What is the Lifespan of a Livestock Guardian Dog?
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One of the hardest things about getting a new dog is knowing you are going to lose her someday. Unfortunately, because livestock guardian dogs are large or giant breeds, their lifespans tend to be shorter than many other breeds.
What is the lifespan of a livestock guardian dog? A well-cared for livestock guardian dog will typically live for ~10-12 years. Some individuals may live as long as 16-17 years. Many will remain active for most or all of this time.
Thankfully, by providing excellent care to your dog throughout her life, you can keep her healthy for as long as possible. Read on to see how to extend your dog’s life to its maximum, while ensuring she has the best quality of life up until her last breath.
What Is the Range of Lifespans for Different Breeds of Livestock Guardian Dogs?
The lifespan of different breeds of livestock guardian dogs (LGDs) will depend upon a few different factors: the quality of the dog’s genetics (think genetic dispositions to certain health conditions), the quality of care provided to the dog, and the environment the dog is living in (the harsher the climate is and the harder you work the dog, the shorter the lifespan of the dog).
The chart below shows the average lifespans for the most well-known LGDs:
| LGD Breed | Lifespan (Years) |
|---|---|
| Akbash | 10-12 |
| Anatolian Shepherd | 10-13 |
| Armenian Gampr | 10-12 |
| Bucovina Shepherd | 12-14 |
| Carpathian Shepherd | 12-14 |
| Central Asian Shepherd | 12-15 |
| Estrela Mountain Dog | 12-16 |
| Great Pyrenees | 10-12 |
| Greek Sheepdog | ~10 |
| Kangal | 12-15 |
| Karakachan | 12-14 |
| Karst Shepherd | 11-12 |
| Komondor | 10-12 |
| Kuvasz | 9-12 |
| Maremma | ~12 |
| Mioritic Shepherd | 12-14 |
| Polish Tatra Sheepdog | 10-12 |
| Portuguese Watchdog | 10-12 |
| Sage Koochee (Kuchi Dog) | ~12 |
| Sarplaninac | 11-13 |
| Slovak Cuvac | 11-13 |
| Spanish Mastiff | ~10 |
| Tornjak | 12-14 |
I gathered the above data from reputable books and internet sites, but I have no idea where all these sources got their own data. It could be that the lifespans listed above were measured in different ways for different breeds and so the numbers can’t be directly compared.
Regardless, the numbers above don’t vary widely, so I think it’s safe to assume that LGD breed doesn’t play much of a role in length of life. Unfortunately, there is no breed you can get and expect to live significantly longer than another.
And of course, many individual dogs may live longer lives. Some Central Asian Shepherds may live as long as 17 years and, according to LGD breeder, Brenda Negri, in this video on YouTube, Spanish Mastiffs may live as long as 16 years (for more on Central Asian Shepherds and Spanish Mastiffs, see my articles here and here, respectively).
What Is the Age of Peak Performance During a Livestock Guardian Dog Lifespan?
Biologist Carla Cruz said in this article that shepherds in the Portuguese mountains told her of their livestock guardian dogs:
“The dog is 3 years a puppy, 3 years a dog, and 3 years a glutton.”
The shepherds mean the dogs mature and train for about 3 years, then make good guardians for about 3 years, and then they retire. However, livestock guardian dogs working in the Portuguese mountains tend to live their whole lives in very harsh conditions and often on marginal diets. Gentler lifestyles will be gentler on your dog’s health.
LGDs who are between the ages of three and six are thought to be “experienced” and, if trained well, will perform at very consistent and high levels as guardians. This will be the time when your LGDs have the best physical abilities to guard their territory. They will be mature enough and have the temperament to do so.
After about age seven, you’ll likely begin to see your LGDs slow down and begin to show their age. This doesn’t necessarily mean they need to be retired, it just means they may need extra care and you should already be in the process of training new pups to replace the aging LGDs.
Again, this is all dependent upon the individual animals, their environment (harsher climates cause dogs to age more quickly), and the quality of care provided to the dog.
