How old is my dog in human years?
The old "multiply by 7" rule is actually a myth. Dogs age much faster in their first two years, then the rate varies by size. A 1-year-old dog is roughly equivalent to a 15-year-old human.
The science behind dog aging
Research from the American Veterinary Medical Association provides size-adjusted guidelines: the first year equals about 15 human years, the second year adds 9 more, and each year after that adds 4–6 years depending on size.
Size matters
- Small dogs (<20 lbs): +4 human years per dog year after age 2
- Medium dogs (20–50 lbs): +5 human years per dog year after age 2
- Large dogs (>50 lbs): +6 human years per dog year after age 2