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.
The Easy Calculation of Dog’s Age
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.” 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.
The More Accurate Calculation of Dog Years
Statistics from pet-insurance companies, breed-club surveys, and veterinary hospitals have helped us learn more about how dogs age.
Dogs do not age at a rate of 7 human years for each year in dog years.
According to the American Veterinary Medical Association:
- The first year of a medium-sized dog’s life is 15 years of a human’s life.
- The second year of a dog’s life equals about nine years for a human.
- And after that, every human year equals approximately four or five years for a dog.
In other words, the number of human years piles onto a dog’s life more quickly during the dog’s rapid growth to maturity.
Dog Age Calculator: Dog Years to Human Years
If we think like a dog, here’s how a dog’s age compares to a human’s age! There are differences between a dog’s size (small, medium, large) and a dog’s breed, but this should give you a good sense of where your dog is in the development/aging process.
Dog Years to Human Years Converter
| Dog's Age | Human Years |
|---|---|
| years | years |
Enter your dog's 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.
|
Dog Years (dog’s age according to the calendar) |
Human Years (dog’s age in equivalent human years, based on stage of development/aging) |
|---|---|
| 1 year | 15 |
| 2 years | 24 |
| 3 | 28 |
| 4 | 32 |
| 5 | 36 |
| 6 | 42 |
| 7 | 47 |
| 8 | 51 |
| 9 | 56 |
| 10 | 60 |
| 11 | 65 |
| 12 | 69 |
| 13 | 74 |
| 14 | 78 |
| 15 | 83 |
| 16 | 87 |
Related Articles
Have a cat? See our Cat Age Chart!
Is your dog starting to enter its elderly years? Get some tips for caring for an old pup.
Also, check our home remedies for your pet’s arthritis.
Reader Comments
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Build-a-bear
I love everything about the company it takes me back to when I was 5years old so cool when you walk in seeing lots of different kinds random prices
What about if you dog is 20?!
I do t understand why the chart didn't go to 20. Most small dogs live to the age if I'm correct?
How old is a 5 week old Rottweiler puppy in human years?
My dog is a 5 week old Rottweiler, how old is she in dog years?!?
Miniature Schnauzer Age
hello my dog is 18 and 3 months. 18 is not on your calculator can you help me with an age ty
Chihuahua dog
I've had my chihuahua dog for 19 years I got her a few months before my oldest granddaughter was born and she will be 19 in July how old would she be
Dog
My dog is 9 months old how old is she in dog years
dogs age
my dogs age is 14 and he is a yorkie. How old is he in human's age?
Yorkie age
According to the above tool, that would be about 78 years of age in human years. However, this calculator is for a medium dog. For a small dog, such as a Yorkshire Terrier, calculations can be a bit different. Several sources say that a 14-year-old yorkie would be about 72 years old in human terms.
Dogs Date of birth
I’m dogs date of birth 06/03/2012 How old
Age
My 2kg Chihuahua is 18 years old. How old is she in human age?
Age
My Mom's dachshund is 17 years old, probably going to live longer, he loves to eat. Why does this chart stop at 16 years old?
I must be missing something...
My dog is 15 years old. the first two years would equate to 24 human years (15 + 9), according to this system. That leaves 13 years, each equal to about 5 human years (65). So add all this up and I get my dog is 89 human years old. Your calculator says 83. Of course, it's all approximate, but still - 6 years is a LOT different. So, what's the deal?
Dog Year Difference
For simplicity’s sake, we assume that each human year (past Year 2) is equal to either 4 or 5 “dog years” and alternate them accordingly. If you assume that every year equals only 5 dog years, you will end up with a few more years than our calculator.
Cat ages in human years
Ok you addressed dog ages..now do cat ages...
pet calculator
We are actually working on a cat calculator! You’re not the first person who has asked. Thanks!
weight
What would the calculation be for a heavier dog? I have Chow Chows and have all my life and Storm will turn 12 on Halloween this year (he was born in 2007) So what would the difference be for dogs that weigh between 55-75 pounds. Even though my boy is getting up there in years you would think he looks and acts like a pup, he is the first black Chow I have had and am so happy to say he doesn't have a grey hair anywhere and is still very active and HEALTHY!!! Even though there isn't a weight limit on my breeds standard, all my Chows have been between 55-75 pounds and have never had a weight problem with any of them at any time in their life spans. So am curious as to how the calculation may be tweaked to accommodate the heavier weight.
DOG AND CAT AGES
I was recently at the vet's office and saw a new and more accurate chart for aging your pets. It showed not only dog but cat ages as well. Something that I found very enlightening was that their equivalent human age depends on the size of the dog. We know that wolfhounds live a far shorter life than a Yorkie so it stands to reason that a 5 year old mini would be far younger in human years than a 5 year old giant breed.
