Dog's Age x 7 =Human Age
That's the formula you’ve always heard for calculating dog years, right? It’s a simple, comforting piece of math, but here’s the problem: it’s fundamentally wrong.
Thanks to modern veterinary science, we now have a much more precise calculation, and understanding your dog's true biological age is a critical step toward providing the proactive, age-appropriate care they need throughout every stage of life.
How long a canine will live depends on many factors, including their breed and lifestyle. How old is my dog in human years? To answer this question, you’ll have to think about more than just plugging some numbers into a calculator.
Debunking the 7-Year Myth: The Truth About Dog Years
How many dog years is one human year? You’ve probably heard the adage that one dog year equates to seven human years. Using this logic, your three-year-old Pomeranian will have reached the developmental and health milestones of a 21-year-old human.
However, this human-years-to-dog-years equation has been found to be faulty. Instead, science has shown that there is another calculation that’s much more accurate:
16 ln(your dog’s age) + 31 = your dog’s human age
If you’re not math-savvy, don’t worry! “Ln” simply refers to “natural logarithm” and is a button found on scientific calculators (that means the calculator does the hard work for you!). You can easily do the calculation yourself by:
1. Typing your dog’s age into a calculator
2. Clicking the “ln” button and then enter
3. Multiplying that value by 16
4. Adding 31 to that value
The final answer gives you a fairly good idea of how old your dog is on a human scale! (Note that some calculator versions may require you to click the “ln” button first before entering your dog’s age.)
Here's an example of what that this dog to human years conversion looks like for a dog that is six years old:
16 x ln(6) + 31 = approximately 60 years old in human years
📱 Quick Tip: Using Your Phone's Scientific Calculator
Turn your phone sideways: For most phones (both iPhone and Android), opening the standard Calculator app and turning your phone horizontally will automatically display the scientific functions, including ln.
Look for an expansion key: If turning the phone doesn't work, look for a button within the calculator interface that looks like an arrow (->), a three-dot menu (...), or a mode switch (such as DEG/RAD). Tapping this will typically expand the view to show the scientific functions.
Size Matters
Even a formula created from careful research isn’t 100% accurate in this case. There’s no perfect way to determine dog age in human years, unfortunately. You can use the formula as a guide, but you’ll still want to take into consideration other factors, including your dog’s size.
Small Dogs (Under 20 lbs.)
If you’re the proud pet parent of a smaller breed such as a Chihuahua or Maltese, we’ve got great news for you! These little pooches tend to have long lives, living up to 20 years in some cases. That means that even though your dog might be 10 years old (68 in human years according to the formula), it won’t be impossible for them to live to 78 years old in human years!
Medium Dogs (21-50 lbs.)
Medium dogs such as the Beagle often live somewhere between 12-15 years old. While their lifespans aren’t quite as long as their smaller framed relatives, medium dogs still have many years of playing fetch and running to look forward to.
Large Dogs (51-90 lbs.)
There’s something about big dog breeds that capture dog lovers’ hearts. Whether it’s a goofy Golden Retriever chasing his tail or a Standard Poodle swimming in the lake, larger dog breeds are often more active and social. However, the larger the breed, the shorter the lifespan on average, with large dogs typically living between 10-13 years. One theory for their shorter lifespan is that because bigger dogs have more weight, their body can’t defend against cancer as well as smaller dogs can.
Giant Breeds (90+ lbs.)
Giant dogs like Mastiffs and Great Danes often have large personalities that mirror their gigantic bodies. Sadly, those mammoth frames lead to shorter lifespans between 8-12 years. While that seems very short, remember that, to these giants, they’ve lived the equivalent of 64-71 human years.
What Your Dog's Human Age Really Means
Why does knowing dog years in human years matter? Having an idea of what stage of your dog’s lifespan they’re in can help you care for them better. For example, you might think a six or seven-year-old dog should still be able to keep up with you on your daily runs. However, a quick calculation reveals that, if your dog were human, they would be in their 60s. This knowledge can help you keep your expectations in check and be a reminder that your dog’s needs change each year.
How old is a dog in human years? The answer can also help you make better choices for your dog during each stage of their life.
