Life Stage
How time passes for a dog. What changes in which year, and the number that applies to your own dog.
-
When is a dog considered a senior?
A dog is a senior once it reaches the last 25% of its estimated lifespan. That means about 6 to 7 years for giant breeds and 8 to 11 years for small dogs.
4 min read
-
How do dog years convert to human years?
Not by multiplying by seven. A dog's first year equals roughly 15 human years, the second adds about 9, and each year after adds about 5. A DNA-based formula gives a second estimate.
4 min read
-
Why do big dogs have shorter lives than small dogs?
Mainly because large dogs age at a faster rate once aging begins. In a UK study of 584,734 dogs, large breeds had a median lifespan of 11.9 years against 12.7 for small breeds.
5 min read