What Does One Dog Year Is Equal To Seven Dog Years Mean?

Dogs are among the most widely sought-after pets in the world. Their loyal, playful, happy nature makes them an excellent companion to have for humans of all ages. They’re smart, fun and protective, and make excellent pets.

One of the things that dog owners hear quite often is that one human year equals seven years in dog terms. No one knows where this saying comes from, although it is said that the monks at Westminster abbey came up with it in the thirteenth century. And it is being used since then.

The seven-to-one ratio is the easiest way to calculate the age of your dog. This ratio is used as humans generally live till the average age of 70, and dogs live to 10; hence, the calculation that one human year equals seven dog years.

Dogs mature quicker than humans do, which explains their shorter lifespan. The dog breed and size also play a crucial role in determining the age of a dog. For example, smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger ones. Tiny dogs generally mature at the age of 10 while giant dogs mature by age 5.

How to Check A Dog’s Age

If you have adopted a puppy or a new dog or are fostering one, then checking their age can be challenging since you can never know for sure. If you do not have a birth date, you can still check the dog’s age through its teeth. However, it will be different for dogs of various breeds and sizes and based on any dental care the dog has received in the past.

  • At eight weeks: A dog’s baby teeth start to grow.
  • At seven months: They get all of their permanent teeth, which are white and clean.
  • Between one to two years: Their teeth are not as bright as before. Also, their back teeth may have certain yellowing.
  • Between three to five years: Their teeth may have some tartar buildup.
  • Between five to ten years: Their teeth may show signs of disease.
  • Between ten to fifteen years: They have worn, missing teeth with tartar buildup.

Other than that, you can also take your pet to the vet who can then conduct a physical examinations to determine its age. Senior dogs may have specific aging signs, including cloudy eyes, grey hair, loose skin, and stiff legs.

Why Knowing the Age of Your Dog is Important

As pets get older, they need more care and attention, which is why it is essential to know the age of your pet. Small dogs are generally considered senior at seven years of age, while the larger breeds are often considered seniors when they reach five or six. You should know of all the problems that senior dogs may face, such as arthritis and related other irritability, weight loss, sensory issues, or any changes in their activities, which could cause even more severe problems. Being aware of these beforehand can help you take the necessary precautions to provide them with the comfort they need.

Is the Standard Way of Calculating the Age of Dogs even Accurate?

Thanks to research, we now know that dogs do not age at the rate of seven dog years to one human year. The American Veterinary Medical Association says that a medium-sized dog’s first year is in human years for about fifteen years. After that, a dog’s life in its second year is equal to nine years of that of a human. And then after that, every human year equals about four or five years for a dog. In other words, this happens due to how fast dogs mature as compared to humans.

What is Researchers Stance on This Ratio?

In 1953, a French researcher published a paper based on previous evidence claiming that dogs age 15 to 20 times quicker than a man does in his first year of life, but that ratio soon fades away about one dog year being equal to about five years.

However, as most dog owners already know, dog lifespans are not accurate since larger dogs pass away before smaller ones do. Aging researchers have calculated that a ten-year-old dog is about fifty-six in human years, and age goes on to vary from breed to breed.

DNA Evidence and Its Role

According to a new study published in the Journal Cell, the one to seven-year ratio is false, as revealed through an analysis of the dog’s genetics. The genetic makeup or DNA evidence stays consistent and does not change; however, in animals, chemical markers known as methyl groups change with time.

After tracking how these groups gather in different parts of Labradors genes over time, the researchers compared those changes with the same methyl group changes that take place in humans. The study of genesis is how the team decided an appropriate way to measure the age for dogs.

However, while the dog may have aged, it does not mean it will behave like one. While dogs age faster, they act in a way they are taught to. For example, a 1-year-old dog may be about twenty human years, but humans will play with it and treat it like a baby. Most dogs reach maturity age-wise, but in a behavioral sense, it will still behave as it does as a puppy. Furthermore, the researcher stated that dogs’ development is not just a smaller version of human development. On the contrary, it’s somewhat different, which is part of the reason why it’s challenging to find an exact match between a dog’s age and a human’s age.


by Bobby J Davidson || You can’t buy love, but you can rescue it™

Facts About Animal Homelessness:

  1. Only 1 out of every 10 dogs born will find a permanent home.
  2. The main reasons animals are in shelters: owners give them up, or animal control finds them on the street.
  3. Each year, approximately 2.7 million dogs and cats are killed every year because shelters are too full and there aren’t enough adoptive homes. Act as a publicist for your local shelter so pets can find homes. Sign up for Shelter Pet PR.
  4. Approximately 7.6 million companion animals enter animal shelters nationwide every year. Of those, approximately 3.9 million are dogs and 3.4 million are cats.
  5. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP), less than 2% of cats and only 15 to 20% of dogs are returned to their owners.
  6. 25% of dogs that enter local shelters are purebred.
  7. About twice as many animals enter shelters as strays compared to the number that are relinquished by their owners.
  8. It’s impossible to determine how many stray dogs and cats live in the United States. Estimates for cats alone range up to 70 million.
  9. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. Overpopulation, due to owners letting their pets accidentally or intentionally reproduce, sees millions of these “excess” animals killed annually.
  10. Many strays are lost pets that were not kept properly indoors or provided with identification.
  11. According to The Humane Society, there are about 3,500 brick-and-mortar animal shelters in the US and 10,000 rescue groups and animal sanctuaries in North America.

Here are a some adoptions for consideration:  puccicafe.com/adoptions