Have You Ever Wondered How Old Your Dog Would be if They Were Human?

Contrary to popular belief, there are not exactly seven ‘dog years’ in a ‘human year.’ Since dogs live a shorter life than humans, they age more quickly. Even within the species of dogs, different breeds and sizes of dog’s age at different rates.

A two-year-old dog is generally considered to be an adult. We all know that this is definitely not the case with a two-year-old child. Once a dog is two, they are considered to be the equivalent of a 24-year-old human.

The Actual Age Can Vary Depending on Multiple Different Factors

The age of your dog in dog years may be different than another dog that was born at the same time. This is because larger dogs typically don’t live to be as old as smaller dogs. So, while a seven-year-old Chihuahua may only be 44 in dog years, a seven-year-old Great Dane will be more like 56 in dog years. A

Dachshunds, for example, will be 15 in dog years by the time they are one year old. By the time they are two, they are the equivalent of 24 human years. From then on, it’s four human years per every Dachshund year.

To help you develop a better understanding of how old different sizes of dogs may be, refer to the following chart.  We picked a few different ages (in human years), so you can compare how old different breeds of dogs are in dog years.

3 in Human Years
Small Breed Dog: 28 in dog years
Medium Breed Dog: 28 in dog years
Large Breed Dog: 28 in dog years
Giant Breed Dog: 31 in dog years

7 in Human Years
Small Breed Dog: 44 in dog years
Medium Breed Dog: 47 in dog years
Large Breed Dog: 50 in dog years
Giant Breed Dog: 56 in dog years

11 in Human Years
Small Breed Dog: 60 in dog years
Medium Breed Dog: 65 in dog years
Large Breed Dog: 72 in dog years
Giant Breed Dog: 86 in dog years

15 in Human Years
Small Breed Dog: 76 in dog years
Medium Breed Dog: 83 in dog years
Large Breed Dog: 93 in dog years
Giant Breed Dog: 114 in dog years

Now that you know how dog years work, it can help you provide them with the best care possible. Just like humans of various ages and stages have different needs, so do dogs. Be sure to talk with your veterinarian about providing the best care and diet to your dog based on their age. How old is YOUR dog, in dog years? Let us know in the comments below!