How Old Is Your Dog In Human Years?
The old adage of one year in a dog's life equals seven human
years isn't necessarily true. In fact, the equivalent of human to dog years varies
by breed and size. While a Saint Bernard may be considered a geriatric dog as early
as six years, medium-sized dogs don't usually show signs of aging until nine to eleven
years. And small breeds like toy poodles probably won't show signs of aging until
they're at least eleven. As as for environment, indoor pets typically live longer
than outdoor pets. The following table gives an approximate conversion; keep in mind
your pet's breed when using this chart.
When a Human is:
A Canine is Approximately:
8 Months
...............
13 Years
1 Year
...............
16 Years
2 Years
...............
24 Years
5 Years
...............
32 Years
7 Years
...............
44 Years
9 Years
...............
52 Years
11 Years
...............
60 Years
13 Years
...............
68 Years
15 Years
...............
76 Years
How Old Is Old?
The common belief that one year equals seven dogs years is outdated, says Johnny
Hoskins, DVM, a small-animal Internal Medicine consultant and author on the subject
of geriatrics.
Today, doctors use other factors, including the pet's weight and breed, to estimate its age in human years.
Dr. Hoskins offers these guidelines to help determine when an animal becomes geriatric:
Small dogs (less than 20 pounds) ............. 9 to 13 Years
Medium dogs (21 to 50 pounds) ............... 9 to 11.5 Years
Large dogs (51 to 90 pounds) ............... 7.5 to 10.5 Years
Giant dogs (greater than 90 pounds) ............... 6 to 9 Years
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