Ever wondered how old your dog really is? As in, how old is your dog in human years? By converting a dog’s actual age to human years, you can get a better idea of exactly which stage of life your furry friend is in. Which you can do with our dog age chart below, which lets you easily find out your dog’s age in human years. And if it turns out your dog is older than you thought, then you might want to check out the common health issues to look out for in older dogs.

How old is my dog in human years?

Due to their shorter lifespan, dogs age quicker than we do. While a 14 year old human child is about to step into puberty, a 14 year old dog is already in grand-paw territory.

It turns out the common myth that one dog year equals 7 human years is wrong. The truth is a bit more complicated than that.

Not all dogs age at the same rate –  large, heavier dogs age faster than smaller dogs and don’t have the same lifespan. So considering your dog’s size and age in dog years, use the chart below to determine your dog’s age in human years:

Dog years to human years chart

Dog years to human years converter chart

While some large dogs like the Great Dane reach their senior life phase at 6 or 7 years old, small-sized dogs at the same age may still be in their adolescence! Large dogs have cells that divide faster, which might also make them more vulnerable to malignant tumors.

old dog and baby outside

How can I make my dog live longer?

To estimate the number of years that your dog might enjoy, you have to take several factors into consideration. It goes without saying that a healthy lifestyle, which includes plenty of exercise, is key to helping dogs live long and and prosper. Here are a few things you should do to ensure your dog lives a long and healthy life:

  • Feed a nutritious and balanced diet
  • Ensure they get regular exercise
  • Remember paw & nail grooming and care
  • Take regular trips to the vet for check-ups
  • Make sure your dog stays out of harm’s way with a GPS dog tracker
  • Give your dog plenty of love, attention and stimulation (easy)

Make all of that a part of you and your dog’s daily life for the best results. You can even track how time your dog spends being active – and set fitness goals for them – with activity tracking.

Discover Tractive

I adopted an adult dog: how old is my dog now?

If you have adopted a dog when they were already an adult, you most likely aren’t sure of their exact age. In order to determine how old your dog is, visit your local veterinarian. Most of the time your veterinarian can accurately estimate a dog’s years.

Based on your dog’s teeth, bones, muscles, organs, and general health condition, your vet will be able to tell you how old your dog is in dog years.

Why dogs age faster than humans

Want to learn more about why dogs age faster than us? Then check out the video below!


Did you like this blog post? Leave a comment!