How dogs age, explained

Short, plain-English reads on dog aging — no jargon, no fear.

Start here

the essentials, in order

Dog years to human years: the actual conversion

The seven-to-one rule is wrong. Here is the real, size-dependent way to convert your dog's age into human years.

What is the average dog lifespan?

The average dog lives around 11 to 13 years, but the honest answer depends almost entirely on the size of the breed.

Dog life stages explained

Puppy, adolescent, adult, senior. The four life stages of a dog and what each one needs.

The multiply-by-seven myth, explained Why do small dogs live longer than big dogs?How to tell a dog's age Which dog breeds live the longest?Which dog breeds have the shortest lifespans?How to extend your dog's lifespan Dog cancer rates by breed: which get it most?What age is a dog considered senior?When is a dog a senior?Do mixed breed dogs live longer than purebreds?

By breed

grouped by size, the way aging works

Small breeds · 12

Bichon Frise14–15 Cavalier King Charles Spaniel12–15 Chihuahua14–16 Dachshund12–16 French Bulldog10–14 Jack Russell Terrier13–16 Maltese12–15 Miniature Schnauzer12–15 Pomeranian12–16 Pug13–15 Shih Tzu10–18 Yorkshire Terrier11–15

Medium breeds · 14

American Pit Bull Terrier12–16 Australian Cattle Dog12–16 Australian Shepherd12–15 Beagle10–15 Border Collie12–15 Brittany12–14 Bulldog8–10 Cocker Spaniel10–14 English Springer Spaniel12–14 Pembroke Welsh Corgi12–13 Poodle (Standard)10–18 Siberian Husky12–14 Staffordshire Bull Terrier12–14 Vizsla12–15

Large breeds · 10

Akita10–13 Belgian Malinois14–16 Boxer10–12 Cane Corso9–12 Doberman Pinscher10–12 German Shepherd9–13 Golden Retriever10–12 Labrador Retriever11–13 Rottweiler9–10 Weimaraner10–13

Giant breeds · 6

Bernese Mountain Dog7–10 Bullmastiff7–9 Great Dane7–10 Mastiff6–10 Newfoundland9–10 Saint Bernard8–10

Puppy growth

when is your dog full grown?

FULL GROWN Chihuahua FULL GROWN German Shepherd FULL GROWN Golden Retriever FULL GROWN Labrador Retriever