing irreversible problems with joints.
but Containing in the home conditions of mobile and active dogs, it is impossible not to devote to their full physical unloading. Likes, Shepherds, Large Spites - All these breeds need regular energy spending, which they have to spend on walks or in games with other animals. Limiting the mobility of such dogs, the owner can provoke them to develop obesity and, as a result, the emergence of problems with joints, heart and vessels, as well as metabolism.
Conditions of detention
To a large extent, the life expectancy of the dog depends on the conditions of its content. So, it is known that the animals contained on the street (on the chains, without insulated booth) live significantly less than their fellow residents living in a warm house or apartment. A dog living on the street (on a chain or free walking) is more at risk not only the development of dangerous diseases, but also the likelihood of injury and damage.
Large animals contained in the conditions of the urban apartment deserve special attention. The dog in need of movement and free space will constantly experience strong discomfort.
If such an animal does not have the opportunity to regularly spend accumulating energy, it can extremely negatively affect not only his physical health, but also on the psyche.
Power and menu mode
A big mistake makes the owners, nursing their dog residues from the home table. But also at risk the health of the animal and those who often and mindlessly induce their pets are prohibited by "goodies" - sweets and delicacies that can cause allergies.
Power Mode Violations and an incorrectly composed animal menu - frequent and fairly popular reasons for reducing the length of its life. We should not forget that the dog is in nature is a predator. In a natural habitat, the main component of the diet of all predators is meat - the basic source of proteins and essential amino acids. However, to build a diet of a home dog on alone sources of animal protein can not be. The menu must also contain carbohydrates providing a dog with energy, and fats that play a large role in the normal functioning of internal organs and animal organism systems.
When planning a diet, a home dog is extremely important to take into account the balance between sources of proteins, carbohydrates and fats. Here it is necessary to take into account the temperament of the animal, its lifestyle, the average consumption of its energy during the day.
For example, overproing the phlegmatic and moderately mobile dog, the owner risks to get a sick pet, suffering from obesity and otherwise arising from here chronic diseases.
Stress factors and stability of the psyche
Just like all people, dogs are vulnerable before stressful factors. Moreover, the size of the animal and its breed here does not matter. However, much in this regard depends on the resistance of the dog psyche.
It has long been noticed that Dogs are able to sharpen separation with the owner, wander, suffer and even fall into depression NS. Pets, conductive a significant amount of time with the same person, are most susceptible to the greatest extent.
The most unstable psyche, as observations show, have dogs of small breeds - Chihuahua, Toyerier, Pinchers. The strongest psyche, in turn, is peculiar to dogs phlegmatic and calm. As a rule, these are representatives of large breeds - German shepherds, Rottweilelers, Senbernara, Dogs.
It is believed that the increased excitability and mental instability of the animal adversely affect the duration of his life. Very often, such features entail the development of cardiovascular and nerve diseases, significantly shortening the life of the animal.
Features of education
This factor is directly related to the safety of the animal during walks or free walking. With insufficient upbringing, the dog easily neglects the teams of the owner, sometimes defiantly does not obey him. In such representatives of the Pdovy family, the chances of death are very high, for example, under the wheels of the car or during a collision with stronger conidors.
In order to avoid such situations, it is necessary to pay sufficient attention to the upbringing of its pet, regardless of its size, abilities, nature and breed.
Frequency of childbirth
Professional breeders engaged in breeding thoroughbred dogs argue that the frequency of labor in many respects determines the life expectancy of bitch. Often the unscrupulous owners of thoroughbred animals, seeking to earn as much as possible at the offspring of their pets, abuse frequent and sometimes unnecessary mating. Considering that every pregnancy is a strong stress for the body, you can seriously say that frequent offspring of offspring and subsequent childbirth lead to a reduction in bitch's life.
It should be noted that too frequent mating are reflected adversely on the health of males. Predicular dogs, subjected to unnecessarily frequent mating, begin to lose force, weakens and root. The organism of such animals wear out and age earlier. And besides, such dogs with each new and unwanted viscous give less and less qualitative and viable offspring.
How to extend life with an animal?
Based on a number of factors listed above, you can withdraw the list of conditions that allow to extend the life of the dog. It depends on such aspects as:
- the right diet;
- adequate conditions of detention;
- regular and satisfying physical exertion;
- regular intelligent training and dressings;
- Exception and neutralization of stress factors;
- The elimination of factors capable of becoming the cause of dangerous situations;
- Correct frequency of mating.
In addition, competent and regular care, non-residential control over the animal and timely provision of professional veterinary care has great importance in the duration of life expectancy of the dog. To ensure the fulfillment of all these conditions is capable only truly caring owner.
With proper master's attention, any dog is able to live a maximum of the period that is allocated by nature.
About how many years do dogs live, see the next video.