Here’s an easy way to calculate your dog’s age in human years. Dogs age faster than people do, but the conventional wisdom that one dog year equals seven human years is an oversimplified method of calculating a dog’s age. You can guess the approximate age of a dog this way but it doesn’t take into account the fact that dogs mature more quickly than children do in their initial years.
Figuring for the difference in maturation between a child and a dog, the first year of a dog’s life would be equal to about 15 human years, not seven.
A dog’s size and breed also influence the rate at which a dog ages. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs but they generally mature more rapidly in the first few years of their life. A large dog will mature more slowly at first but is considered elderly by the age of five.
In contrast, small and toy breeds aren’t considered elderly until they reach 10 years of age. Medium-sized breeds fall between small breeds and large breeds in lifespan.
* A small dog weighs 20 pounds or less
* A medium dog weighs 21 to 50 pounds
* A large dog weighs more than 50 pounds
Here’s How To Calculate Your Dog’s Age in Human Years:
1 Year = 15 human years
2 Years = 24 human years
3 Years = 28 human years
4 Years = 32 human years
5 Years = 36 human years
At 6 years of age the size of a dog begins to determine its age in human years:
6 Years = 40 human years for small breeds; 42 for medium size breeds; 45 for large breeds
7 Years = 44 human years for small breeds; 47 for medium size breeds; 50 for large breeds
8 Years = 48 human years for small breeds; 51 for medium size breeds; 55 for large breeds
9 Years = 52 human years for small breeds; 56 for medium size breeds; 61 for large breeds
10 Years = 56 human years for small breeds; 60 for medium size breeds; 66 for large breeds
11 Years = 60 human years for small breeds; 65 for medium size breeds; 72 for large breeds
12 Years = 64 human years for small breeds; 69 for medium size breeds; 77 for large breeds
13 Years = 68 human years for small breeds; 74 for medium size breeds; 82 for large breeds
14 Years = 72 human years for small breeds; 78 for medium size breeds; 88 for large breeds
15 Years = 76 human years for small breeds; 83 for medium size breeds; 93 for large breeds
16 Years = 80 human years for small breeds; 87 for medium size breeds; 120 for large breeds
If you’ve adopted a puppy or dog from a shelter but the dog’s history is unknown, it’s still possible to estimate how old the dog is. Checking a dog’s teeth can give you a rough indication of its age. The degree of tooth growth helps determine how old a puppy is, and the degree of wear and tartar buildup helps estimate the age of an adult dog.
Here are some general guidelines:
* By 8 weeks: All baby teeth are in
* By 7 months: All permanent teeth are in and are white and clean
* By 1-2 years: Teeth are duller and the back teeth may have some yellowing
* By 3-5 years: All teeth may have tartar build-up and some tooth wear
* By 5-10 years: Teeth show more wear and signs of disease
* By 10-15 years: Teeth are worn, and heavy tartar build-up is likely. Some teeth may be missing.
In older dogs, signs of aging may show up in a variety of ways, including a cloudy appearance in the eyes, graying hair around the muzzle, face, head and body, a lack of elasticity in the skin, and possible stiffness of the joints.
If you’re still not sure of its age and really want to know if your dog’s breed is susceptible to any genetic diseases like hip dysplasia or arthritis, your vet can also estimate your dog’s age based on a complete physical exam or tests by checking its bones, joints, muscles, and internal organs.
Hopefully this information will assist you in figuring out how to calculate your dog’s age.