Dog Years to Human Years Converter
| Dogs Age | Human Years |
|---|---|
| years | years |
Enter your dogs age (from 1 to 16) to get the human years equivalent. The calculation is made for a “medium” dog (21 to 50 pounds) using the AKC recommendation. Body
How old is your dog in human years? We used to simply multiply a dog’s age by seven. However, this calculation isn’t so cut-and-dried. See our dog age calculator and chart to discover your dog’s age.
Do Dogs Age 7 Years to our 1 Year?
The easy way to calculate a dog’s age is to take 1 dog year and multiple it by 7 years. This is based on an assumption that dogs live to about 10 and humans live to about 70, on average. For example, a dog which is 5 years old is 35 “human years.”
Contrary to common belief, dogs do not age at a rate of 7 human years for each year in dog years. The number of human years piles onto a dog’s life more quickly during the dog’s rapid growth to maturity.
That said, this isn’t a bad way to go from a health perspective because it helps us humans realize that our dogs aren’t the same as children.
As pets get older, they need extra care and attention. Small dogs are generally considered “senior” at seven years of age. Larger breeds are often senior when they are 5 to 6 years of age.
Be aware of arthritis and related discomfort or irritability, weight control, sight and hearing issues, and any changes in behavior or activity which could indicate more serious issues.
Visit your vet for exams regularly; adjustments can be made to give your pets a more comfortable, longer, healthier life.
Is 14 years old for a dog?
14 years old can generally be considered old for a dog. A small dog is considered old when they’re 11, a medium dog is considered old when they’re 10, and a large dog is considered old when they’re 8.
Dog Years: How Do You Calculate Dog Years to Human Years – Animal Facts
You watch your young pup bounce across the lawn. You see your old dog lumber slowly to the food bowl. You take a brisk run with your young dog close at your heels. You slowly walk to the mailbox and your old dog still lags behind.
What a difference a few years make to your dog. You do not feel older, so why does your dog? Perhaps it is because what you and your dog consider “old” are vastly different. Comparing your human age to your furry friend’s canine age is rather complicated but, simply put, one year to Fido is not one year to you.
For example, if your dog was born 7 years ago, he is 49 years old in “dog years.” (Or, stated differently, a 7-year old dog is at a similar stage in aging to a 49-year old human.)
This simple equation is only a rough estimate. A more accurate comparison of human vs. canine age takes into consideration the dog’s size and breed.
Smaller dogs age more slowly and have longer life spans. Larger dogs, in contrast, age more quickly and have shorter life spans. In addition, certain breeds enjoy more longevity than others. When comparing size, small Poodles live longer than huge Great Danes. But when comparing breed, Great Danes may outlive larger sized Bulldogs. The 7:1 ratio does not hold across the board.
Another factor that skews age calculation involves the rate of canine development. Dogs develop more quickly the first two years of life, after which development levels out a bit. During the first two years, one dog year equals about 10.5 human years. So, the dog: human aging ratios is 10.5:1 rather than 7:1. When a dog hits the three-year mark, he ages 4 years to every 1 human year bringing the ratio to 4:1. Using this formula, a 10-year old dog is the equivalent of a 53-year old human. Using the simple 7:1 ratio, this same 10-year old dog would be the equivalent of a 70-year old human.
All of these calculations are based on the assumption that the average human life expectancy in developed countries is 80 years. The average life span globally is only 66 years. So, the equations have to be altered according to geography. Complicated enough for you?
Complications in comparing dog age to human age are well founded. The old “7 dog years = 1 human year” theory is inaccurate, because the dog ages and develops more quickly the first two years of life. Plus, the ratio varies with dog breed and size. Even the more accepted equation utilizing the 10.5 factor the first two years of the dog’s life and 4 years thereafter has pitfalls, because it does not account for size and breed. The most accurate estimate of a dog’s age in human years is calculated taking size and breed into consideration. This method either categorizes dogs as small, medium, and large or more specifically uses their estimated adult weight.