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Thanks to selective breeding, the modern dog has evolved into the world’s most diverse mammal in existence. Dogs can vary in weight from 4 pounds to 200 pounds, and their body style and haircoat show enormous variety. The length of the dog’s life tends to depend on its size, which is the opposite of how it usually works for mammals. Large animals, such as horses, live much longer than tiny ones, such as mice. But a large dog will age much more rapidly than a small one. The tall and stately Great Dane will typically live only 6 or 7 years. The tiny, scrappy Yorkshire terrier can live well into its teens. Genetics, of course, play a large role in longevity. Hybrid vigor factors in. A pedigreed dog tends to live a shorter life than a mixed breed of the same size, which statistically will have an additional year to stick around. The overall longevity of pedigreed dogs is 12 years. The longest-lived breeds include:
The shortest-lived breeds include:
There are, of course, exceptions. The Mongolian Bankhar, a massive guardian of livestock, is known for living into its teens and even early 20s despite maintaining an outdoor lifestyle in a harsh environment. SummaryFiguring out your dog’s age by human standards can be tricky, especially with so many variables, such as breed, size, and genetic predispositions, like hip dysplasia and other abnormalities. There are free online dog age calculators that can help you figure out the human age approximation of your dog. Enter your dog’s information, click on a button, and your answer will pop up. Just remember not to take it too seriously. Longevity is not an exact science. Perhaps the most important thing about the dog age calculator is the fact that it displays how long dogs have played a significant role in the life of mankind. It is a sobering fact to realize that for hundreds — even thousands — of years, people have wondered how long they would enjoy the companionship of a beloved pet. Many of us consider our dogs to be family members, and we want to give them the best life possible. It would be nice to know how much time we have. But the most we can do is figure out the averages and hope for the best. Meanwhile, with these canine partners, whether furry or smooth, large or small, with tails that are fluffy or wagging or stubby, we remember their lives are more temporary than our own, and our best option is to make the most of every day.
It’s common knowledge that one year of a dog’s life is equal to seven human years…or is it? If this is the way you’ve been calculating your dog’s age, don’t worry – you’re not alone. However, the truth is that this method isn’t entirely accurate. Historically, it’s very likely that the “one dog year equals seven human years” method was created to simply show that dogs age faster than humans. Today, scientists and researchers have developed a more precise method of calculating a dog’s age to human years. Let’s dig in… If you’re looking to calculate your dog’s age in human years more accurately, you can use a new formula created by researchers at the University of California San Diego School of Medicine. These researchers studied the way human and dog DNA changes over time looking at patterns called methyl groups in humans and Labrador Retrievers. From this research, they concluded that you can calculate a dog’s age to human years by multiplying the natural logarithm of the dog’s age by 16 and adding 31. Their formula looks like this: (human_age = 16ln(dog_age) + 31). As you can see, this formula is pretty complex, so it can be useful to plug in your dog’s age to an automatic calculator programmed with this formula, like the one here. For an easier (and also accurate) way to estimate your dog’s age, you can follow this methodology for small, medium, and large dogs under 100 lbs.
So, why is this more accurate than the “one dog year equals seven human years” method? Because it takes into account that not all dogs breeds age the same way. In general, smaller dogs live longer than larger dogs, so while a seven-year-old Great Dane might be considered a “senior” dog, the same isn’t necessarily true for a seven-year-old Chihuahua. Therefore, it’s helpful to break down a dog age chart in terms of size, as you’ll see below. Generally, you can group dogs into small dogs (under 20 lbs), medium dogs (20 to 50 lbs), large dogs (50-100 lbs), and giant dogs (100+ lbs). Check out the dog age to human age chart below to calculate your dog’s age in human years based on their size group:  As you can see in our dog age chart – aside from the giant category – small, medium, and large dogs age pretty similarly until they reach about age six. Then, larger dogs age much faster in comparison to their smaller and medium counterparts. By seven years old, a small dog, like a Dachshund, will be six human years younger than a large breed, like an Airedale Terrier. Why is this? Ultimately, scientists aren’t completely sure why smaller dogs age slower and live longer than larger ones. According to the American Kennel Club, some researchers hypothesize that it’s because larger dogs are affected by age-related diseases more quickly. Similarly, larger dogs progress from puppyhood to adulthood much faster, making abnormal cell growth, cancer, and other diseases more likely. It’s for this reason that using the “one dog year equals seven human years” calculation isn’t completely accurate. While the newer method we’ve shared is more accurate, it’s still difficult to place a general formula on the way dogs age – as this progression will not only depend on your dog’s size, but their breed and individual genetics as well. Therefore, it can be helpful to look at physical and behavior clues to determine your dog’s age. For example, teeth can be a particularly useful indicator of your dog’s age. As PetMD explains, by seven months, all of your dog’s permanent teeth are in; by 1-2 years, they’ll be duller and might have some yellowing; and by 5-10 years, they’ll show wear and possibly signs of disease. Other indicators of your dog’s age, especially as they reach the senior stage, include:
Of course, you can always turn to your veterinarian for an accurate estimate of your dog’s age if you’re unsure. Your veterinarian will consider factors, including teeth, body shape, hair or fur, and eyes, etc. to give the best estimate of their age. Using a dog age chart to estimate your dog’s age in human years is a fun and insightful way to learn more about them! It’s important for other reasons, too. Namely, understanding how old your dog is and how they’re aging allows you to properly care for them – and help give them the best life possible. Keep in mind, if you have a larger dog, you’ll want to start looking for signs of aging around five or six, whereas smaller dog owners might not see any real signs until their dog is seven or eight. In any case, once your dog reaches their senior years, you’ll want to keep an extra close eye on their behavior, activity level, and eating habits.In general, a healthy diet and weight, consistent mental stimulation and physical activity, and regular check-ups at the vet will all help prolong your dog’s life expectancy. Additionally, you might want to consider investing in pet health insurance to cover unexpected accidents and illnesses. After all, your dog deserves the best care possible no matter how old they are – this is why Pumpkin insures dogs of all ages. At the end of the day, even though the common “one dog year equals seven human years” method has been around for years, it’s not very accurate. Luckily, with new research, we now have a more accurate way of estimating the age of our dogs. Although the math can be a little more complex than a straightforward 1:7 ratio, you can always refer to our dog age to human years chart (or even print it out!) to quickly and easily calculate how old your pup is. |
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