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How old is a dog in human years? Your dog’s current age is the most decisive determining factor. For example, the first year of a dog is 15 human years, and the second year adds nine years. Each subsequent year after the second adds about five years. Some breeds also age differently, which in some cases makes the age calculation less accurate.
Your dog’s age under 12 months in human years: 15
In the first year of life, the dog will reach the age equivalent to 15 human years. By the time the dog is one year old, it is at least adolescent. The size of the breed will determine how mature the dog is in its first year of life. Generally speaking, a small dog or toy-sized dog will reach maturity at this age, while a giant breed will still grow.
Many changes will take place in the first year of a dog’s life as the dog progresses from childhood to adolescent adulthood. Puppies of all breeds go through stages to find their place in the family, or “pack”. Younger puppies will have high energy levels and go through the chewing stages due to teething.
Most puppies begin to calm down a bit when they grow out of the teething stage. Once they have passed the teething stage, they will be approaching another milestone in the form of puberty. Smaller breeds such as Chihuahuas may be ready to breed in their first year of life, while the Great Pyrenees may not reach sexual maturity until two or three years of age.
When the dog reaches its first birthday, it will become an adult. Like adolescent humans, dogs can continue to grow and fill up a bit after reaching this stage. However, they are significantly more mature than young puppies and will behave more like adult dogs.
Age of your 2-year-old dog in human years: 24
When a dog turns its second year, it becomes an adult. The appearance, including the coat, will match that of an adult, which the dog will retain for most of its life. In larger breeds, especially those that are considered gigantic, the first heat cycle often occurs only in the second year.
Although the dog is still very energetic at this age, some of the hyperbehaviors often associated with puppyhood have already disappeared. Dogs of this age, used for work or hunting, will have sufficient attention and concentration to complete their assigned tasks. As dogs grow older, they become more reliable family companions.
Dogs will be in excellent physical and mental condition for most of adulthood. Most breeds average five human years per year, starting in the third year. Some age more slowly due to their small size, while others age faster due to their large size.
Some dog breeds also come from breeding or show lines that can affect how quickly they age. Dogs bred from working lines often live longer and may age somewhat more slowly. When dogs come from poorly bred lines, they may be a little more susceptible to age-related issues in life.
Average age for most dogs: 4 to 6 years old
The size of the breed will determine when a dog is considered middle age. Due to their large size, Great Danes are often considered middle-aged people from the age of four. Four to six years in dogs corresponds to 34 to 44 years in humans.
Middle-aged dogs are less active than their younger counterparts. However, they can still complete most of the tasks required of them at this age. Many working breed dogs are highly functional until middle age and beyond.
When most dogs are considered seniors: 8 to 11 years old
While many of them will behave more like middle-aged dogs, most of the larger dogs are considered seniors by as early as the age of eight. Medium-sized dogs are considered senior at the age of ten, and the smallest breeds are considered senior at the age of 11.
As dogs reach an older age in their lives, gray hair is likely to be visible on their faces. Gray hair can also be seen on other areas of the dog’s coat. In some dogs, this hair turns white over time.
Around this age, dogs usually experience a decrease in activity levels. Although an older dog in good health will be somewhat active, the level of activity in young and middle age is unlikely. Age-related health problems are more common in older than middle age.
Possible exceptions to the aging process: small toy breeds and giant breeds
Two types of dogs can age slightly faster than others due to a shorter lifespan. In one case, we are talking about toy-sized dogs raised to teacup size, such as the Chihuahua and the smaller Yorkshire Terrier, which can live from seven to 12 years instead of 14-15, which is more typical of these breeds. Another example is some giant breeds, including Great Dane and Irish Wolfhounds, many of which have a lifespan of only six to seven years.
Extremely small or large dogs are often the product of a very limited gene pool. Since a smaller group of dogs make up their pedigree, they are more likely to inherit certain conditions. Teacup-sized toy dogs can age faster than their other breeds, while giant-sized dogs develop faster than other sizes to match their shorter lifespan.
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