How Long Do Australian Shepherds Live (And Why)?

How Long Do Australian Shepherds Live (And Why)?

Exact Answer: 13 – 15 Years

Dogs are undoubtedly the most faithful animals on the planet and no one would deny this fact. There are numerous breeds of dogs and one of them is the Australian Shepherd, a breed of herding dog hailing from the United States.

Despite having the name Australian Shepherd, this breed originates from the western U.S. and not from Australia. Dogs belonging to this breed are 40 to 65 pounds in weight. There are 18 to 23 inches tall at the shoulder and have a lifespan of about 13 to 15 years.

Australian Shepherds are also called and popularly nicknamed Aussies. Watching a dog of this breed herding up a flock of sheep just as their name suggests, is a beautiful sight to behold. These dogs are energetic, full of vigor, intelligent, loyal, and hardworking. An Aussie has medium-length, charming dark-brown, amber, blue, or green eyes.

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How Long Do Australian Shepherds Live?

Australian shepherds are athletically strong, smart, and diligently perform their duty of herding. These dogs love having work to do and are quite efficient to herd livestock. They are one of those trusty dogs that any pet owner would love to own.

Thus, as a natural tendency, it is normal for Aussie owners to be curious about their dog’s lifespan. On average, the lifespan of an Australian Shepherd is about 13 to 15 years. However, some dogs can even live longer when provided with good care and nourishment essential for their well-being.

According to a particular survey conducted in the UK, the Australian Shepherd lives for about 15 years. However, the lifespan can vary greatly from dog to dog as not all dogs are kept and maintained in the same way as others. The environment the dog breathes in also plays a huge role in determining a dog’s lifespan. When any dog is treated with love and affection, provided with good food and exercise, taken to the vet regularly for routine checkups, all this contributes to a longer lifespan.

Dog BreedsLifespan
Australian Shepherd13 – 15 years
Chihuahua15 – 18 years
Irish Wolfhound7 – 10 years
German Shepherd10 – 12 years

Why Do Australian Shepherds Live This Long?

Australian Shepherds are well known for their high energy levels, trustworthiness, loyalty, smartness, among other things. These dogs complete their growing process by the time they are 16 months old and stop growing hereafter. In about 1 year, Aussies reach their full height. Thus, it can be concluded that Australian Shepherds are sixteen months old when they are fully grown.

Typically, dogs belonging to this breed are healthy and athletic but sometimes they too can develop certain medical and health conditions like Lymphoma that can considerably shorten their lifespan. Usually, a type of cancer called Lymphoma wherein there is an uncontrolled formation of white blood cells, affects this breed the most in comparison to other dog breeds. Thus, in most cases, the life expectancy of an Australian Shepherd is about 12 – 13 years if not more.

The oldest living Australian Shepherd is known to be Bluey. Bluey was born on 7th June 1910 and died on 14th November 1939, living for about 29 years and 5 months. Thus, one cannot determine the exact lifespan of any dog as it varies from dog to dog even within the same breeds depending on the conditions the dog is surviving in.

One must always remember that doesn’t matter what the average lifespan of a particular dog breed is. If the dog is well taken care of, provided with a nourishing and healthy diet, taken for walks regularly, etc, then the dog can outlive its usual life expectancy and can live a long and nice life.

Conclusion

Australian shepherds or Aussies are one of those breeds of dogs that can be termed as the jack of all trades. The name of this breed can be misleading as this breed is not in fact from Australia but Western America. Aussies, along with having good herding capabilities, agility, athletic nature, are a great addition to one’s family. They love engaging in various sports and do their service as dogs diligently.

Australian Shepherds have a lifespan of about 13 to 15 years but some dogs can even live longer than this too. One should make sure that all the needs of the dog are being fulfilled and provided with a good environment to live in to enable it to have a fruitful, healthy, and long life.

References

  1. https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1111/gcb.12674
  2. https://www.vin.com/apputil/content/defaultadv1.aspx?pId=12513&catId=51024&id=6976363&ind=14&objTypeID=17
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