To the question of how many dogs live, one cannot give an unambiguous answer, because it depends on many factors. Among them, of course, are the living conditions of the dog, its pedigree data and genetics, that is, its predisposition to certain diseases.
Let us dwell on each of these points in more detail.
What is the life expectancy of dogs?
Unfortunately, the age of the four-legged friend is not comparable with the age of its owner. Nature did not reward the loyal companions of humans with the longevity of parrots and turtles (after all, it is known that some species of parrots live up to 70, and turtles even up to 200 years).
The absolute, officially registered record of longevity among dogs was recorded. It belongs to Maggie, the representative of the Australian shepherd breed Kelpie. She happily lived on a farm in Victoria for as long as 30 years. Another, now still living, "old woman", also an Australian named Bluey, has more than 29. In terms of human age, this is 200 years, no less!
But such numbers are rare. On average, the age of dogs who have lived to advanced years is 12-14 years.
Age comparison
For some reason, it is generally accepted that 1 year of the dog’s life is 7 human. In fact, this is not true - because a one-year-old bitch, unlike a seven-year-old child, can already bring offspring.
How many dogs live on average compared to humans? Dog childhood quickly passes, and adolescence ends when the animal passes the first year and a half. This conclusion was made by an American scientist in the field of cynology B. Foster. According to his research, the age gradation of a dog changes over time: for example, a two-year-old dog is already 24 years old by human standards, a four-year-old dog is 36 years old, a six-year-old dog is 42, a 7-year-old dog is 49 years old, etc. A ten-year-old dog comparable to an older person 65 years old, and 13-year-old - with an eighty-year-old man. Accordingly, if your four-legged pet has lived for 14-15 years, then it can safely be considered a long-liver.
Food
This is one of the most important factors in how many dogs live at home. A complete diet should cover your friend’s body needs not only for the intake of proteins, fats and carbohydrates, but also for minerals and vitamins.
At the same time, many dog breeders know that it is harmful to overfeed a dog living at home - this leads to obesity and various ailments associated with this condition.
Most diseases can be avoided if the animal is properly fed. For example, there is a special line of food for sterilized and neutered dogs - after all, they are less active and more prone to a quiet pastime (by the way, there is a reasonable opinion that dogs subjected to sterilization live longer and get less sick). If the owner, for example, constantly feeds her bitch, as soon as she has brought offspring, then, most likely, she is facing obesity.
Some breeds are particularly prone to overeating, although many of them are inactive by nature and prefer sleep to games. Therefore, how many years a domestic dog lives, say, a pug, largely depends on its owner.
If a pet has a disease or a predisposition to an ailment, a competent dog breeder today in most cases can minimize the risk of its development. Special dry food, canned food or natural nutrition, prepared in accordance with the recommendations of the veterinarian, proper care - all this should contribute to the proper development of the body and the good health of the four-legged friend.
If the dog lives on the street
Lifestyle - and this point is also important to consider when answering the question: how many dogs live. Some people think that the dog that lives outside the house is not as tender as the apartment: her immunity is stronger, she is less susceptible to disease and more adapted to survival. In fact, this is not the case.
Feral dogs, unlike indoor dogs, are deprived of proper nutrition, their body is weakened, often there is a lack of weight and digestive problems due to poor-quality food - after all, they are forced to get their own food by rummaging in garbage containers and roaming through landfills.
In addition, in the absence of shelter, street dogs are often cold, constantly at risk from the outside, and often come in contact with sick animals. Finally, aiming only to survive, they experience constant stress.
How old are the curs?
It is not true that outbred dogs live longer. All of them are very different on the exterior. Depending on the blood that prevails in different individuals, they can be small or large.
There are even statistics according to which the "nobles" serve their masters longer. But this only confirms the fact that it is becoming increasingly difficult to meet an absolutely healthy animal among representatives of noble blood.
As for the fate of wild dogs living on the street, it rarely develops safely. It is difficult to say for sure how many mongrel dogs live in such conditions - most of them, having caught some kind of canine disease, do not live to a respectable age.
If your pet is at home
For an animal, especially a young one, living in a house or apartment, physical activity is important. And if you have a house with a plot where the dog can run freely, then this problem is solved. And for those who have a dog living in the apartment, they can only walk it regularly, trying to ensure that these walks are sufficient in duration.
Of course, there are several breeds of dogs whose walks can be minimized. Enough and half an hour a day. They easily adapt to life in a city apartment and, from a puppy's age, are accustomed to relieve themselves on a diaper or in a tray. There is enough space even in small rooms. In addition, it is believed that communication with the owner and games with him properly develop them intellectually and compensate for information hunger.
These are the majority of decorative miniature breeds. They were bred as home companions and for the most part traveled at the hands of their masters. Among them, for example, the so-called "pocket" - Chihuahua, Shih Tzu, Japanese Chin, Pomeranian, Japanese Crested. Apparently, therefore, today these breeds are so popular among urban residents.
True, the above does not apply to very small, but naturally active dogs - dachshunds and terriers. We must not forget that these are still dogs bred for hunting, and in order to develop, they need to move more.
