Size versus Longevity

shilohsmom · 06-20-2011, 06:39 PM

Often I see posts about the size of a dog and owners that hope their dog will grow up to be a huge dog. I feel bad when I see such posts as I'm reminded that the larger the dog the shorter the expected lifespan is. My youngest is HUGE. I never wanted huge, I never fed puppy food or looked for oversized parents, but you get what you get in this world. Eli weighs in at 140lbs and he is pure German Shepherd Dog. I realize that with his size not only will there be likely more health problems, but his life span will likely be so much shorter than that of my other two. So my question for you is as follows (see poll)

Lilie · 06-20-2011, 06:43 PM

I wouldn't care if my GSD had 2 heads if it increased his chances of living a long and healthy life.

Unless, of course I had to feed both heads.

shilohsmom · 06-20-2011, 06:47 PM

Ok, my poll is on top of my post but thats ok, I'm sure everyone will get it . I'm with you Lilie.

Freestep · 06-20-2011, 06:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shilohsmom

Eli weighs in at 140lbs and he is pure German Shepherd Dog.

Likely he is overweight as well as being just plain BIG.

Quote:

Would you rather have a standard sized GSD that weighed between 75-85 lbs that lived 11-12 years?

or

Would you rather have a supersized GSD that weighed 125-140 but only lived 8 years?

I don't know why anyone would want a 140 lb GSD that only lived 8 years. That is about twice the standard in terms of size. Where did you get your dog?

I have an Akbash dog that is a lean 130 lb., but they don't make Livestock Guardian Dogs much smaller than that, and it's what I needed to guard my poultry and goats. If there was a smaller size LGD, I'd have gotten one. He's six years old and going strong, but I am not sure how long he will live.

shilohsmom · 06-20-2011, 06:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Freestep

Likely he is overweight as well as being just plain BIG.

I don't know why anyone would want a 140 lb GSD that only lived 8 years. That is about twice the standard in terms of size. Where did you get your dog?

I have an Akbash dog that is a lean 130 lb., but they don't make Livestock Guardian Dogs much smaller than that, and it's what I needed to guard my poultry and goats. If there was a smaller size LGD, I'd have gotten one. He's six years old and going strong, but I am not sure how long he will live.

I got my dog from a good breeder that I happen to get my other two from and he is not overweight. I know all about the standards I'm talking oversized dogs that are huge. Not fat, huge.

jdh520 · 06-20-2011, 06:55 PM

Mine is about 125 too and not overweight. I have plenty of pictures up to see and I got him from Rolling H Farms. I've always heard the white shepherds are bigger though.

Freestep · 06-20-2011, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shilohsmom

I got my dog from a good breeder that I happen to get my other two from and he is not overweight. I know all about the standards I'm talking oversized dogs that are huge. Not fat, huge.

Can we see a picture of your boy? And has your breeder produced huge dogs before? I know there is a line called "King Shepherds" that are supposed to be huge.

shilohsmom · 06-20-2011, 07:07 PM

My youngest is pictured by my name with my other two, he's the black one. Unfortunately, its really hard to tell size by a picture. I'm familiar with King Shepherds as well as Shiloh Shepherds, but I have his pedigree and its German/Czechoslovakian. Again, I know my breeder, I know what she produces.

codmaster · 06-20-2011, 07:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shilohsmom

I got my dog from a good breeder that I happen to get my other two from and he is not overweight. I know all about the standards I'm talking oversized dogs that are huge. Not fat, huge.

If they are breeding 140lb GSD's, they don't sound like a "good breeder" to me! Unless yours was a complete aberation in their lines (unlikely but possible, I suppose).

**JakodaCD OA** · 06-20-2011, 07:51 PM

Only one of my dogs was "HUGE", that would have been Kodi he was 32" at the shoulders and weighed in at 125lbs and was not fat,,I kept him lean..a "mutant" we called him.. He lived until 9 , developed spondylosis and passed away from the fusing that cracked

All my other gsd's have lived to ripe old ages of 13-14 years old..

View Poll Results: Would you rather have-
A standard sized GSD that weighed 75-85 lbs and lived 11-12 years?	63	96.92%
A huge sized GSD that weighed 125-140lbs but only lived 8 years?	2	3.08%
Voters: 65. You may not vote on this poll

06-20-2011, 06:39 PM	#1 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	Size versus Longevity Often I see posts about the size of a dog and owners that hope their dog will grow up to be a huge dog. I feel bad when I see such posts as I'm reminded that the larger the dog the shorter the expected lifespan is. My youngest is HUGE. I never wanted huge, I never fed puppy food or looked for oversized parents, but you get what you get in this world. Eli weighs in at 140lbs and he is pure German Shepherd Dog. I realize that with his size not only will there be likely more health problems, but his life span will likely be so much shorter than that of my other two. So my question for you is as follows (see poll) __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived! Last edited by shilohsmom; 06-20-2011 at 06:41 PM.

06-20-2011, 06:43 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lilie Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: South Texas Posts: 6,290	I wouldn't care if my GSD had 2 heads if it increased his chances of living a long and healthy life. Unless, of course I had to feed both heads. __________________ Hondo Von Dopplet L Bauernhof "Hondo"- GSD Lilie's Tug McGraw "Tug" - Golden Retriever Maggie - Mini Dachshund (Rescue) Lonestar - Texas Blue Lacy Funyon, Ashe, Soot - Barn Cats Scooter /1/2 Arabian, Shadow, Katie / APHA

06-20-2011, 06:47 PM	#3 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	Ok, my poll is on top of my post but thats ok, I'm sure everyone will get it . I'm with you Lilie. __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived!

06-20-2011, 07:07 PM	#8 (permalink)
shilohsmom Crowned Member Join Date: Jul 2003 Location: Northern California Posts: 6,653	My youngest is pictured by my name with my other two, he's the black one. Unfortunately, its really hard to tell size by a picture. I'm familiar with King Shepherds as well as Shiloh Shepherds, but I have his pedigree and its German/Czechoslovakian. Again, I know my breeder, I know what she produces. __________________ Rosa Mom to; Shiloh, 8.5 year old LCGSD Shoshona, 7.5 year old LCGSD Eli, 5 year old LCGSD Every dog deserves to have a human that thinks they are the greatest dog that ever lived!

06-20-2011, 06:55 PM	#6 (permalink)
jdh520 Member Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Mississippi Posts: 166	Mine is about 125 too and not overweight. I have plenty of pictures up to see and I got him from Rolling H Farms. I've always heard the white shepherds are bigger though.

06-20-2011, 07:51 PM	#10 (permalink)
JakodaCD OA Moderator Join Date: May 2000 Location: Old Lyme, CT USA Posts: 14,237	Only one of my dogs was "HUGE", that would have been Kodi he was 32" at the shoulders and weighed in at 125lbs and was not fat,,I kept him lean..a "mutant" we called him.. He lived until 9 , developed spondylosis and passed away from the fusing that cracked All my other gsd's have lived to ripe old ages of 13-14 years old.. __________________ Diane Danger Danger vom Kleinen Hain aka Masi "Angel" Jakoda's Bewitchen Sami CD OA OAJ OAC NGC OJC RS-O GS-N JS-O TT HIC CGC "Angel" Steinwald's Four x Four CGC HIC TT Harmonyhill's Hy Jynx NA NAJ NAC NJC RS-N JS-N HIC Jakoda's Jagged Edge

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