What Your Dog’s Age Actually Means
It’s a common mistake. Everyone believes that you can find out your dog’s age with the ratio one human year to seven dog years. This is just not accurate. The ratio probably started by dividing the average lifespans together. It is important to note for proper pet care to know that these are all just estimates. Your dog\’s age is circumstantial.
The earliest date of humans trying to figure out dog age was in 1268. An inscription at Westminster Abbey states that the dog aging ratio was one human year to every nine dog years. But really, it all depends on the size and breed.
Pet Care for Puppy Teeth
The fastest rate of growth happens in the first two years of life. By eight weeks puppies will have grown all their puppy teeth. Within the next five months they will start to loose these and their adult teeth will come in. This the reason for all the chewing. By the time your doggie reaches six months they will have their adult chompers.
Sophomore Year
In their second year dogs will continue aging at the same rate as they were puppies. During this year all breeds age about nine human years. This is the fastest rate of aging a dog will experience in their life. At two-years-old, all dogs are at the equivalent of around the human mid-20s. They will have reached sexual maturity and adulthood. Don\’t worry, dogs don\’t age at the same rate their whole life. It slows down as they grow older.
Teenage Angst
Smaller breeds grow out of the puppy stage earlier than larger breeds. But larger breeds speed up later in life and reach senior dog age sooner. While your dog is in their teenage years they’re going to need lots of exercise, no matter the breed. The ratio might be wrong, but the saying a \’tired dog is a good dog\’ is pretty darn true.
The Right Side of Forty
After your dog reaches five years of growth, this is when age breed divergent begins. Dog aging is relative and depends a lot on dog care, but estimates are broken like this:
- Small Breeds (20lbs>) = six human years = 40 dog years
- Medium Breeds (21-50 lbs) = six human years = 42 dog years
- Large Breeds (50<) = six human years = 45 dogs years
Pet Care for the Golden Years
Depending upon exact size and breed a large dog at nine human years will be 61-years-old. It can take smaller breeds 11 years to get to this age. After nine years your dog is considered a senior dog. During this time in your dog\’s life it is important to change some lifestyle choices. You may consider changing their diet, exercise schedule, and dog bed to fit the needs of an older and wiser pup. Preventative pet care is the best way to ensure your dog\’s golden years are healthy and and happy.
Choices to Make About the Numbers
The Australian Cattle Dog (ACD) breed can live well over 20-years-old in human years. They are the longest living dog breed. The world record is an ACD named Bluey. Bluey lived to chase cars and bark at the postman in Australia until he was 29-years-old. Bless you Bluey!
The key to getting your dog to get the most of their life is pet care. Healthy food, regular veterinarian visits, and plenty of exercise will keep them sound in mind and health. We love our dogs. They are one of the family. We want them to have a long and healthy life!
To find out your dog’s relative age, there age generators available online. Owners can plug in size and breed of their dog for an accurate estimate of their dog’s human age.
