Vet Explains How To Count Dog Years And It Appears 1 Human Year Is Not Equal To 7 Dog Years
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Pets are an endless source of joy and comfort for many. Some find taking care of a small critter fulfilling, others lean towards dogs that they can be active with, and then there are those who like cats and their general independence. Basically, there’s a pet for every type of personality, and people are largely thankful for the companionship, reciprocating the unconditional love with dedicated care.
And it will likely surprise no one that one of the most popular pets around the globe is a dog! These pets can accompany you for majority of your life; they can watch you grow up just as much as you document their journey. Dogs often become full-fledged members of the family, so their birthdays become as much of a milestone as your own. But here’s the hard truth—their cake day holds more significance than many imagine.
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A veterinarian debunks the idea that 1 human year equals 7 dog years
Image credits: Dr. Hunter Finn
Image credits: Dr. Hunter Finn
A video went viral on TikTok, made by veterinarian Dr. Hunter Finn. It was viewed 4.2m times and unfortunately, it’s not about dog petting techniques. “Okay, so you know that one saying that one human year equals seven dog years?” said Dr. Finn. “It’s not true.” Dr. Finn informed people that the largely prevalent idea that dogs age according to the formula of 1 human year=7 dog years is actually wrong. In fact, 1 human year means your dog has aged to the equivalent of 31 human years!
@dr.hunterfinn♬ Steven Universe – L.Dre
A 1-year-old dog equals 31 years in human years, but the aging scales down with time
Image credits: Dr. Hunter Finn
Image credits: Dr. Hunter Finn
While the 1=31 might seem scary, there’s no need to panic (much)! “A 1-year-old dog equals a 31-year-old human,” the veterinarian continued. “And a 2-year-old dog is 49.” So we can rejoice that a 2-year-old doggie is not secretly a 62-year-old. In fact, a 7-year-old dog is equal to 62 years in age, and an 8-year-old dog is 64. The aging slows down with years, which can provide some relief to dog owners. This calculation might be a blow to some people, especially with senior dogs in the families, but information such as this serves a very important purpose—education.
When you know the dog’s age, you can act accordingly and take care of it better
Image credits: Dr. Hunter Finn
Image credits: Dr. Hunter Finn
Think of it like this—the older you are, the more closely you have to monitor your health. When you could climb a tree in a minute when you were 10, at the age of 40, you might find yourself struggling. Over time, the body becomes less nimble and there is a plethora of other problems. It’s exactly the same for your dog! If the pooch is nearing his 5th birthday, his health is closer to that of a 50-year-old man, so it’s likely he needs more monitoring and frequent checkups.
The new calculations have a scientific study behind them
Image credits: UC San Diego News Center
Researchers at University of California San Diego School of Medicine released a study that focuses on a method for determining the age of a cell, tissue, or organism. The created formula is transferrable across species and shows that dogs mature and age quite rapidly during their first years, reaching human-based maturity in less than a year. “This makes sense when you think about it—after all, a nine-month-old dog can have puppies, so we already knew that the 1:7 ratio wasn’t an accurate measure of age,” said senior author Trey Ideker.
But there’s no truly definitive research in the field right now
The discussion about dog ages is ongoing both between dog owners and scientists themselves. All the way back in 2013, an article appeared in The American Naturalist magazine about a study that found bigger dog breeds age faster than smaller dogs. For large dogs, adult life is in fast motion, which results in them dying young, but there’s no answer as to why.
The American Kennel Club calculates that 1 human year is 12-15 for a dog
A few years ago, even the American Kennel Club chimed in on the topic, stating smaller dogs age approximately 15 years in one human year, while bigger dogs age 12 years in the same time. However, according to them, these numbers switch places as time goes by, meaning bigger dogs will reach older age faster: after 5 human years, small dogs have reached 36, while big dogs would be 45. And then there are the middle calculations for the in-between breeds.
Image credits: American Kennel Club
Naturally, people online were both amazed and concerned by the conflicting news
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I’m calling false. A 2 year old dog is a puppy, last I checked, children don’t become adults after 40 some years. This would also cancel out the 7 year myth, it’d be closer to 6 years. Due to puppies no longer being considered puppies after 3. 6 * 3 = 18. Adult. But, it’s actually measured per revolution of the sun, so 1 “human year” is equal to 1 “dog year”, they just live shorter lives
Breeds vary too much. If you have one breed that only lives 8 or 9 years (like Irish Wolfhounds) and another that lives nearly twice that (eg terrier breeds) then the calculations fall apart instantly. Sexual maturity also varies. A chihuahua, bichon or Yorkshire terrier puppy will stop being a puppy around 10 months. Large or giant breeds won’t stop being puppies until they reach 18 months. Totally agree that being able to breed does not mean they should. As I said, far too varied.
