Most people know that dogs age faster than humans. Conventional calculations estimate that 1 year of dog life is equal to 7 human years. For example, you may have heard that you can multiply a dog's age by 7 to find the equivalent in "dog years." Usually the age of a dog is measured in human years, but this calculation is actually too simple. For example, dogs age much faster than humans in their first two years, i.e. a dog's first year is equivalent to 15 human years. There are other factors that affect the age of a dog that are important to know in calculating the age of a dog.
Step
Method 1 of 3: Determining Your Dog's Real Age
Step 1. Learn your dog's actual age in years
It is important to know the actual biological age of the dog in order to calculate the dog's age in dog years. It can also help you make certain decisions during the dog's life. That decision is usually based on the dog's age, such as when it's time to spay or when it's time to switch to an adult diet.
- You'll be able to tell your dog's age easily if you have a history of dogs or when you've had them since puppies.
- However, if you don't have that information, there are other ways to determine the age. Most of the methods described below involve examining physical characteristics, including the condition of the teeth, the size of the dog's body, the condition of the coat and eyes.
Step 2. Check your dog's teeth
Pay attention to the level and condition of the teeth.
Determine the level of the dog's teeth. Puppies usually have complete milk teeth by 8 weeks of age and all permanent teeth by 6 to 7 months of age. They will begin to have permanent teeth, which are the longest teeth that grow around the age of 6 months. This is the easiest time to accurately determine a puppy's age. If the puppy has all permanent teeth in a clean, white condition, then the dog is about 1 1/2 to 2 years old, but may also be about 1 year old
Step 3. Check the condition of the dog's teeth
Most dogs between the ages of 1 and 2 will begin to have yellow teeth on the back. Tartar will appear soon after this happens. The incisors, which are the teeth along the front of the mouth, will begin to develop between the ages of 3 and 5 years. The development of these teeth will continue to increase with age. Tartar that appears significantly with the appearance of gum disease (find red or inflamed gums) can be seen after the dog is 5 years old. Loose teeth usually mean that the dog is an adult and can perform dental care.
The grade and condition of your dog's teeth can help you make a good estimate of your dog's age, but remember that there are many other factors besides age that can affect a dog's condition such as heredity, genetics, chewing behavior and dental history
Step 4. Check your dog's size and growth
If your dog is constantly growing, it is less than 1 1/2 to 2 years old, regardless of overall size. Small dogs can reach full growth in height and length by the time they are one year old, but large dogs, especially large breed dogs, can reach perfect size until they are 18 months to 2 years old.
Step 5. Check your dog's muscles, young dogs usually have more muscle because they usually have a higher level of activity
In contrast, adult dogs are thinner or fatter due to decreased activity.
Watch as your dog moves. You can find the movement a little stiff; it can be a sign of aging dog age
Step 6. Check the dog's coat
Young dogs usually have coats that are soft and in good condition, while adult dogs tend to have coats that are thicker and rougher and are usually more oily. Adult dogs usually have gray or white clumps especially around the muzzle.
Step 7. Check your dog's eyes
Young dogs tend to have bright, kind eyes without any tears or discharge, whereas adult dogs can have gloomy or blurry eyes.
Step 8. Get your dog checked by the vet
Veterinarians can estimate the age of the dog based on a thorough physical examination or examination which includes examination of the bones, joints, muscles and organs present. This is the best way to accurately determine a dog's age.
Method 2 of 3: Calculating Dog Age Based on Body Size
Step 1. Understand how body size relates to a dog's age
The most accurate calculation of a dog's age also takes into account the size of the dog. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger dogs, although small dogs may age more rapidly during their first years of life. In the early years of their life, large dogs may age more slowly, but are considered "adult" at five years of age. Medium-sized dogs have a lifespan and aging rate between small and large dogs.
In other words, once the dogs reach maturity, the larger dog is considered more mature than the smaller dog of the same age
Step 2. Determine the size of the adult dog
You can weigh them at home or take them to the vet for a more accurate calculation. The following are some general categories based on dog size:
- Small dogs: 9.1 kg or less
- Medium dog: 9.5 kg to 22.7 kg
- Large dogs: 23.1 kg to 45.4 kg
- Giant breed dogs: 45.4 kg or more.
- Note that most dogs are considered adults by the time they are 2 years old. For dogs of any size, the relationship between the dog's age and the calculated human year is the same for the first two years. For example, whether it's a small, medium or large dog, a 1 year old dog equals 15 years old in a dog year. At the age of two, he is 24 in dog years. However, dog body size begins to affect dog lifespan in dog years after they are 2 years old.
Step 3. Calculate the age of the dog after 2 years
For each year after the dog is 2 years old, add the following numbers after 24 (the dog's age at 2 years), based on the dog's weight: for small and medium dogs add 5 years, for large dogs add 6 years, and for giant breeds add 7 years.
- Determine the age of the small dog at 10 years old. At 2 years old, the dog is 24 in dog years. Every year after that, the dog's age increases by 5 years. This means that when he is 10 years old, he is actually 64 years old in dog years.
- Giant breeds, such as the Great Dane, have a faster lifespan after 2 years of age. At 2 years old, the dog is 24 years old in dog years. Every year after that, the dog's age increases by 7 years. When he was 10 years old, he was actually 80 years old in dog years.
Method 3 of 3: Determining a Dog's Age with Quick Calculations
Step 1. Subtract your dog's year by 2
Note that your dog is at least 2 years old. Dogs can be considered to have reached adulthood at that time.
Step 2. Multiply the number of ages by 4 and then add 21
Now you have the approximate age of the dog in dog years.
For example, if your dog is 10 years old, then he is 53 years old in dog years
Step 3. Remember that these calculations are only rough calculations
This is because the age calculation does not take into account the size of the dog, so it will not be completely accurate.
- Calculations like this are more accurate for smaller dogs than for larger dogs. For example, as we calculated earlier, when looking at dog body size, a 10 year old Great Dane is actually 80 years old in dog years, while the rough calculation only estimates that the dog's age is 53 years.
- However, it's an easy way to quickly calculate your dog's age if you don't know your dog's size or when you're in a hurry.
