A common misconception about owning a dog is that in order to calculate age in dog years is to multiply their age in human years by 7. It’s actually a little more complex than that. Too bad we can’t just ask them their age, although the adage that you should never ask a lady their age may also apply to dogs. Overall, all dogs are different in their own ways and their size can be a determining factor in calculating age. Dogs mature rapidly in their first few years much faster than humans – which is why they get to immediately retire to a life of lounging.

How to Calculate a Dog's Age to Human Years

In order to properly calculate your dog’s age, you need to categorize your dog between small, medium, and large. Small dogs are generally 20 lbs. or less, this includes dogs like Miniature Pinschers and most Terrier breeds. Medium-sized breeds such as Schnauzers and Beagles are about 21-50 lbs. The final category is large dogs like Great Danes who weigh more than 50 lbs. These categories help determine your dog’s age because the size will dictate the speed of maturity. Small dogs tend to mature faster than large dogs. This explains why a young Great Dane like Scooby-Doo would rather raid a fridge for cake than figure out who’s haunting Old Man Jenkins’ house. The breed also dictates when they enter their golden years, large dogs channel their inner Bea Arthur after 5 – 6 years, and small dogs start their Angela Lansbury state-of-mind between 10 – 15 years old.

Dog Age Chart by Weight:

Small (20 lbs. or Less)

  • 1 dog year is 15 human years
  • 5 dog years is 36 human years
  • 10 dog years is 56 human years
  • 15 dog years is 76 human years

Medium (21-50 lbs.)

  • 1 dog year is 15 human years
  • 5 dog years is 36 human years
  • 10 dog years is 60 human years
  • 15 dog years is 83 human years

Large (more than 50 lbs.)

  • 1 dog year is 14 human years
  • 5 dog years is 36 human years
  • 10 dog years is 66 human years
  • 15 dog years is 93 human years