Yeah, I was going off of a standard dog living about 12-13 years of age. I did fail to explain this. And yes, it does vary per breed, as some can live to 20, and some don’t usually live past 10.
Exactly a 1yo old is a teenager not 30 and 2yo dog is a young adult.
I agree even if it differs a little depending on breed or size. My roughly 20 month old definitly resembles a 19/20 year old human.
And sexual maturity at 8 months, what is that supposed to mean? They’re adults? 12 year old children are adults too, by that logic. No, they’re just able to reproduce. Doesn’t mean they should at that age.
Okay, this bothers me so much. The very basis of your comparison is false. Humans (both physically and socially) mature much, much slower than... well, pretty much any other species on this planet, so taking us as a benchmark is, simply put, dumb. No other species has child-rearing practices that are this complex and take this long, and while reproduction is physically and psychologically safe for a dog once it's reached sexual maturity, for a human of "equivalent" age (so a child that's just finished puberty), it'd be traumatic in both respects. There is no comparison there. Humans don't stop maturing until they're what, 25-ish- dogs stop maturing around 8-24 months, depending on the breed. This doc's claim that a 1 year old dog is like a 35+ human isn't ubiquitously correct (I mean, a larger breed doesn't stop growing till it's around 2), but it's much closer to the truth than saying that any 1 year old dog is roughly the equivalent of a 7-year-old kid. More like 20-25, imo.
That would just break "adulthood" since some kids go through puberty aged 8 and other not till 16.
it seems very inaccurate and confusing compared to multiplying by 7
Multiplying by 7 doesn't really work though - breeds vary way too much for it to make much sense.
Yeah, making a claim that "2 year old dogs are puppies" is wrong. Yes, certain breeds aren't fully mature until they're ~2 years old, but generally speaking, dogs start being considered fully mature roughly between 9 months and two years of age, depending on the size and breed. It's not like a human turning 18, where it's suddenly a "whoops, legally speaking you're an adult now", but a process individual to each breed. You are very incorrect, but at least you're very confident about it.
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Both are false. A one year old dog is equivalent to a 15 year old human. A two year old is equivalent to a human in their early 20’s. A two year old dog isn’t a puppy, in fact dogs as young as one can birth puppies https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-calculate-dog-years-to-human-years/.
The figures you give are based ONLY on a medium dog. That's all. Breeds vary a massive amount. Some dogs live near to 20 and some don't make it to 10. Big breeds mature much later than small dogs. If people click on the link they'll see that further information is provided but for those who don't what you have written is misleading.
Your numbers are false. 2 years old, and vets confirm this, is a puppy.
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WRONG
I love comments like this (I don't). Wrong how? Why don't you make a bit more effort and provide a reason of some kind.
Irish Wolfhound puppy development usually spans 20-24 months from birth to full maturity. So some giant breeds are little more than a puppy at 2 years. Whereas a toy poodle would be done growing by 6 to 7 months and so at 2 years they've been an adult dog for some time. It is not black and white.
Can you prove this accusation? I’m always down to learn something.
Well, yes, in human years, or in this case, the 2 human years, like the person had said, there is NO way that the dog, 2 years of age in human years is still a baby, depending on the breed, that is more of an adolescent age.
Doob, don’t assume, dear. Actually know. I’m going off of what several vets say. A two year old dog, is considered a puppy.
I am going off of the word of several vets, plus HOURS of internet searching, plus studies in school, why why why? hmmmmmmmmmmmm
I don't think we can really compare things that are that different. People want to know how old their dog would be if it was a man, but that's purely mundane. What really counts is to know what the dog needs at which age, and to take good care of him, regardless of how old of a humane being he would be.
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Isn't that the point of this? So you know whether your dog should be treated like you would a 40 year old or 60 year old person?
Yes, but it doesn't work because it cannot be applied across all breeds. All it can ever do is provide a massively broad overview and only if your dog sits in the middle. Small breeds reach maturity earlier but live longer lives, large breeds reach maturity later but live shorter lives. A small dog might be an 'adult' for 16 years or more and a large dog might only be one for 6 years and yet both have lived their natural life span. Not comparable. Shelp is right, work out what fits based on the typical stages for that particular dog.
This guy tells bullshit. This might be right for small dog breeds as a chihuahua, but it definitely doesn't work for all dogs. The Boerboel mastiff I used to care for was an adult with 2.5 years, what would mean according to his calculation he'd be already an adult human with 1 year. Nonsense
I’m calling false. A 2 year old dog is a puppy, last I checked, children don’t become adults after 40 some years. This would also cancel out the 7 year myth, it’d be closer to 6 years. Due to puppies no longer being considered puppies after 3. 6 * 3 = 18. Adult. But, it’s actually measured per revolution of the sun, so 1 “human year” is equal to 1 “dog year”, they just live shorter lives
Breeds vary too much. If you have one breed that only lives 8 or 9 years (like Irish Wolfhounds) and another that lives nearly twice that (eg terrier breeds) then the calculations fall apart instantly. Sexual maturity also varies. A chihuahua, bichon or Yorkshire terrier puppy will stop being a puppy around 10 months. Large or giant breeds won’t stop being puppies until they reach 18 months. Totally agree that being able to breed does not mean they should. As I said, far too varied.
