
Generally, a large dog lives shorter than a small dog.Īlthough, there are cultured breeds that live for a very short time due to their physical structure. Several factors are influencing and have to be taken into account if we would like to forecast a dog’s age. However, there are also significant differences between dog breeds. However, since smaller breeds mature more quickly, it is only logical to assume that a 1-year-old Chihuahua is more mature than a 1-year-old Great Dane.Who doesn't want to know their dog's human age?ĭogs live much shorter than humans, unfortunately. Therefore, both the lifespan and the ageing rate depend on the breed.Ī 4-year old Miniature Schnauzer is younger than a 4-year-old Neapolitan Mastiff. On the flip side, Yorkshire Terriers reach maturity when less than 12 months old and have a particularly long lifespan that often exceeds 15 years. Great Danes grow quickly in size but do not reach maturity until 2 years old. Due to their accelerated growth, larger dogs are at higher risk of abnormal cell growth and consequently cancerous changes.Larger dogs tend to succumb to age-related illnesses sooner than smaller dogs.The reason why is not known but there are several evidence-based and objective options: Nevertheless, recent studies suggest that a dog’s life expectancy is reduced by 1 month for every 2 kilograms of body mass.

The relationship between body mass and life expectancy is quite complex and not fully understood. For many years, this peculiar phenomenon has baffled scientists. It is well-established that smaller dogs live longer than large dogs. However, when speaking about dogs, this is not true. Generally speaking, large mammals like elephants and rhinos, live longer than small mammals, like mice and guinea pigs.

People have been comparing human to dog’s life span for centuries. When parenting a geriatric dog, it is important to recognise if your dog is suffering.ĭuring Dog’s first two years they age faster than humans, so need to multiply by 15, and after this period ratio gradually slow down to 1:5, by using the calculator you would be able to convert your dog’s age to human years.


During this phase, it is important to focus on socialisation, training, nutrition and handling. Puppy (birth to 6-7 months of age) – at this point dogs go through major physical mental changes.In the canine world, there are six life stages: Once it’s life stage is determined it is easier to understand its needs and provide life-stage specific care. Knowing their age in human years helps you determine its life stage. Giving your pooch, a human age is not just a whim.
