GSDowner

Genuine question...what age did you consider to be old? Most larger breeds don't live far beyond 12, of course there is exceptions, but that is their general life span. Like I said earlier I hope your boy does have plenty left in him, but I'm just wondering what age you do consider old for a dog? My previous german shepherds died at 12 Maybe 11 would be old - for a big breed though.

Genuine question...what age did you consider to be old? Most larger breeds don't live far beyond 12, of course there is exceptions, but that is their general life span. Like I said earlier I hope your boy does have plenty left in him, but I'm just wondering what age you do consider old for a dog?

Well, I look at my dog and there is no way I would say he looks old and another thing - I had never thought 10 was old for a dog, german shepherd. but having read the responses I realised 10 IS old

Yes, my German Shepherd has always had white muzzle I also want to add that most people here who are saying their dog is old - have a 15 yo dog, mine is only 10.

Thanks everybody Black Jag - thank you so much for your words - I do sincerely hope mine will live well beyond 10

GoldenGirl85 I DO find it rude; as rude as someone calling another person "really old"

My German Shepherd dog just turned 10. I love him dearly and every birthday reminds me that dogs, especially german shepherds do not live long. My dog is a big part of our family. He is well looked after, beautiful coat, slim, clear eyes etc. he just has a bit of white under his chin. He is a cancer survivor. In my eyes he looks like any adult dog. He doesn't look old at all. Almost every time I walk him I hear comments about his age. People point him to their children saying: 'Look, a really old dog"; others, who know him: "he is getting old". I asked one man why he thinks he is old and he responded: "he walks really slowly" (my dog walks slowly as he'd rather sniff than sprint") One person said her german shepherd died at 10. I said to one woman: "how can you say such a thing, he is NOT old" (in fact I wanted to say "Shut up") She apologised. I never comment on other dogs' ages. I stop ask about their age, gender, always find something nice to say.

My previous german shepherd (slept in my room) Suddenly his low growl woke me up. I had never before heard such a strange sound coming from my dog. I switched on the bedside lamp and here he was looking at a point 2cm just above the carpet, backing away, his hair stood on the back. He ignored my voice. Needless to say i got such a fright as there was absolutely nothing where he was looking. Perhaps dogs/animals can see what we can't see (?)

Leaving My back door open would be ideal, except I hear complaints from one of the family members that it's cold and that mice and rats may come in and I myself am worried my dog will bark; and he does have a very loud low bark :)

Thats hilarious Dogman :laugh: We always think of people as having dementia but to think of it it's possible dogs may get it. Perhaps he does need a good check up

Thanks Persephone and LongClaw Mine goes for quite some time and I sleep standing like an idiot waiting for him ensuring he does not bark. At one time I waited and waited and then decided to investigate so went looking for him in the garden and here he was under a tree waiting for a possum (sitting scarred there) to fall at his feet :laugh:

My male german shepherd just turned 10. He is in good health, slim, with good appetite, with good sight and hearing: however He gets excited hearing about a walk but it's different once outside. It's more about stopping and sniffing than walking. Looks like he does not like walking too much and pulls me home (due to his age?) My dog lives at home and sleeps in my room ( on my bed to be precise). I let him outside before going to bed and yet he wakes me about twice a night. I keep saying “No” but he is very insistent. Then I decide he probably needs to go out so I give in. I must add we do not have a doggy door. My question is: do you lovely people have such a problem and if so, how do you deal with it? I would be most appreciatve of your advice as I have not been getting enough sleep for ages.

My dog is going to be 10 in 2 months. I sometimes notice that his ears and paws are cold At night he sleeps on my bed and I cover him with my old nightgown to keep him warm. During the day he sleeps on his bed (off the floor, hammock type), with a blanket undearneath. A family member said that german shepherds have double coats and being from a very cold European climate cannot be cold in Australia. I would be grateful for your advice.

My dog got better Thanks so much to everyone for helping and hopefully he is getting the right dose I hope I understood correctly that for a 40kg dog the dose would be 80mg daily = 1mg/kg twice daily (?)

