How to tell a German Shepherd's age when buying without records?

Question

Tell tale sign of dogs age? I'm thinking of buying a femal German shepherd who's soposadly 18mths but the seller has nothing to prove her age and since the average life span of a GSD is 9yrs time is precious so how can I tell she is actually 18months

Lauren Jones VMD · Accepted Answer

Unfortunately, once all permanent teeth have erupted (generally around 6-7 months of age), there is no way to definitively determine a dog's age. The best that you can do is closely examine all teeth for any evidence of tartar or dental staining. While trace amounts of tartar and staining may be present by 18 months of age, more significant tartar accumulation would be highly unlikely. If the seller has any previous vet records or vaccine certificates, these would also help to prove her age. I understand your concern about lifespan as well. As a larger breed, German Shepherds generally live 9-11 years, but in my opinion, the quality of that life and time together is even more important than the quantity. :-)

How to tell a German Shepherd's age when buying without records?

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