It’s common knowledge that dogs age faster than people. But the conventional wisdom that one dog year equals seven human years is an oversimplified view of how old your dog is in human years. Although a dog's age averages out this way, there is quite a bit of variation. For example, dogs mature more quickly than children in the first couple of years. So the first year of a dog’s life is equal to about 15 human years, rather than seven.
Size and breed also influence the rate at which a dog ages. Although smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, they may mature more quickly in the first few years of life. A large dog may mature more slowly at first but already be considered elderly at age five. Small and toy breeds don't become "seniors" until around age 10. Medium-sized breeds are somewhere in the middle in terms of maturation and lifespan.
In the chart below, use these general ranges for dog size:
Age of dog 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Small breed - 15 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80
age in human years
Medium breed - 15 24 28 32 36 42 47 51 56 60 65 69 74 78 83 87
age in human years
Large breed - 15 24 28 32 36 45 50 55 61 66 72 77 82 88 93 120
age in human years
How to Determine a Dog's AgeIf you’ve adopted a puppy or dog but don't know the dog’s history, you may wonder how old he is. Even if you don’t know the birth date, it is still possible to estimate your dog's age.
Teeth can give a rough indication of a dog's age. The degree of growth helps determine how old a puppy is, and the degree of wear and tartar helps estimate the age of an adult dog. Of course, there are individual differences between dogs. And a dog's previous dental care will have an impact on the health of teeth.
Here are some general guidelines:
***Adapted from webMD
Size and breed also influence the rate at which a dog ages. Although smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, they may mature more quickly in the first few years of life. A large dog may mature more slowly at first but already be considered elderly at age five. Small and toy breeds don't become "seniors" until around age 10. Medium-sized breeds are somewhere in the middle in terms of maturation and lifespan.
In the chart below, use these general ranges for dog size:
- Small dog = 20 pounds or less
- Medium dog = 21-50 pounds
- Large dog = More than 50 pounds
Age of dog 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16
Small breed - 15 24 28 32 36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80
age in human years
Medium breed - 15 24 28 32 36 42 47 51 56 60 65 69 74 78 83 87
age in human years
Large breed - 15 24 28 32 36 45 50 55 61 66 72 77 82 88 93 120
age in human years
How to Determine a Dog's AgeIf you’ve adopted a puppy or dog but don't know the dog’s history, you may wonder how old he is. Even if you don’t know the birth date, it is still possible to estimate your dog's age.
Teeth can give a rough indication of a dog's age. The degree of growth helps determine how old a puppy is, and the degree of wear and tartar helps estimate the age of an adult dog. Of course, there are individual differences between dogs. And a dog's previous dental care will have an impact on the health of teeth.
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 with the possibility of some teeth missing.
- A cloudy appearance in the eyes
- Graying hair, especially around the muzzle at first, and spreading to other areas of the face, head, and body
- Less skin elasticity
- Stiffness
***Adapted from webMD
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