We’ve been calculating dogs’ ages all wrong — here’s how to figure out their age in human years

Adobe

You’ve probably heard that one dog year equals seven human years. But as it turns out, it’s actually not that simple.

(And, hey, this is a serious matter because a lot of us are throwing “yappy birthday” parties for our dogs. A survey found that 75 percent of dog owners celebrate their dogs’ birthdays).

So how do you figure out how old your pup is so that you can put the right number of candles on that peanut butter cake and, more importantly, ensure he’s getting the proper vet care?

Adobe

Fortunately, the American Veterinary Medical Association put together a handy chart (included below) that explains how dogs actually age.

At age 1, your dog is already 15 in human years

Dogs develop fast in their first year of life. Can you believe they’re already ready for their driver’s permit? Kidding, of course.

But we do like to humanize our dogs enough that we’re counting their ages in “human years.”

Adobe

Dogs age nine human years between ages 1 and 2

A lot of development is still happening in a dog’s second year of life.

By the end of the second year, medium-sized dogs have developed by about nine years, and are 24 in human years, the AVMA says.

After year 2, dogs age about 4 to 6 human years per year

Here’s where you can toss out the seven-year rule, and where things really start to vary. The chart from the AVMA shows dogs aging about four to six years each year after year 2. Between ages 3 and 5, for example, they age by four years each year.

Between age 5 and 6, they age by six years. Then, between ages 6 and 7, they age by five years. Between ages 7 and 8, it goes back down to four years.

Adobe

These calculations are based on medium-sized dogs, which the AVMA defines as those that weigh between 21 and 50 pounds.

Weight and other factors, such as breed, can affect the aging process. Some breeds live longer than others.

And smaller dogs have a longer life expectancy than bigger dogs. This is something that is of interest to scientists because larger mammals like whales live much longer than smaller ones like rodents.

Adobe

According to the American Kennel Club, small dogs have lifespans that range from about 12 to 17 years; medium dogs have lifespans that range from about 10 to 15; and large dogs have lifespans that range from 8 to 16.

While we love celebrating our pets’ birthdays, the reality is that we’re really concerned about their age because we become so bonded to them. In fact, losing a pet can feel even harder than losing a relative.

Adobe

Some ways that you can extend your dog’s life? By making sure they’re getting enough exercise and aren’t missing their visits to the vet’s office.

The birthday parties just make life a little sweeter (err, savory if you’ve got a peanut butter lover).

Here’s the chart from the American Veterinary Medical Association, if you’re curious!

American Veterinary Medical Association

RELATED: Are you your dog’s favorite person? Here’s how they choose:

Animals, Pets
, ,

Related posts

woman playing with dog
Need to relax? Playing with a dog reduces stress, new study suggests
French bulldogs
American Kennel Club reveals the most popular dog breeds in the U.S.
Golden Dog Farm
Experience pure joy playing with dogs at this Golden Retriever Farm
black dog with perky ears relaxing in a meadow
This dog mom gave us her honest review of her Furbo pet camera

About the Author
Brittany Anas
Hi, I'm Brittany Anas (pronounced like the spice, anise ... see, that wasn't too embarrassing to say, now was it?) My professional writing career started when I was in elementary school and my grandma paid me $1 for each story I wrote for her. I'm a former newspaper reporter, with more than a decade of experience Hula-hooping at planning meetings and covering just about every beat from higher-education to crime to science for the Boulder Daily Camera and The Denver Post. Now, I'm a freelance writer, specializing in travel, health, food and adventure.

I've contributed to publications including Men's Journal, Forbes, Women's Health, American Way, TripSavvy, Eat This, Not That!, Apartment Therapy, Denver Life Magazine, 5280, Livability, The Denver Post, Simplemost, USA Today Travel Tips, Make it Better, AAA publications, Reader's Digest, Discover Life and more.

From our partners