Yeah, I was going off of a standard dog living about 12-13 years of age. I did fail to explain this. And yes, it does vary per breed, as some can live to 20, and some don’t usually live past 10.
Exactly a 1yo old is a teenager not 30 and 2yo dog is a young adult.
I agree even if it differs a little depending on breed or size. My roughly 20 month old definitly resembles a 19/20 year old human.
And sexual maturity at 8 months, what is that supposed to mean? They’re adults? 12 year old children are adults too, by that logic. No, they’re just able to reproduce. Doesn’t mean they should at that age.
Okay, this bothers me so much. The very basis of your comparison is false. Humans (both physically and socially) mature much, much slower than... well, pretty much any other species on this planet, so taking us as a benchmark is, simply put, dumb. No other species has child-rearing practices that are this complex and take this long, and while reproduction is physically and psychologically safe for a dog once it's reached sexual maturity, for a human of "equivalent" age (so a child that's just finished puberty), it'd be traumatic in both respects. There is no comparison there. Humans don't stop maturing until they're what, 25-ish- dogs stop maturing around 8-24 months, depending on the breed. This doc's claim that a 1 year old dog is like a 35+ human isn't ubiquitously correct (I mean, a larger breed doesn't stop growing till it's around 2), but it's much closer to the truth than saying that any 1 year old dog is roughly the equivalent of a 7-year-old kid. More like 20-25, imo.
That would just break "adulthood" since some kids go through puberty aged 8 and other not till 16.
it seems very inaccurate and confusing compared to multiplying by 7
Multiplying by 7 doesn't really work though - breeds vary way too much for it to make much sense.
Yeah, making a claim that "2 year old dogs are puppies" is wrong. Yes, certain breeds aren't fully mature until they're ~2 years old, but generally speaking, dogs start being considered fully mature roughly between 9 months and two years of age, depending on the size and breed. It's not like a human turning 18, where it's suddenly a "whoops, legally speaking you're an adult now", but a process individual to each breed. You are very incorrect, but at least you're very confident about it.
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Both are false. A one year old dog is equivalent to a 15 year old human. A two year old is equivalent to a human in their early 20’s. A two year old dog isn’t a puppy, in fact dogs as young as one can birth puppies https://www.akc.org/expert-advice/health/how-to-calculate-dog-years-to-human-years/.
The figures you give are based ONLY on a medium dog. That's all. Breeds vary a massive amount. Some dogs live near to 20 and some don't make it to 10. Big breeds mature much later than small dogs. If people click on the link they'll see that further information is provided but for those who don't what you have written is misleading.
Your numbers are false. 2 years old, and vets confirm this, is a puppy.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
WRONG
I love comments like this (I don't). Wrong how? Why don't you make a bit more effort and provide a reason of some kind.
Irish Wolfhound puppy development usually spans 20-24 months from birth to full maturity. So some giant breeds are little more than a puppy at 2 years. Whereas a toy poodle would be done growing by 6 to 7 months and so at 2 years they've been an adult dog for some time. It is not black and white.
Can you prove this accusation? I’m always down to learn something.
Well, yes, in human years, or in this case, the 2 human years, like the person had said, there is NO way that the dog, 2 years of age in human years is still a baby, depending on the breed, that is more of an adolescent age.
Doob, don’t assume, dear. Actually know. I’m going off of what several vets say. A two year old dog, is considered a puppy.
I am going off of the word of several vets, plus HOURS of internet searching, plus studies in school, why why why? hmmmmmmmmmmmm
I don't think we can really compare things that are that different. People want to know how old their dog would be if it was a man, but that's purely mundane. What really counts is to know what the dog needs at which age, and to take good care of him, regardless of how old of a humane being he would be.
This comment is hidden. Click here to view.
Isn't that the point of this? So you know whether your dog should be treated like you would a 40 year old or 60 year old person?
Yes, but it doesn't work because it cannot be applied across all breeds. All it can ever do is provide a massively broad overview and only if your dog sits in the middle. Small breeds reach maturity earlier but live longer lives, large breeds reach maturity later but live shorter lives. A small dog might be an 'adult' for 16 years or more and a large dog might only be one for 6 years and yet both have lived their natural life span. Not comparable. Shelp is right, work out what fits based on the typical stages for that particular dog.
This guy tells bullshit. This might be right for small dog breeds as a chihuahua, but it definitely doesn't work for all dogs. The Boerboel mastiff I used to care for was an adult with 2.5 years, what would mean according to his calculation he'd be already an adult human with 1 year. Nonsense