A long walk and more free space for it require animals created once for security, hunting, shepherd or riding work. The need for movement in such dogs is inherently laid. For walks, for example, an Alaskan Malamute, a collie or a German shepherd, a close public garden in the yard will not be enough.
It is necessary to walk such a dog for at least two hours, dividing them into at least a couple of exits (with an interval between them of at least 12 hours). Training and classes on a special site will also be useless.
Finally, it is advisable to find out the history and "program" of the kennel in which the puppy was acquired. Some of them, which are not originally decorative, are bred specifically for this purpose, as well as as companions. Labradors, collies, shepherd dogs ... The functions originally laid down in them sometimes did not develop, which means that they will be more tolerant of the impossibilities of long walks.
Thus, how many years dogs live at home depends on the conditions of their maintenance. But there are other factors.
Size matters
Any dog handler will confirm that representatives of large breeds have a shorter life span than small ones. Dogs such as shepherds and labradors will live 10–13 years. And the "kids" like Yorkshire terriers, dachshunds, French Bichon Frize or Chihuahua can reach up to 20. Among the latter, there are especially many centenarians.
Boxers, like most representatives of Molossian breeds, do not live very long - 8-10 years. And then, provided that the owner pays attention to the physical shape of his pet and regularly walks it. In general, strong and strong in their youth, molosses (English Bulldog, Great Dane, Irish Wolfhound) usually live for no more than 10 years.
However, there are exceptions to this rule. Dogs of a breed such as Husky, often have decent physical characteristics and at 12 years old. Surprisingly, some representatives of this breed group can live up to 20-22 years.
Genetics. Large breeds
As a result of breeding, most of the thoroughbred dogs had their own “weaknesses” - predisposition to certain diseases and “problem” organs, for which additional monitoring was necessary. Hence the answer to the question: how many years have the breed dogs lived ... - is complicated by many “ifs”.
Representatives of massive breeds (such as German and Bordeaux mastiffs, Sennenhund, Rottweiler, Newfoundland, etc.) have a tendency to malformations of the heart muscle, hip dysplasia and arthritis, inversion of the intestines, dermatitis and bloating. In the first place in frequency - problems with the joints. To determine the tendency of the dog to this kind of lesions, it is advisable to take x-rays of large joints until the animals reach the age of one and a half months.
Medium Breeds
The same goes for the average height of dogs, energetic and motile. We are talking about Labradors and Retrivers, Cane Corso, German Shepherds. They, in addition, are characterized by problems with the organs of vision (retinal atrophy and cataract), obesity. Thyroid dysfunctions are not uncommon with age.
In Spitz, poodles, Pinschers, and occasionally even in shepherd dogs, obstruction of the Botall duct is found. The disease is determined in a puppy by the presence of noise in the heart. It is treated only surgically. Unfortunately, without surgery, the prognosis becomes unfavorable.
Basset hounds, dachshunds, pugs, French bulldogs and some other dog breeds sometimes suffer from intervertebral disc pathologies. And short-haired - boxers, bulldogs, the same pugs - may experience breathing problems. Many people know that dogs with such structural features of the muzzle are characterized by snoring in sleep or sniffing during active movement, which in itself cannot be a manifestation of the disease. But if breathing is accompanied by a gurgling in the throat - the owner of the animal has reason to beware.
Dwarf breeds
Very small dogs (chihuahua, toy terrier, Pekingese, Italian greyhound, etc.) already at an early age often have problems with changing milk teeth, which by the age of 7 months leads to the formation of an incorrect bite and the development of narrow jaws. As a result, digestive problems are possible.
The desire of the breeders to bring out the smallest puppies possible, picking up the producers that have not developed properly, leads to the appearance of anomalies in the bone development in the offspring - a thin and fragile skeleton will make any jumps exceeding the height of the dog traumatic.
Complicated neurological problems include hydrocephalus - an increase in head volume compared with the rest of the body.
Chihuahuas often have such a painful condition as an unhealed fontanel. This flaw can make even a minor head injury fatal.
Finally, atrophy of internal organs occurs, leading to renal failure and cardiovascular failure. It happens that babies suffer from underdevelopment of the muscle corset, especially in the peritoneum - and this is fraught with the appearance of umbilical hernias.
Conclusion
It is not worth thinking, of course, that any puppy will necessarily be a carrier of a predisposition to any disease. Not at all necessary. Competent breeders value their reputation and understand that the task of identifying any genetic anomalies lies on their shoulders. Veterinary tests, manufacturer surveys and prohibitions on closely related relationships are mandatory, not to mention the mandatory use of trustworthy feeds and proper maintenance. Only in this case will failure be minimized.
But the owners themselves should not forget that it depends on them how many years their dogs live at home. Proper care, preventive examinations by the veterinarian and vaccinations according to the plan, high-quality food, sufficient walking and a stress-free atmosphere in the house (yes, this is also important) - and your pet will delight you with devoted friendship and excellent health for many years to come.
Above we talked about how many years dogs live.