Longevity
Life expectancy
With a balanced diet, regular activity and appropriate veterinary care, it generally lives between 10 and 12 years.
Build
A robust breed?
Its solid build, musculature and dense undercoat give it good physical and climatic resistance. This robustness does not exempt it from orthopedic, ear and weight monitoring, particularly during growth.
Watch points
What to watch for
Particular attention must be paid to the joints, drooping ears, weight and the quality of growth. Any lameness, stiffness, pain on exertion, bad ear odour or persistent weight gain warrants veterinary advice.
Hip dysplasia : Large size can promote poor joint congruence, with pain, stiffness and osteoarthritis.
Otitis : Drooping ears can retain moisture and debris, which promotes inflammation and infections.
Climate
Cold and heat tolerance
Its very dense double coat allows it to withstand cold and bad weather well. In hot periods, exertion must be scheduled during cool hours, with shade, water and a ventilated space, because its thick fur can promote thermal discomfort.
Weight
Tendency to gain weight
A measured ration adjusted to activity is essential, because excess weight would put heavy strain on its joints. Regular monitoring of body shape and weight makes it possible to quickly correct intake without abruptly reducing activity.
Daily life
Good habits to keep it healthy
- Have the hips and gait checked during growth.
- Inspect and clean the ears regularly with a suitable product.
- Brush the coat down to the undercoat to spot irritated skin and parasites.
- Maintain a stable weight in order to preserve the joints.
Vaccination
Russian Shepherd Dog vaccines: vaccination schedule
Which vaccines for a Russian Shepherd Dog? Like all dogs, the Russian Shepherd Dog receives essential vaccines from 8 weeks old: CHPPi (core vaccine) and Leptospirosis. The puppy primary vaccination for Russian Shepherd Dog is given in several injections 4 weeks apart, followed by a first booster at 1 year. Depending on its lifestyle (hunting, hiking, boarding, travel, region), your veterinarian may complete the protocol with vaccines against Rabies, Kennel cough, Piroplasmosis, Lyme disease and Leishmaniasis.
| Vaccine | Primary series | First booster | Then | Who for? |
|---|---|---|---|---|
CHPPi (core vaccine)Core Distemper, Rubarth hepatitis, parvovirosis and parainfluenza | 8 weeks · 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | All pets |
LeptospirosisCore Leptospirosis (bacterium transmitted by rodent urine and stagnant water) | 8 weeks · 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | All pets |
RabiesLifestyle-based Rabies | 12 weeks | 1 year | every year | Mandatory for travel abroad, categorized dogs, most boarding kennels and shows |
Kennel coughLifestyle-based Bordetella bronchiseptica and parainfluenza | 8 weeks | 1 year | every year | Dogs attending boarding kennels, daycares, dog clubs and shows |
PiroplasmosisLifestyle-based Tick-borne babesiosis | 5 months · 6 months | 1 year | every year | Hunting dogs, dogs living in rural or wooded areas, dogs highly exposed to ticks |
Lyme diseaseLifestyle-based Tick-borne borreliosis | 12 weeks · 3 months | 1 year | every year | Hiking dogs, hunting dogs, forest areas of the East and the Center |
LeishmaniasisLifestyle-based Leishmaniasis transmitted by sandflies | 6 months | 1 year and 6 months | every year | Dogs living or staying in the South of France, Corsica and the Mediterranean basin |
Adult Russian Shepherd Dog vaccine boosters are annual for leptospirosis and rabies; for distemper, hepatitis, and parvovirus, a booster every three years is often sufficient after the first booster. Your veterinarian will adjust the schedule to your dog’s actual risk.
Which boosters for your Russian Shepherd Dog?
Enter your companion’s age: we list the vaccines to do now and the next boosters.
Adopting well
Adopting a healthy Russian Shepherd Dog
Before breeding, screening for hip dysplasia is recommended. Regular locomotor examination, checking the ears, the skin under the coat and body condition usefully complement veterinary follow-up.
This information is provided for guidance only and does not replace a veterinarian’s advice. If you have any concerns about your pet’s health, consult a professional.
