How old is a dog in human years, by breed? The answer depends on size, not on the breed name — but the breed tells you the size, and the size tells you the pace of ageing. This guide is the dog age chart by breed: the human-age equivalents at ages 5 and 10 for ten well-known breeds, with their typical weight and lifespan, so you can find your dog's breed — or the breed nearest its size — and read across. Every figure is an estimate, using the AVMA/AKC size model. The dog age calculator works out the figure for your dog's exact age and size.
The short version is: a 1-year-old dog is about 15 in human years, a 2-year-old is about 24, and after that a dog adds about 4 to 7 human years per year, depending on its size. Find your dog's breed in the table below, or the breed nearest its size, and read across to ages 5 and 10. The dog age chart by size guide gives the same figures by size rather than by breed, and the how old is my dog in human years guide gives the model with worked examples.
Dog age chart by breed
The table below gives the human-age equivalents at ages 5 and 10 for ten well-known dog breeds, using the AVMA/AKC size model. Weight and lifespan are the typical ranges for each breed from the published breed-standard data on this site.
| Breed | Size | Typical adult weight | Typical lifespan | Human years at age 5 | Human years at age 10 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Labrador Retriever | Large | 25–36 kg | 10–12 years | About 42 | About 72 |
| Golden Retriever | Large | 25–34 kg | 10–12 years | About 42 | About 72 |
| German Shepherd Dog | Large | 22–40 kg | 9–13 years | About 42 | About 72 |
| French Bulldog | Medium | 8–14 kg | 10–12 years | About 39 | About 64 |
| Chihuahua | Toy | 1–3 kg | 14–16 years | About 36 | About 56 |
| Beagle | Medium | 9–11 kg | 12–15 years | About 39 | About 64 |
| Siberian Husky | Medium | 16–27 kg | 12–14 years | About 39 | About 64 |
| Pug | Small | 6–8 kg | 13–15 years | About 36 | About 56 |
| Poodle (Standard) | Large | 20–32 kg | 10–18 years | About 42 | About 72 |
| Great Dane | Giant | 50–79 kg | 7–10 years | About 45 | About 80 |
Read the table from left to right and the pattern is clear: at age 5, a toy breed is about 36 in human years, while a giant breed is about 45 — and at age 10 the gap is wider, about 56 against about 80. The gap grows because the larger dog adds more human years per year after age 2. The dog age calculator guide gives the full chart for every age.
The model behind the chart
The model most veterinarians use is the AVMA/AKC size model: the first year of a dog’s life equals about 15 human years, the second year brings the total to about 24 human years, and after that you add about 4 human years per dog year for a toy or small dog, about 5 for a medium dog, about 6 for a large dog, and about 7 for a giant dog.
A second way to estimate a dog’s human age comes from a 2020 epigenetic study by Wang and colleagues at the University of California, San Diego, published in Cell Systems: human age equals 16 times the natural logarithm of the dog’s age, plus 31. For a 5-year-old dog that gives about 57 human years, and for a 10-year-old about 68. Use the stage, not the number, to make decisions about food, exercise, and vet visits.
Life stages for dogs
Dogs move through three broad life stages, and the boundaries depend on size:
Puppy or kitten (birth to about 12–18 months). Growth is rapid, especially in the first year. Feed a puppy or kitten food, feed little and often, and keep exercise gentle while joints are still developing.
Adult (about 18 months to senior age). Growth is finished and weight should be stable. This is the longest stage and the easiest to manage: consistent food, daily exercise suited to the breed, and a vet check once a year.
Senior (from about 10 years for a toy or small dog, 8 to 10 for a medium dog, 7 to 8 for a large dog, and 6 to 7 for a giant dog). The last quarter or so of a typical lifespan. Energy often drops, joints stiffen, and senses dull. Vet checks should move to twice a year, food may need adjusting, and exercise should stay regular but gentler.
Those boundaries are approximate. A dog that is lean, active, and healthy may act like an adult well past its senior boundary, while one with a health problem may need senior care earlier. The when is a dog considered a senior guide gives the thresholds by size, and the senior dog diet guide covers feeding in the senior years.
How to use the chart for your dog
Find your dog's breed in the table, or the breed nearest its size, and read across to ages 5 and 10. If your dog is a crossbreed or a mix, use the size rather than the breed: a toy dog is typically 1 to 5 kg, a small dog 5 to 10 kg, a medium dog 10 to 25 kg, a large dog 25 to 40 kg, and a giant dog 40 to 90 kg. The average dog weight by breed size guide gives the full size tables.
Use the chart to plan care, not to worry: a dog that is a puppy or kitten needs puppy or kitten food and gentle exercise, an adult needs measured food and daily exercise, and a senior needs twice-yearly vet checks and gentler exercise. The number in the chart is a guide to the stage, not a prescription. The dog breeds hub and the cat breeds hub list every breed on this site by size and group, and each breed has its own age, food, and lifespan guide.
Common mistakes
The most common mistake is the 'multiply by seven' rule: multiplying by seven gives 35 human years for a 5-year-old dog, against about 39 on the size model. The second mistake is using the dog model for a cat, or the cat rule for a dog. The third is taking the number too literally: the models give an estimate of the stage of life, not an exact conversion, and two dogs of the same age can be in very different shape.
The fourth mistake is judging a breed by its name rather than its size: a breed's age in human years is set by its size, not by its name, so a large breed of any name ages faster than a small breed of any name. The how to calculate dog age guide gives the step-by-step method, and the dog lifespan calculator puts age in the context of lifespan.
For related reading, see the dog age calculator, the dog age calculator guide, the dog age chart by size guide, the how old is my dog in human years guide, the dog breeds hub, the when is a dog considered a senior guide.
Frequently asked questions
How old is a Labrador Retriever in human years?
A Labrador Retriever is about 15 in human years at age 1, about 24 at age 2, about 42 at age 5, and about 72 at age 10. Find your dog's breed in the table above, or the breed nearest its size, and read across.
How old is a 5-year-old dog in human years?
It depends on size for dogs and not for cats: a 5-year-old toy or small dog is about 36, a medium dog about 39, a large dog about 42, and a giant dog about 45. Use the table above for your dog's breed or size.
How old is a 10-year-old dog in human years?
A 10-year-old toy or small dog is about 56 in human years, a medium dog about 64, a large dog about 72, and a giant dog about 80.
Is the 'multiply by 7' rule right?
No. Multiplying by seven gives 35 human years for a 5-year-old dog, against about 39 on the size model — and it is wrong in the other direction for puppies and kittens, where a 1-year-old dog is already about 15 in human years, not 7.
When is a dog considered a senior?
A dog is usually considered a senior from about 10 years for a toy or small dog, 8 to 10 for a medium dog, 7 to 8 for a large dog, and 6 to 7 for a giant dog. Those are rough guides, and your vet may move the boundary earlier or later depending on your individual dog's health.
My dog is a crossbreed — which row do I use?
Use the size rather than the breed: a toy dog is typically 1 to 5 kg, a small dog 5 to 10 kg, a medium dog 10 to 25 kg, a large dog 25 to 40 kg, and a giant dog 40 to 90 kg. The average weight by breed size guide gives the full size tables.
Results on this page are estimates for general information only and are not veterinary advice. If your pet is ill, underweight, overweight, pregnant, or has a health condition, consult your veterinarian before changing diet or care.