How old is your dog – how to convert dog years into human years

The aging process of our dogs is a topic that sooner or later concerns all of us dog owners. Probably the most frequently asked question is how old the dog is in human years. In addition, the question arises, from when a dog is old at all. The traditional conversion 1 dog year equals 7 human years is no longer valid – even if it is still persistent. Further down I have put together a table for you that roughly shows the current conversion of dog age to human age. You will see that it is all much more complex than you might think. Age cannot be defined in a general way.

When is a dog old? Dog years in human years

There is no single formula for calculating age. Several factors influence when a dog enters the aging process starts. In addition, age is also individual. Possibly the most decisive factor in the aging process, is the size of the dog. Small dogs, such as dachshunds, are often still quite fit when they are 12-13 years old. The Irish Wolfhound, on the other hand, is already in the middle of the aging process at 5-6 years. You can see that body size and weight play a decisive role in how fast the dog ages. Of course, the genetic disposition also plays a role and influences such as attitude, exercise, diet, etc.. We should pay attention to those factors that are in our hands from the beginning. Being overweight at a young age has an effect on the aging process in any case. The same applies to diet and exercise. But even under the best living conditions and with the best genetic disposition, the Irish Wolfhound will never grow as old as the Dachshund.

The conversion from dog years to human years

According to recent findings, in the conversion of dog years to human years, it is mainly the weight of the dog that is taken as a fixed parameter. Dog years in human years

This then looks as follows:

Weight dog/ Old dog	Until 15 kg	15-45 kg	more than 45 kg
1	20	18	14
2	28	27	22
3	32	33	31
5	40	45	49
7	45	57	67
10	60	75	94
12	68	85	100
14	76	94
16	84	100
18	92
20	100

Source: Modified after Prof. J.-L. Pouchelon, Alfort Veterinary School, 1998.

Even though facts and figures give us dog owners a certain security in dealing with the aging process of our dog, I would like to urge you not to “cling” to them too much. You can see it as a rough guide. What counts much more than numbers is to accompany our dog individually in his aging process and to respond to his needs. Making it easier for him to get older and giving him support when things no longer come so easily and also consciously experiencing every moment with him means much more than numbers in a table. Dog years in human years