I was 68 at the time and ironically it turned out that my 8 1/2 year old GSD and my 14 year old cats were the same age in human years. According to the chart above Willow, my shepherd, would only be 51. I wish that were so. Actually, I wish that I were only 51 too! LOL
dog age calendar
Is it the word "approximately" ("And after that, very human year equals approximately five years for a dog") that have the above calendar chart change from 4-6 years apart in the list? Doing the math, I figured my 12 year old dog was 74, but it says 69. In comparing to human years.. there is quite a difference between 69 and 74.
This was informative. I've
This was informative. I've never been able to find how to calculate a cats age. I had an old man until he was 24. Now I have my other one who is 22.
Older lab
My baby Cheyenne is 15 1/2=74.5 yrs old her next birthday shows she will b 77 years old does anyone know an average possible lifespan for a female black lab ? And how to help her with the aging? Her eye site seems to b giving her a little problem but she seems pretty healthy, I do notice that her skin allergy seems more often and the med the vet told me to use is a spray for feet but does not help as much anymore,just really need to know how to make things better on her. She don’t jump in bed anymore to sleep and when she tries to get off she sometimes hurts herself, so I don’t let her up there anymore, which seems like she feels I’m being mean. I sleep on sofa so she could get up there but even that’s hard on her . But with those things said she is still getting around well and eats well . She does use the bathroom in the house now sometimes but she’s scared to go outside not sure why unless her eyesight is the problem. I know I have rambled on but I’m just getting scared my little man chauhau puppy recently passed and he was same age as she is now and she and I miss him so I guess I’m just scared not ready to loose her too thx for listening
Older Lab
Hi Melinda,
I’m very happy to hear that your pup has had a long and happy life with a great owner like you. You seem to have the right idea on how to beat take care of her. My dog has recently gotten too old to jump on my bed as well, but I’ve set up a smaller chair next to it as a step so he can still enjoy sleeping next to me. If you have any furniture that could be safely used like that, I recommend trying it out. If your dog is still able to go on walks, it is best to take from on shorter walks, but more frequently. If you used to walk her 3 times a day, you could perhaps cut the time of the walk in half but walk her 6 times. Regular exercise is still great for dogs until they aren’t physically able. Older dogs also will slowly lose control over their bowel movements and may need to go out more often. If you continue to take great care of her, I’m sure you will enjoy each other’s company until her final days.
Best of luck,
Josh
There are stairs and/or ramps
There are stairs and/or ramps available for purchase that will assist your elderly dog with getting in and out of the bed, couch etc. Additionally, "puppy pads" should be a great help for both you and your elderly dog. To save money, purchase human incontinence pads available at Amazon, Sam's etc instead of the more costly puppy pads, they are the same.
Dog age
If my dog was born in 2014 how old would he be now (2019)
Jack Russell terriers
My jack russell terriers will turn 16 (female) and 18 (male) at the end of this year. They had a litter of 5 puppies about 14 years ago. They have been very loving and fun dogs to have in our family. Both are currently experiencing canine dementia, but the male has had it for much longer and we did not recognize the signs until the younger one started experiencing some of the same ones. We love them so, but they are much more difficult to care for now as the male is more aggressive and confused a lot. It breaks my heart. I pray for a natural death but some days are so very hard and miserable, I wonder if he is suffering living with dementia? How do you know when it’s time to say goodbye? How long do jack Russell terriers usually live?
Idk how is my dog
She was be in on the 10/22/2018 is she like 1 yr old or no I need to know I have to get here shots and no I do not have a vet right now need one too.
puppy deaths
My 7 yr old Yorkie has had two litters lately in which one or 2 pups died within the first week. They were full term, healthy mom. Is the age of the mom or dad a factor?
Yorkie pups
We are so sorry about your Yorkie’s pups! The age of the mother can be a factor in neonatal mortality, often called fading syndrome (a condition that happens within the first 2 weeks of age). But there are many factors that can influence survival, such as the pups becoming too hot/cold before their bodies are able to mature enough to compensate, the birth weight, weight of the mom, genetics (purebred or pedigree puppies are more prone to this type of problem), a difficult birth, nursing troubles, viruses or other infections, etc. It could be that your Yorkie is of an age that litters will be more at risk (one source says that for Yorkies, age 7 is the very last year for breeding if the mom is healthy, although it is more common to retire her at 4 to 5 years, and a maximum of 1 to 2 litters per year. Otherwise, there might be complications for both the litter and her.). For best advice, we’d recommend talking to a veterinarian. Hope this helps!
Breeding
Why in Gods' name are you breeding your dogs? There are so many in the pound! Adopt don't shop.
What's the Lifespan for a
What's the Lifespan for a German Shepherd. My Buddy turned 5 yrs in April 2018 and at what age is he considered to be a Senior? Thankyou so much for all this info.
life span
German Shepherds usually live between 9 and 13 years, often between 11 and 13 if they remain healthy through most of their lives.
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