Contrary to popular belief, one "dog year" does not equal seven human years. We've seen many 20-year-old dogs in our practice, but we are yet to even hear of any 140-year-old humans. Along the same line, a dog that is two years old is an adult. A 14-year-old teenager is just that... a teenager.
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Age of Pet
1 year
2 years
3 years
4 years
5 years
6 years
7 years
8 years
9 years
10 years
11 years
12 years
13 years
14 years
15 years
16 years
17 years
18 years
19 years
20 years
21 years
22 years
23 years
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"Human Years"
15 years
24 years
28 years
32 years
36 years
40 years
44 years
48 years
52 years
56 years
60 years
64 years
68 years
72 years
76 years
80 years
84 years
88 years
89 years
93 years
96 years
99 years
103 years
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The most accurate way to determine the relative age of your dog is to know the life expectancy of your dog's breed. Small breeds tend to live longer, frequently 14 to 17 years or longer. Giant breeds, like Great Danes, have a life expectency that is significantly shorter. Even with that knowledge, however, there is no easy multiplier you can use to determine the relative age of your pet because of the many variables in the aging process of canines, particularly in the first few years.
While it is fun to know the relative age of your pet in human years, it can also help you understand your dog's behavior, his special needs as he gets older, and different nutritional requirements as he progresses through life.
The chart shown is a fairly accurate measure of the relative age of the average dog when compared to humans.
The good news is that pets, like people, have a longer life expectancy today than ever before; primarily due to better healthcare and nutrition.
