Think your seven-year-old dog is 49 in "dog years"? Think again!
It turns out that the simple formula of multiplying a dog's age by seven
may not be an accurate translation. One
thing that has stayed consistent over time, however, is the increasing canine
lifespan. In 1987, 32% of dogs lived
past age six; today about 12% more make it that far.
Canine life spans vary depending on many factors, but most
important is size. Physical size and
weight are significant as both can cause dogs to age faster. As a general rule of thumb:
- Big dogs – have shorter
life spans, are more likely to develop arthritis and other health
complications, and age faster in
dog years
- Small dogs – have longer
life spans and age slower in dog years
 Calculate Your Dog's
Age
The American Veterinary Medical Association has a basic
formula for calculating an animal's age in dog years. The following guidelines are for medium-sized
dogs:
- Year 1 = 15 years for a
human
- Year 2 = 9 years for a
human
- Years 3 and beyond = 5
years for a human
Don't want to do the math?
This pet
age calculator provides estimations based on the formula.
Life Stage Timeline
What goes on with a dog during the various stages of canine
development? Knowing these factors can
help determine the ideally-aged pet for you.
They can also help you understand why on earth your dog decided to do
something that seems outrageous!
- Puppies: Birth – 5 Weeks – Born
with eyes and ears sealed closed; eyes open at about two weeks; moves by
rolling and crawling.
- Puppies: 5 – 12 Weeks –
Learn by exploring, wrestling, and discovering boundaries of acceptable
behavior; separated from mother and littermates at 8-12 weeks.
- Puppies: 3-7 Months – Loss
of milk teeth and growth of permanent teeth leads to increased chewing; rough
play leads to napping; puppy can and should learn "sit", "lie down", and
"off".
- Adolescent: 8-18 Months – Full-size;
rebellious phase; high-energy; tests boundaries.
- Young Adult: 18 Months – 6
Years- Settles into regular routine; occasional playtime; becomes
companion.
- Senior: 7+ Years – Laid
back and mellow; still willing and able to be active.
- Twilight – Rests in bed or on the couch; short walks.
Resources:
http://www.slate.com/id/2217908/
http://www.npwm.com/mc_pet_age_calculator.asp?menu_id=405&menu_item_id=1
http://dogs.about.com/od/dogcarebasics/ss/ages_stages.htm
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Re: Dog Years - Not What You Think
