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🐶Dog Age Calculator
Dog years to human years (AVMA guideline)
| Dog age | Human years (AVMA) | DNA formula |
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The AVMA guideline (American Veterinary Medical Association): year 1 ≈ 15 human years, year 2 ≈ +9 (24 total), then ≈ +5 per year for a medium-size dog. Under one year, this calculator scales the first 15 years by the fraction of the year.
The DNA formula (Wang et al., 2020, Cell Systems): human age = 16 × ln(dog age) + 31, based on Labrador retrievers.
Both are estimates. Your veterinarian judges a dog's real life stage from its health, weight, teeth and breed.
Frequently asked questions
Is one dog year really seven human years?
No. Dogs mature much faster early on. The AVMA guideline counts the first year as about 15 human years, the second as about 9 more, and each year after that as about 5 more for a medium-size dog.
Do big dogs age faster?
Yes. Large and giant breeds have shorter lifespans and are considered senior earlier (around 5–6 years) than small dogs (around 7–10 years). Treat the result as a medium-size estimate and adjust up for big dogs.
What is the DNA (epigenetic) formula?
A 2020 study by Wang and colleagues (UC San Diego, Cell Systems) compared DNA methylation in Labrador retrievers and humans and proposed human age = 16 × ln(dog age) + 31. It was based on one breed, so it is an interesting comparison rather than a rule.
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Last reviewed: 2026-10-17