Question on aging a dog

Environmental factors and nutrition can play a big role in the appearance of an animal. There is no way to know for certain how old your dog is unless you raise it from a pup. You can always go to a vet for an estimate of the age, but it will be just that, an estimate. If the dog is in good shape and healthy, there should be no reason to have a big concern about its age. A working dog will usually age faster due to the shear amount of stress put on its body throughout the years. Let your dog work until he is too old and worn down. If the dog really loves it's job, it'll let you know that its time to retire. When the time comes, let him lay in the backyard or give him to a neighbor that can enjoy him as a pet for the rest of his life.