Dog Years To Human Years — Breaking The Myth!

Dog Years To Human Years  — Breaking The Myth!

Written By Meredith Kavanagh

Jul 12, 2016

There are a few truths in this world that will never change: the sky is blue, ice cream is delicious, and one human year is equal to seven dog years. Well, hate to break it to you folks, but at least one of those statements is a lie. Yes, dogs mature and age faster than humans, but just how fast is nowhere near as cut-and-dried as we’ve been led to believe.

Dog Years Calculator Tool

Once you think about it, it makes perfect sense. There are so many variables in dog breeds that it would be impossible to gauge their “true age” in one generalized ratio. Instead, there are several factors that should be taken into account when trying to translate dog years to human years: breed, size, and average lifespan.

 dog years to human years

How Do We Calculate Dog Years To Human Years?

Since smaller dogs tend to mature faster and live longer than large dog breeds, it isn’t logical to hold different-sized dogs to the same mental and physical maturity standards.

The American Veterinary Medical Association explains the dog years to human years relationship in a few simple statements:


  • The second year of a dog’s life is comparable to nine human years.

  • After that, each human year is approximately five dog years.

These guidelines make it a bit trickier to calculate your dog’s true age, but don’t you worry furr one second! We did the math for you and created this dog years calculator tool. Just select your dog’s size and age in human years, and we’ll give you their accurate age in dog years!

dog years to human years

How Old Is A Dog In Human Years?

Remember, while these calculations are a more accurate estimate of how to compare dog years to human years, they aren’t absolute. Dr. Stanley Coren, a psychologist and dog behaviorist, has written several best-selling books on dog psychology and the relationship between humans and dogs. Dr. Coren believes that after the age of five, the speed at which your pup will mature largely depends on their size.

To put this into perspective: at age 6, a small breed will be closer to 40 dog years old, a medium breed will be 42, a large breed will be 45, and a giant breed (above 90 lbs.) will be the equivalent of 49 in dog years.

These numbers help us relate to the age of our pet, and they can steer us in the right direction when it comes to proper diet, exercise, and medical care — but remember that dogs aren’t humans. By paying attention to possible hereditary ailments, and keeping them on a healthy diet and exercise routine, you can make sure your 60-year-old dog still feels like a puppy!

dog years to human years