There are different circumstances in which a person may want to know the age of a dog. You may want to know how old a stray dog is, or how old is the puppy you recently adopted. Whatever the reason, discovering the exact age is usually not easy.
At Sweet Doggo we are pleased to explain how to calculate the approximate age of dogs and how to know the equivalent of human years.
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How to know the age of a dog?
First of all, it is worth briefly reviewing the stages a dog goes through during its development.
Puppy
The first stage is the puppy stage. Its duration depends mainly on the size and life expectancy of the dog. Medium and small dogs are known to live longer than large and giant dogs. This is why they do not all stop being puppies at the same time.
For example, small breeds end the puppy stage at around 9 months (pug, Yorkshire terrier, French bulldog), medium dogs at 12-15 months (poodle, pitbull, border collie), while very large dogs (German Shepherd, Labrador, Great Dane) are still considered puppies until they are 24 months or older.
Adult
Next comes the adult dog stage, which also varies by size. In general, smaller dogs are considered adults until they are 7 or 8 years old. Larger dogs finish the adult phase at an earlier age, around 6 years old, as they have a short life expectancy.
Elderly / Senior
Finally, the elderly dog stage extends from when the dog ceases to be an adult until its death.
So how do you know how old a dog is if you don’t know when it was born?
Although you probably won’t get to know the exact age, you can find out what his approximate age is.
6 Ways to tell how many months/years a dog is with the naked eye
1. Inspect the teeth
According to experts, the best way to know the real age of a dog is to examine its teeth. For reference, consider the following relationship between chronological age and tooth characteristics :
Newborn puppies less than 4 weeks (1 month). They usually don’t have any teeth yet.
Puppies between 4 and 8 weeks of age (from 1 to 2 months). They may have some temporary teeth, sharp as needles.
- 2-month-old puppies. He already has all his milk teeth.
- Puppies between 3 ½ and 4 months. Adult canines and incisors have already begun to appear.
- Puppies from 5 to 7 months. The first posterior molars appear. At 7 months of age, the average dog has all of its permanent adult teeth. These look significantly white, and clean, and will remain so until the first year of life.
- A dog from 1 to 2 years. The teeth are no longer white and shiny. The color looks a bit duller, and even the back teeth may be yellowish. In addition, grooves and bumps may be noted on the upper and lower front teeth.
- Dog between 3 and 4 years old. The ridges and bumps mentioned above already look a bit worn.
- The back teeth are dull and have a tartar buildup.
- 5-year-old dogs. All teeth show wear and tartar.
- Adult dogs from 7 years. The teeth are completely smooth and you are likely to show signs of disease.
- Dogs 10 years or older. The teeth look very worn, there is a lot of tartar, and there are likely to be loose, cracked, or even missing teeth.
- In case you don’t have any information about the dog’s date of birth, this is the most reliable method to estimate its age. It can be very helpful when dealing with stray or adopted dogs that you don’t know the history of.
2. Examine the fur
Another method for clues to the age of dogs, specifically adult dogs, is coat color. Just like in people, dogs’ coats can begin to turn gray as they age. A dog that already has gray or white hairs on its muzzle and chest may be between 7 and 10 years of age.
If you see gray hair all over the body, including the face, ears, and legs, it is probably an elderly dog.
Typically, gray hair begins to appear on the muzzle first and then spreads to other areas, such as the head and body.
Experts warn that the appearance of the coat alone is not a 100% sure indicator. On the one hand, it is known that some dogs never get gray hair, and on the other, there are dogs that have it since they are young adults.
Did you know…? Golden retrievers often start showing gray hair as early as 4 or 5 years old. Other dogs, such as poodles, whippets, and Italian greyhounds, can go gray regardless of age.
Likewise, there is a possibility that graying is not due to age, but to problems such as stress and anxiety.
3. Examine the eyes
By the age of 6 or 8, it is common for dogs to already show signs of aging in their eyes. These can appear cloudy and cloudy due to the hardening of the lens, a condition known as lenticular or nuclear sclerosis.
If the dog exhibits other key signs, such as flat teeth and low energy, the appearance of the eyes can help confirm that the pet is older than 7 years (rarely in young dogs).
4. Pay attention to hearing
As a general rule, a dog that is still young will have very acute hearing. Instead, he may have hearing problems once he has entered late adulthood. Does the dog not respond to your call or follow commands easily? It is likely that it is an elderly dog.
5. Consider the musculature and body structure
When they are still puppies, most dogs tend to have a soft, rounded body, with little muscle tone. Also, the legs and ears look relatively large.
Young and middle-aged dogs in good health always exhibit a sleek, defined build with visible muscles.
For their part, older dogs tend to have less muscle tone. They may be a little overweight, or on the contrary, have a bony body.
6. Observe activity level
A dog in its early young years (1-3 years) will be eager to run, play, chase, and will move with great ease. As they move into adulthood (5-6 years), they become less energetic, show less interest in play, and prefer to nap. Likewise, they may have difficulty jumping, running, or going up, or downstairs.
As an owner, knowing a dog’s true age can be very important in ensuring its well-being. Puppies have different needs than adolescent dogs, and adolescent dogs have different needs than adult or older dogs.
How to calculate the age of a dog in human years?
You’ve probably heard the popular rule that 1 dog year equals 7 human years. Although this criterion has circulated for decades, the truth is that it is not entirely correct. Researchers have reported that, in their first few years of life, dogs mature much faster than people. It is now known that1 one year in dogs corresponds to approximately to 15 human years.
This calculation is also influenced by breed and size. For example, larger breeds tend to age faster than medium and small breeds. In terms of human years, most large dogs are several years older than small dogs.
What is the most accurate way to calculate the human age of dogs?
Consider that:
- The first year of life in dogs translates to 15 human years.
- Once the dog turns 2 years old, an additional 9 years must be added.
- From the age of 3, about 5 years are added for each canine year.
