Pet owners know that they just don’t get enough years with their pet. A lot of people are confused about the concept of dog years versus human years, which is why this article is here to help. After your dog passes, there are things that you need to plan in order to honor your beloved pet. Choosing the right pet cremation in South East Queensland or pet cremation in Ipswich and surrounding areas can be the best way to honor your canine friend.

Is It Really a 7-to-1 Equation?

You may have heard that the dog ages 7 years per every human year. This calculation is one that people have followed for years. But is it an accurate calculation? There are many other factors that you need to look into when talking about a dog’s longevity, including what their breed is. A large dog like the Saint Bernard will have a shorter lifespan than a smaller dog like the chihuahua.
No one really knows the exact origin of the 7-year dog calculator that we know today. There is evidence that it can date as far back as the 1700s. In recent years, it has become a common practice to think that a dog ages 7 years for every 1 human year.

Humans and Dogs Don’t Age the Same Rate

Dogs grow at an accelerated rate than humans do. That’s why dogs go through their puberty around 1 year and humans go through this at around 13 or 14 years of age. But even the different breeds age differently than other breeds. Some dogs will be old at 7 while other dogs can live into their teens.

Dog Breeds Impact Longevity

As previously mentioned, breeds can have an impact on the dog’s longevity. Generally smaller dogs will live longer than larger dogs because larger dogs age faster than smaller ones. However, size is only part of this equation. A Great Dane might only live until they are 7 years old while a Yorkie can live into the high teens.

Another part of this has to do with genetics. Dogs that are mixed breed will live longer than purebred dogs of the same size. Purebred dogs may only live to around 12, depending on breed and size.
Some breeds that are known for their longevity include:

  • Border Collie
  • Miniature Poodle
  • Miniature Dachshund
  • Bearded Collie

Breeds that are notorious for their short lifespan includes:

  • Great Dane
  • Dogue de Bordeaux

There are a lot of factors that determine the longevity of a dog, which means there is no exact calculation that you can use.

Conclusion

As a leading team in pet cremation in Brisbane and in surrounding areas, we think that it can help to understand dog years versus human years. It’s important to understand that it’s all about the quality of your time with your beloved canine friend, not just about how long that you have them for. Dogs have this way of always leaving their pawprints on your heart, giving you a lifetime of memories that you will always remember.