The conventional wisdom that dogs age the equivalent of 7 human years for every calendar year was debunked long ago. It’s not one age fits all. Use our dog year calculator to find out how old your dog really is in human years, and check out the accompanying article to learn how dog years measure up.
Dog years calculator: How old is my dog in human years?
At a Glance
- The popular rule-of-thumb that 1 dog year equals 7 human years was debunked long ago. For calculating age, the average weight of the dog’s breed is the primary factor.
- Dogs age quickly in their earliest years, usually reaching puberty within the first year or two. The pace varies soon after, again depending on weight group.
- Generally speaking, the smallest dogs live longest. Others age faster as they move up the weight scale, with the largest breeds experiencing the shortest life span. Nutrition, lifestyle and genetic factors also play significant roles.
- Knowing your dog’s age in human years can help you schedule vet visits, so age-specific illnesses are identified and treated to give your pet a happy, healthy life, however long that may be.
Dog years chart
The useful chart below allows you to convert dog years to human years easily. Breeds are divided into weight groups of small (20 pounds or less), medium (21 to 50 pounds), large (51 to 100 pounds), and giant: more than 100 pounds.

Age of Dog | Small breed | Medium breed | Large breed | Giant breed |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 Year | 15 Human Years | 15 Human Years | 15 Human Years | 12 Human Years |
2 Years | 24 Human Years | 24 Human Years | 24 Human Years | 22 Human Years |
3 Years | 28 Human Years | 28 Human Years | 28 Human Years | 31 Human Years |
4 Years | 32 Human Years | 32 Human Years | 32 Human Years | 38 Human Years |
5 Years | 36 Human Years | 36 Human Years | 36 Human Years | 45 Human Years |
6 Years | 40 Human Years | 42 Human Years | 45 Human Years | 49 Human Years |
7 Years | 44 Human Years | 47 Human Years | 50 Human Years | 56 Human Years |
8 Years | 48 Human Years | 51 Human Years | 55 Human Years | 64 Human Years |
9 Years | 52 Human Years | 56 Human Years | 61 Human Years | 71 Human Years |
10 Years | 56 Human Years | 60 Human Years | 66 Human Years | 79 Human Years |
11 Years | 60 Human Years | 65 Human Years | 72 Human Years | 86 Human Years |
12 Years | 64 Human Years | 69 Human Years | 77 Human Years | 93 Human Years |
13 Years | 68 Human Years | 74 Human Years | 82 Human Years | 100 Human Years |
14 Years | 72 Human Years | 78 Human Years | 88 Human Years | 107 Human Years |
15 Years | 76 Human Years | 83 Human Years | 93 Human Years | 114 Human Years |
16 Years | 80 Human Years | 87 Human Years | 99 Human Years | 121 Human Years |
How do dog years work in human terms?
When we talk about “dog years,” we’re attempting to explain how old a dog is from a human perspective. Since human life expectancy is far longer than a dog’s, a standard calendar year represents a smaller portion of our lives.
We now know you don’t merely multiply by 7 to convert dog years to human years. Nowadays, it’s widely accepted that the most relevant factor in converting dog to human years is weight, and that the average weight range of a breed establishes typical life expectancy.
In general, the smallest dogs live longest. Others age faster as they move up the weight scale, with the largest dogs experiencing the shortest life span.
When it comes to canine life expectancy, it’s quite common for tiny breeds such as dachshunds, Shih Tzus, Chihuahuas, Maltese, Yorkshire terriers and Jack Russell terriers to live to 15 years and longer, with some of the rarest cases surpassing the 20-year mark. On the heavier end of the scale, Newfoundlands, St. Bernards and rottweilers rarely live beyond 10 years, whereas Great Danes and mastiffs seldom live beyond 8. In the middle ranges, Labradors, golden retrievers and German shepherds live 10 to 12 years.
Diverse breeds diverge in rate of aging
In earliest puppyhood, dogs of all breeds age at a similarly rapid rate, usually reaching puberty within the first year or two. Accordingly, for a newborn puppy 1 human year may be as much as 15. So we can say that most 1-year-old dogs are roughly adolescents.

Soon after, the pace varies, depending on weight group. Then the rate at which dogs age in human equivalency diverges widely. For example, at 10 years old, a small dog, e.g., a chihuahua, can clock in at a relatively middle-aged 56, whereas a giant counterpart such as a St. Bernard is in its golden years at 79.
How to calculate dog years?
Use our human years to dog years calculator to determine how old your dog is in terms you can relate to. Enter a dog’s gender, breed, and age at present. Our dog years calculator will convert your dog’s age into the human equivalent.Or consult the handy dog years chart to determine how old your dog is based on its weight and breed.
Advantages of knowing your dog’s human age?
Who hasn’t asked, “How old is my dog in dog years?” to estimate its age on a human scale. Like all animals, dogs have different needs at different stages in their lives. Ascertaining the equivalence of dog age in human years can be an invaluable guide to providing proper nutrition, recreation and veterinary care.