Thank you so much for your responses and so quickly considering it's Saturday. The chart is invaluable, I will add it to my Favourite. My dog unfortunately gets his allergy several times a year. His vet thought it was a wandering jew weed, but then when we got rid of this weed he again got sick. The vet said it could be anything: even something in the air like pollens, chemicals etc. I don't think it is his food as he has been eating raw meet, mainly chicken necks. beef hearts, mackerel fish in oil (canned), cottage cheese,sometimes an egg(raw) fruit, carrots. Few months ago I tried spraying apple cider vinegar on his big hotspot and it dried out next day; but this time he keeps rubbing his face and there are open wounds; so vinegar would be useless, I put some betnovate cream (hopefuly this is the right thing to do?) The vet said that there is no use to do tests on him to eliminate causes,as it is very tedious and not always successful; he also said that even though causes may be found, there is no guarantee the allergy can be prevented. So my dog gets (several times a year) cortisone shots, cortisone tablets and antibiotics (big oblong tablets). His mood changes and he becomes grumpy and hides from us. He is 9.5 y old and I am afraid cortisone may be detrimental to his health and I do pray he lives a long happy life.

My dog was on cortisone tablets, then was fine for several weeks and now is back to his old scratchy self. I would like to try phenergan and read on this forum (year 2006) that phenergan can be used. My german shepherd weighs 39kg (86 pounds) The information given was: "Phenergan - I've got variable doses here, but you should be safe to give 1 wtmg tab twice a day" I don't understand what "wtmg" means and how many days would I need to use phenergan (I would like to try it before yet another visit to the vet) I would be grateful for help

Thank you so much everybody. I find this forum so helpful and learned so much about dogs. I am bit worried that my dog will run away from a dryer He can't stand our vacuum cleaner.

Lynn Haitch movie (link) was given on this forum sometime ago I am sure it could be found in Dogzonline forun

I realise that german shepherds come from a much colder climate therefore there is a shedding problem. I brush my dog once a day - is it enough? Doesn't matter how long I brush him there is always hair coming out He likes his slicker brush, but (I think) dislikes his fumig brush, it probably pulls his hair and hurts him. I love the breed and wish to manage this shedding problem. He brushes against me and I find so much hair on my clothing; there is hair on the carpet, in the kitchen on the floor just after I have vacuumed. I would be most appreciative for your advice

It's charming

To watch it one needs to have an account on Youtube and the video is so shocking that only over 18s can access it. It shows two small beige poodles - a miniature kind or puppies. Obviously meant to be her pets as she carries them with her in a bicycle basket. They are adorable. Yet it looks like she is full of hate for them. She holds them by one leg with the rest of the body hanging down (they cry!) throws them around like a ball, against the ground, up onto a shelf into a bucket full of water. Then she pours water on their heads and repeatedly hits their head. She does it with so much anger. It looks like their bones are broken, they try to hide under a chair and she gets them and swings again by a limb. She does not look disadvantaged - has a beautiful garden. There are comments below from people who watched it . They are shocked. One of them states that the incident took place in Taiwan where cruelty to animals is punishable; yet people pass by without interfering! How could the filming person do it calmly?? Somehow this video affected me more than any other one.

The link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NpHCnzcewhg&oref=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com.au%2Furl%3Fsa%3Dt%26rct%3Dj%26q%3Da%2520woman%2520caught%2520on%2520camera%2520abusing%2520a%2520dog%26source%3Dweb%26cd%3D8%26ved%3D0CEoQFjAH%26url%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252Fwww.youtube.com%252Fwatch%253Fv%253DNpHCnzcewhg%26ei%3DkTkJT4yNLYPmrAfj8qj0Dw%26usg%3DAFQjCNGo_ZGf4bZmS6BGHp708XdKuEOZWg

Someone alerted me to this video. The below link shows a tiny little dog, possibly a puppy. His cries are heartbreaking. There is a writing on the video, unfortunately in an Asian language. I would love someone to translate it: hopefully the woman was brought to justice? http://www.youtube.com/verify_age?next_url=/watch%3Fv%3DNpHCnzcewhg

Apparently (according to another video) Baxter was abused as a puppy and yet was able to give so much love