07/04/2026
Did you know? ⏳
The average lifespan of a longhaired Dutch Shepherd is 9 years.
However, when you look at the lifespans of longhairs that died of illnesses or "old age", a very important distinction can be seen between specific types of pedigrees: Dogs with less than 10 % inbreeding lived on average 2 years longer than dogs with above 40 % inbreeding.
The dog in the photo is AC NIVA KALECGOS "Karlos" (2014 Geb x Jadi). He is from a litter with < 10 % COI, and with 6/8 of the litter still kicking at 12 years old (all made it to past 11!), the lifespan of this litter as a whole far exceeds the current average of the breed. This is anecdotal, but my first litter (born 2011) with COI around 25 %, still far under the mean of the time, only reached an average lifespan of 9.4 years. These kinds of differences in vitality and lifespan, supported by both studies and the work of my own hands, is why I will always speak of this matter. Think about all the things you would do with your dog, if you were suddenly gifted 2 additional years...
Of course, lower inbreeding coefficient isn't everything. Even though heterozygosity protects from many health problems, many others — joint health, for example, in addition to non health-related deaths like behavioural problems — are not so clearly tied to poor genetic diversity. The health evaluation of a dog should not end at the official x-rays, but continue far into adulthood and old age. The character evaluation should be relentless, and every behavioural euthanasia should be an important reference point on what needs to be improved in the breed as a whole.
Long lifespan in a breed only follows good genetics, serious breeders, and selection of studs and dams that are fully adults. Every new healthy year raises a stud/dam's value infinitely, and gives regular owners more happy years with their dog. And even if deciphering every single effect on an individual level is impossible, the undeniable truth is that the number of these healthy years is not random and CAN be improved by breeders.
// TLDR suomalaisille seuraajille: ka elinikä rodussa on tällä hetkellä 9 vuotta, ja vähemmän sisäsiitetyt pitkäkarvat elävät kaksi vuotta pidempään kuin enemmän sisäsiitetyt. Katsokaa myös upeaa Karlos-papparaista. 😍