For instance, puppies and younger dogs require a major investment of time and energy for training and play. Then there’s the crucial issue of when to spay or neuter.
While healthy dogs can be sterilized as young as 8 weeks, the ASPCA says somewhere between 6 and 9 months is more typical, with even older dogs being more susceptible to medical complications arising from “getting fixed.”
As they reach maturity, our furry friends, like ourselves, need more frequent medical care. Older dogs often suffer partial loss of hearing and sight, while becoming more susceptible to many of the same diseases that afflict humans, cancer, diabetes, arthritis and heart disease chief among them.
They can also become anxious, temperamental, disoriented, unusually aggressive and sensitive to loud sounds. At this stage of life, you can expect ever more frequent trips to the vet.

What is the life expectancy of different dog breeds?
- Bulldog: 8 to 9 years
- Great Dane: 9 to 11 years
- Boston Terrier: 13 to 16 years
- Cocker Spaniel: 13 to 16 years
- Poodle: 13 to 16 years
- Miniature Schnauzer: 13 to 16 years
- Dachshund: 14 to 18 years
- Newfoundlander: 9 to 11 years
- Boxer: 10 to 12 years
- Chow Chow: 10 to 12 years
- Bernese Mountain Dog: 11 to 13 years
- Labrador: 11 to 13 years
- Rottweiler: 11 to 13 years
- Golden Retriever: 11 to 13 years
- Dalmatian: 12 to 14 years
- Sheepdog: 11 to 14 years
- Scottish Terrier: 11 to 14 years
- Beagle: 12 to 15 years
- Chihuahua: 12 to 15 years
- Doberman: 12 to 15 years
- Jack Russell Terrier: 13 to 15 years
- Yorkshire Terrier: 13 to 15 years
- Siberian Husky: 12 to 14 years
- Shih Tzu: 13 to 16 years
- Bichon Frise: 14 to 16 years
- Pomeranian: 14 to 16 years
- Maltese: 14 to 16 years
- Weimaraner: 10 to 14 years
- German Shepherd: 10 to 13 years
- Pug: 12 to 15 years
- Springer Spaniel: 12 to 14 years
- Border Collie: 12 to 16 years
- Australian Shepherd: 13 to 15 years
- Basset Hound: 12 to 14 years
- Saint Bernard: 8 to 10 years
- Irish Setter: 12 to 14 years
- Cavalier King Charles Spaniel: 10 to 14 years
- English Bulldog: 8 to 10 years
- Lhasa Apso: 12 to 14 years
- Shetland Sheepdog: 12 to 14 years
Calculating the lifespan of mixed breed dogs
The lifespan of mixed breed dogs can be estimated based on the average lifespan of their parent breeds. Here’s how to calculate it:
Identify the main breeds in the mixed breed dog. You can do this by consulting a veterinarian or a dog DNA testing kit.
Look up the average lifespan of each of the main breeds.
Take the average of the lifespans of the main breeds to estimate the lifespan of the mixed breed dog.
For example, if a mixed breed dog has parents of two breeds with average lifespans of 12 and 14 years, the estimated lifespan of the mixed breed dog would be 13 years (12 + 14 / 2).
It’s important to note that this is just an estimate and the actual lifespan of a mixed breed dog can vary based on many factors such as genetics, diet, exercise, and overall health.
FAQ
How many dog years is one human year?
Due to his or her much shorter life span, your dog and you age at two widely different rates. Just how different depends on your dog’s weight and stage of life. A 2-year-old Pekingese may age only 4 years in a single human year, whereas a Great Dane may age 9. To find out where your dog is on the spectrum, consult our easy-to-use calculator.
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What are dog years?
A standard human calendar year is 365. The proportion of your pooch’s life span that elapses during that time varies. To determine the differing rates at which you and your dog age, see this useful dog year chart.
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How much is one year in dog years?
It depends upon the breed, insofar as every breed has an average weight range. For a single calendar year, a 2-year-old, 20-lb. Dachshund may age as little as 4 years in human equivalence, but 9 years may elapse for a 130-lb. Newfoundland. To best tally how many human years passed for your pet last year, use this dog to human year calculator.
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What is the equivalent human age of my mixed breed?
For mongrels, mutts, Heinz 57s, or whatever you choose to call your mixed breed, the best way to calculate age is by the aforementioned weight groups. In general, small dogs age at a slower pace and reach a longer life span of up to 16 years; a giant dog has basically reached the same age at 10 to 12 years. Find out exactly how old your mutt is with this dog year calculator.
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- 1 Dog years calculator: How old is my dog in human years?
- 2 Dog years chart
- 3 How do dog years work in human terms?
- 4 Diverse breeds diverge in rate of aging
- 5 How to calculate dog years?
- 6 Advantages of knowing your dog’s human age?
- 7 What is the life expectancy of different dog breeds?
- 8 Calculating the lifespan of mixed breed dogs
- 9 FAQ