How to calculate a dogs age

Having a dog means having a best friend who you get to grow up with. You get to see them grow and get older, just like you do. But, dogs age a lot differently than humans do. One year for you might not seem like that long, but for your pup, it’s much more significant. 

So, how old is a dog in human years? You’ve probably heard the rule that 1 dog year is the equivalent of 7 human years. This rule was created based on the statistics that dogs live to about 10 years old and humans live to about 70 years old. But, this isn’t always the case. Dogs grow a lot quicker than humans do, so the first year of a dog’s life is actually more equivalent to 15 human years.

How to calculate dog age isn’t always so simple as the 7:1 ratio. Size and breed also play a role in how old your dog is in human years. So rather than using the 7:1 ratio to calculate your dog’s age in human years, you should use a dog age calculator. A dog age calculator is a simple yet accurate way to figure out how old your dog is in human years depending on their size and breed.

In this blog post, we’ll be going over how to calculate a dog's age, how dog age calculators work, how to use our dog’s age calculator, and more. 

How Do You Calculate A Dog’s Age In Human Years?

Calculating a dog’s age in human years isn’t so clear-cut, as it differs depending on a dog’s breed and size.  For example, smaller dogs typically live longer than larger dogs, but they also grow more in the first few years of life. A large breed dog will typically age more slowly and reach their middle age by the time they’re around 5 years old. But smaller dog breeds won’t become “seniors” until they’re about 10 years old.

Smaller dogs tend to have longer lifespans than larger dogs because their bodies metabolize food much quicker and they’re better at fighting free radicals and abnormal growths in the body.

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, you can use the following guidelines to estimate how old your dog is in human years1:

• One year of a medium-sized dog’s life equals about 15 human years
• The second year of a dog’s life equals about 9 human years
• After the second year, each human year equals about 5 years for a dog

These guidelines will not give you a definitive answer of how old your dog is in human years, but it can give you some sort of an idea. If you’re looking for a more accurate answer, you can use our dog age calculator by breed. Our dog age calculator takes into consideration the size of your dog to give you a more precise answer to how old your dog is in human years.

If you’re not sure how old your dog is when you get them, there are a couple of clues you can look for that can give you an idea of their age range, like their teeth. 

By the time a dog is 8 weeks old, all of their baby teeth should be in. By the time they’re 7 months old, all of their permanent teeth should be in and they should be white and clean. By 1-2 years old, their teeth should appear duller and more yellow. By 3-5 years old, their teeth should have tartar buildup and look more worn down. By 5-10 years old, their teeth should look even more worn and may even show signs of disease. And by 10-15 years old, their teeth should have heavy tartar buildup and some teeth may even be missing.

The appearance of a dog’s teeth will differ for every dog depending on their breed and if they received any dental care. But you can always bring your dog to a vet so they can give you a more accurate answer of their age.

How Dog Age Calculators Work

Dog age calculators combine different factors, such as breed, size, and dog age, to calculate the human equivalent.

In 2019, researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine created a formula that can help you figure out your dog’s age in human years more accurately. In the study, the researchers compared the way human and dog DNA changes over time. They examined these DNA changes in 104 Labrador Retrievers who spanned a 16 year age range.2

From their research, they found out that you can figure out a dog’s age in human years by multiplying the natural algorithm of a dog’s age by 16 and then adding 31. Or, you can use the formula: human_age = 16ln(dog_age) + 31.

This formula is more accurate than the “one dog year equals seven human years” rule because it takes into account that different dog breeds age in different ways. For example, when a Saint Bernard is 7 years old, they would be considered a “senior” dog. But when a Chihuahua is 7 years old, that wouldn’t necessarily be the case. This is because smaller dog breeds tend to have longer lifespans than large dog breeds, so they will not age at the same rate.

How To Use Our Dog Age Calculator

Using Dutch’s dog age calculator is actually quite simple. You just have to follow these few easy steps:

1. Enter your dog’s age in years, months, or weeks
2. Select your dog’s size
   • The options are small, medium, large, and giant
3. Click calculate

And that’s it! Figuring out your dog’s age in human years is as simple as using our dog age calculator.

Dog Age Calculator: FAQs

How old is a 7-year-old dog?

The age of a 7-year-old dog in human years ultimately depends on the breed and size of the dog. Large and giant dog breeds will be considered seniors by the time they’re 7 years old, but small dogs won’t be until they’re around 11 years old. You can use our dog age calculator to get a more accurate answer to how old a 7-year-old dog is in human years. 

How old is a 10-year-old dog in human years?

There is no definitive way to figure out how old a 10-year-old dog is in human years unless you use a dog age calculator. A dog age calculator takes into account the breed and size of a dog, which helps to provide a more precise answer. For example, a 10-year-old Akita dog will be about 75 years old in human years. But a 10-year-old French Bulldog will be around 56 years old.

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. 

Which breed of dog has the shortest lifespan?

Large dog breeds, such as Mastiffs and Great Danes, typically have the shortest lifespans. Larger dogs have an increased mortality rate regardless of their age. Large dogs also tend to mature at a faster rate, so they get older quicker, thus leading to a shorter lifespan. Some studies have also shown that smaller dogs have lower amounts of the growth hormone IGF-1. Large amounts of this growth hormone are associated with an increased risk of age-related diseases, like cancer and heart disease. So, the reason why larger dogs don’t live as long could potentially be because they have more IGF-1 than smaller dogs.3

Which breed of dog has the longest lifespan?

Smaller dog breeds, such as Yorkies, Chihuahuas, Dachshunds, and Toy Poodles, tend to have the longest lifespans. Some of the longest living dogs have been small dog breeds and lived up to 25 years old, which is very old for a dog. 

How do I make my dog live forever? 

There’s nothing more heartbreaking than watching your furry best friend grow old. But getting old is inevitable – for humans and dogs alike. And while we can’t guarantee your dog will live forever, we can help ensure they live a happy and healthy life with our convenient pet care solutions. 

Final Notes

We’ve all heard the rule that “1 dog year equals 7 human years”, but it’s not always that simple. There are countless dog breeds out there, and each dog breed ages at a different rate. So, the 7:1 ratio isn’t always applicable. You need to take into consideration a dog’s breed, age, and size in order to get a more accurate answer.

And thankfully, you can use our dog age calculator to do so. To use our dog’s age calculator, all you have to do is plug in your dog’s current age in weeks, select their size, and you’ll be given your dog’s age in human years. It’s as simple as that.

But part of having a dog is also making sure they are always healthy, and that means bringing them to the vet for regular check-ups and getting them treated ASAP if they’re sick. And if you’re looking for a quick and easy solution to pet care, look no further than Dutch.com.

Dutch offers a pet telehealth service where pet owners can get access to affordable pet care right from home. We work with a network of licensed veterinarians who are qualified to help with a multitude of pet health issues and concerns, whether that be for your pup’s annual check-up or prescribing them medication if they’re sick. 

With Dutch, you can get the help of a qualified vet with the simple click of a button. There’s no waiting or worrying about not being able to make an appointment with a vet. We’re here to help your pet get the care they need as quickly as possible by prescribing you medication AND delivering it directly to your front door. Get started with Dutch today and experience pet care like never before.