Performance can also depend on the number of LGDs on a particular homestead. If there are five LGDs guarding a small property together, for example, the older dogs will be able to perform at a higher level for an extended time frame as they have much more assistance and back up.
If your LGD is working alone or in a pair, you may see a drop in performance at an earlier age as she has likely had to work harder throughout her life. Therefore, the wear and tear on her body may happen at a faster rate.
How Can You Prolong the Lifespan of Your Livestock Guardian Dog?
One of the biggest concerns for LGDs is diet. Although they are working dogs, a lot of times they are overweight due to over consumption of food and the tendency of some breeds to be fairly low-exercise dogs. Just like in humans, extra weight can shorten the lifespan and bring about many different health problems (cancer, arthritis, and joint strain).
Make sure to feed your dogs an appropriate amount based on their breed, age, weight, and activity levels throughout their lifespans. This may change over time, so make sure to reevaluate periodically.
Environment also comes into play when deciding how to care for your LGDs. If your dogs are working in conditions where it gets exceptionally cold, you may want to consider building a warmer shelter for the dogs as this will protect them from harsh weather conditions. This will allow them to continue to do their jobs, but will provide them some relief when “the going gets tough.”
To prolong the lifespan and energy level of your LGDs, bring in new puppies when your LGDs are in their prime (ideally between age three to five). This will give you time to train the puppies to be effective replacements.
If you take this approach, the older LGDs will be able to help teach younger puppies the ropes while they still have the energy to do so and will provide a much smoother transition for all involved. By doing this, you will also take pressure off of your older LGDs and they may actually be able to work longer.
Additionally, routine care such as tick removal, nail trimming, grooming, and dental care are very important in keeping your dogs in tip top shape and prolonging their lifespans.
How to Care for Your Elderly Livestock Guardian Dogs to Prolong Their Lifespans
First and foremost – pay attention to your LGDs, not only as they age, but throughout their lifespans. A lot can be gleaned from observation, and you’ll be able to see when changes in behavior and routines occur. This can help you determine when interventions need to be made to better care for your dogs at any age.
Additionally, it is very important to adjust your expectations regarding work load and competency once they reach what is considered to be an “elderly age.” They are not going to be able to work like they did in their prime, but it is important to retire them gradually as you don’t want them to feel unhappy or unfulfilled.
It will be entirely dependent upon the situation and the dogs themselves, but bringing them in to live with the family might be a good option. They may appreciate the warm (or cool) house, the comfort of the couch, and the constant attention of the family. Of course, you will want to bring them out to visit with their packs and former charges every day.
Alternatively, some LGDs will be happier staying with their packs, flocks, or herds. You can provide these dogs with warmer (and/or cooler) shelters, and perhaps even put older or injured livestock near them so the dog can still fulfill guard duties.
Feeding, supplements, and medications are other important factors to consider. As any dog ages (LGDs included), their teeth will begin to deteriorate and some will be lost in the process. Hard food may be more difficult for your elderly LGDs to consume.
If you notice your dogs are not eating like normal or are losing weight, definitely take them in for a vet visit to make sure there are no underlying conditions. If nothing else is wrong, you may need to switch to a soft or raw food diet to allow for easier consumption.
There are also lots of different supplements and medications out there (ask your vet for particular recommendations) to ease the pain and discomfort that comes from aging joints, muscles, and bones. I’ve seen many people recommend Glucosamine for this issue, and it can be given as a daily supplement to keep older dogs comfortable and moving.
Basically, anything you can do to make your elderly LGDs as comfortable and as stress free as possible will help to prolong their lives, or at the very least, give them an excellent quality of life right up to the very end. Love and attention go a long way, both for them and for you. This is your time to really spoil your dogs and enjoy their company.
You May Also Be Interested in:
Brain Training for Dogs: The Best Online Obedience Training Program for Livestock Guardian Dogs
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Livestock Guardian Dogs and Barking: Some Breeds Bark Less Than Others
Male or Female Livestock Guardian Dogs: Which Is Better for Your Needs
