Dog Years to Human Years Calculator

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This article was updated on May 2nd, 2023

You can use two different methods to calculate your dog’s age in human years: 1) determine the based on your dog’s breed (recommended for purebred dogs), 2) use your dog’s size and weight (recommended for mixed breed dogs).

Don’t Use the 7x Rule to Calculate Your Dog’s Age in Human Years

Many people think that a dog year is equivalent to 7 human years. However, this 7x ratio is NOT true for most breeds. For example, a 10-year-old male neutered Chihuahua would be 70 years old using the 7x rule. In reality, our calculator below shows that 45 years old is a better estimate (Chihuahuas have an average life expectancy of 15.5 years).

Convert Dog Years to Human Years Based on Your Dog’s Breed [Calculator]

When estimating how old your dog is in human years, the primary factor to consider is your dog’s breed. Research also shows that neutering status, and, to a lesser extent, sex are important factors to take into account. We have taken these key factors into account in our calculator below:

In human years, your dog is...

Small breeds live as much as 50-80% longer than larger breeds and experience the negative effects of aging later in life compared to large breeds. If your dog is a mixed breed, a reliable way to convert your dog’s age to human years is to use your dog’s size or weight.

If Your Dog is a Mixed Breed, Use “Size” to Estimate Human Years:

All in all trying to figure out how old your dog is in ‘dog years’ v ‘human years’ isn’t an exact science. If your dog is mixed breed or if you don’t know your dog’s breed, the next most important factor to consider is size/weight.

To make it a little easier, we have put together this table that translates ‘dog years’ to ‘human years’ for small, medium and large breeds.

Your Dog’s Age‘Real’ Age – Small‘Real’ Age – Med‘Real’ Age – L & XL
1 year181614
2 years252421
3 years282927
4 years323432
5 years363842
6 years404248
7 years444857
8 years485463
9 years525970
10 years566375
11 years606882
12 years647490
13 years6879100
14 years7283108
15 years7689115
16 years8095120

See this infographic to find out your dog’s age in human years based on size:

infographic showing the link between dog years and human years based on size

But if you don’t know when your dog was born, how can you best estimate your dog’s age? Read our post on “How Old Is My Dog?” for easy tips to estimate how old your dog really is.

Studies Used to Build Our “Dog Years to Human Years” Calculator

Estimating a dog’s age in human years is not simple. We have reviewed data from multiple studies to conclude that a breed-based calculator is best. To build the formula behind our calculator, we have used the following studies:

Related posts: Pictures of Teeth by Dog’s Age: Veterinarians use many clues to estimate a dog’s age. One thing that we examine is the dog’s teeth. In this article, we will review what teeth can tell you about a dog’s age – with pictures of teeth by dog age.

Authors

  • Jason Robins

    Jason is a pet specialized writer who works with our veterinarian team (https://seniortailwaggers.com/team/) to write in-depth articles about pet health and behaviors.

  • Julie Burgess, Certified Dog Trainer

    Julie Burgess, a Certified Veterinary Technician with more than 20 years of experience, has also trained dogs for more than 8 years. She is a Certified Dog Trainer (CPDT-KA from the Certification Council for Professional Dog Trainers).

Disclaimer: This website's content is not a substitute for veterinary care. Always consult with your veterinarian for healthcare decisions. Read More.

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