From dog years to human years
Written by Anne |
Many dog owners wonder sooner or later: how old is my dog in human years? The classic rule of thumb says that 1 dog year equals 7 human years, but it is not that simple. How dogs age differs by breed, size, and life stage. In this blog, you will read everything about calculating dog years into human years, and how you can determine whether your dog is young, adult, or senior.
Is the “7 dog years in human years” rule correct?
The well-known calculation “1 dog year is 7 human years” has been around for years, but this approach is too simplistic. Dogs develop much faster than humans, especially in the first years. A dog, for example, is often already sexually mature around its first year of life, something that only happens in humans around puberty. In addition, the breed and size of the dog play a major role in how quickly ageing happens. Small dogs generally live longer than large breeds, and you can see this reflected in how their life stages progress.
How can you calculate dog years?
A more accurate method for calculating dog years takes the dog’s weight and size into account. Scientists at the University of California even developed a formula based on DNA ageing, where a dog’s age in human years is calculated as follows:
Human age = 16 x ln(dog age) + 31
Unfortunately, this calculation is quite complicated. Luckily, there are practical guidelines based on weight:
| Dog’s age | Small dog (up to 10 kg) | Medium-sized dog (10-25 kg) | Large dog (25+ kg) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 year | 15 human years | 15 human years | 14 human years |
| 2 years | 24 human years | 24 human years | 22 human years |
| 5 years | 36 human years | 37 human years | 40 human years |
| 10 years | 56 human years | 60 human years | 66 human years |
| 15 years | 76 human years | 83 human years | 93 human years |
