Are Dog Years Real? How Do Dog Years Work?

Raise your hand if you have ever calculated your dog’s age in dog years. Is everyone raising their hand? Phew! We’re not alone. We have all done this! It’s our dog’s birthday once again and, as they get older, you find yourself calculating their age in dog years. At some point, your dog becomes older than you! That’s when the panic of their aging sets in. But are dog years actually years real? Yep. Dog years are indeed a real thing, but they're not as straightforward as one might think. Unlike the reliability of our aging, dogs age at a different pace. The concept of dog years is our human way of expressing and understanding the relative aging of our four-legged friends as compared to us.

The concept of counting in dog years stems from the idea that dogs mature faster than humans during the early years of their lives. This accelerated aging process slows down as they get older, eventually reaching a point where the aging curve is more aligned with ours. So, while dog years are real, they're more of a ballpark figure than a precise science.

Why Do Dog Years Exist?

Dog years exist to bridge the gap between the human and canine timelines, providing a more relatable measure of a dog's age as compared to our age. This concept helps us understand the various life stages our dogs go through so we can adjust our expectations accordingly. After all, a one-year-old dog is vastly different from a one-year-old human – except for the fact that both put everything in their mouths! 

The concept of dog years also has a practical purpose in veterinary medicine. It helps vets tailor healthcare plans and recommendations based on a dog's life stage, ensuring our best pals get the correct level of care they need at every age.

How Do Dog Years Work?

The general rule of thumb has been that one dog year is roughly equivalent to seven human years, but the math gets a bit more complex when you factor in breed size and genetics. The dog years conversion is not as simple as multiplying their age by a fixed factor of seven.

Smaller breeds tend to live longer than larger breeds, and genetics play a big role in determining a dog's lifespan. A medium-sized dog might age more slowly than a giant breed, while a toy breed might age even more gradually. It's like comparing apples to oranges – or in this case, Chihuahuas to Great Danes.

How Are Dog Years Calculated?

How do you tell how old your dog is in dog years? Calculating dog years involves a bit of arithmetic, so get your pencil sharpened! The American Veterinary Medical Association provides a basic formula: the first two years of a medium-sized dog's life equate to 12-15 human years each, and every year thereafter is roughly equivalent to 4 human years.

*Calculating the age of our Yellow Labrador in dog years: Lewie is 4. Labs tend to live to about 12 years old, so we’ll use 12 human years for his first two years in his calculation. (2 years of age x 12 human years) + (2 additional years of age x 4 human years) 24+8= 32

*Calculating the age of our Anatolian Shepherd in dog years: Mo is 8. Anatolians, a giant breed, tend to live to about 10 years old, so we’ll use a lager factor of 15 human years for his first two years in his calculation. (2 years of age x 15 human years) + (6 additional years of age x 4 human years) 30+24= 54 

To get a more specific idea of age, consider your dog's size, breed, and life stage. Veterinary charts can be handy for a quick estimate, but nothing beats the insight of a knowledgeable veterinarian. They will assess your dog's health, breed specifics, and lifestyle in a more accurate assessment of your age in dog years.

Although the concept of dog years is just that, it is a way for us to bond and understand our dog as it ages. And as we all know, as each year passes, every day with your dog is a day to be treasured, regardless of what the calendar or the numbers tell us. 

Live, love, bark.