Puppy to Adolescent (0-2 dog years = 0-24 human years)
The first year or two of a dog’s life sets the tone for their future health and behavior. Just as you would ensure your human baby received proper nutrition and care in the first few years of their life, you need to provide your pet with all the puppy essentials while they’re young. These include puppy food (prepared differently than adult dog food), vaccinations, and playtime.
Young Adult (3-5 dog years = 28-36 human years for medium dogs)
When your dog reaches around three years old, it’s time to start thinking about changing dog food types. Your furry friend is reaching their peak physical condition, which means they need quality food to fuel their busy lives. Make sure they get plenty of exercise each day. While many dogs experience good health at this stage, ensuring they remain physically and mentally active as young adults increases the chances of them having worry-free senior years. Helping your dog maintain a healthy weight reduces the risk of cancer, kidney problems, and urinary tract disease.
Mature Adult (6-8 dog years = 42-56 human years)
A dog that’s six to eight years old has hit middle age. This is a crucial time for keeping on top of health screenings. Don’t skip vet visits, as conditions like arthritis can begin to develop at this time. When problems are found early, they can often be mitigated with medication or even simply diet changes. Keep in mind your dog will start slowing down physically around this time. They may not be up for playing fetch or romping around the yard as much as they used to.
Senior (9+ dog years = 61+ human years)
By the time your dog is a senior, they’ll begin to experience similar changes as those human seniors go through. They can begin to lose their vision and hearing. With reduced faculties, dogs may undergo behavior changes. For example, they may become more easily startled (and thus, fearful) when they can’t hear a human or other dog approaching.
Protecting Your Dog Through Every Life Stage
The human-to-dog-years formula can help you understand your pet’s changing needs throughout their life. Some adjustments you will need to make include:
Modifying their nutrition, including the type of food and number of calories consumed
Changing their exercise regimen to suit their current life stage
Making sure your home is set up for each stage (for example, a senior dog may need steps to get on to a couch)
When pet owners don’t make these necessary adjustments, their dogs may seemingly age faster than they should. That means that even if your dog is 60 or so according to the scientific dog-to-human-years calculation, their bodies may feel more like 70 years old if they have severe arthritis or dental issues.
Protecting Your Dog at Any Age
As your dog moves through its middle and senior years (which happens faster than you think, according to the new age calculation!), the risk of developing costly chronic conditions like arthritis, diabetes, and cancer significantly increases. These age-related illnesses often require ongoing management, medications, specialist visits, and unexpected emergency care, leading to substantial and frequent veterinary bills.
Treating arthritis can easily cost $500 to $2,000 per year for diagnostics and ongoing medications.
Managing canine diabetes or similar chronic conditions often involves annual costs ranging from $1,000 to $3,000 or more.
Emergency surgery for an issue like a ruptured disk or sudden cancer can result in bills soaring between $3,000 and $10,000.
Investing in dog pet insurance provides a vital financial safety net, ensuring you can say "yes" to the best possible care during these expensive years without having to worry about the cost.
No matter what age your dog is in human years, they’ll need to visit the vet annually at a minimum, although senior dogs are typically recommended to have two visits a year. While pet insurance covers the cost of unforeseen accidents and illnesses, it doesn’t cover routine care. For planned, regular expenses like annual exams, vaccinations, heartworm medication, and other wellness needs, choosing to add a supplemental wellness plan for dogs can help you budget for the preventive care that keeps your dog feeling young.
Fill out Embrace’s short inquiry form for a free, customized quote and learn how to protect your pet through every life stage!
A Dog’s Age is Much More Than Just a Number
We're challenging the old adage that Dog's Age x 7 = Human Age, recognizing that this simple math was too inaccurate to guide real health decisions for your pet. The scientific, logarithm-based calculation may be more complex, but it’s scientifically more accurate. Knowing your dog's true biological age is the key to timing crucial proactive steps like diet adjustments, exercise modifications, and, most importantly, early health screenings.
As always, your vet is your best source of information and advice on your specific dog and how they’re aging, so don’t be afraid to bring it up at your next checkup. Now, go make the most of every moment, and enjoy every walk, snuggle, and adventure with your pup, knowing you are ready for their journey at any age.