How many years do dogs really live?

Many times we have heard that each year of the life of a dog corresponds to seven of that of a human. And in those conversations the topic of How long do our four-legged friends live?. Although it anguishes us to imagine that one day they will not be with us, we must be aware that we will also suffer their loss and be realistic about how old they can reach.

So to make the most of every second and take care of your health in all aspects, so that you can enjoy many adventures together, we tell you today how many years do dogs live actually so what factors influence your Life expectancy.

Breed and size of the dog

Both main factors that indicate the life expectancy of our furry friends are the race and the size. And it is that the bigger the dog, its existence will be shorter, while the smaller animals will reach a longer age. So much so that it has been shown that, for every two kilograms of weight, they lose around a month of life expectancy.

This is logical, because the bigger dogs because of having a growth rate and a metabolic wear older people have a faster rate of aging. The smallest are the ones that last the longest, as they age more slowly.

Life expectancy by race

As a consequence, the life expectancy in small dogs is calculated between 12 and 17 years old. In this group are breeds such as the poodle, the Yorkshire, the Maltese and the Chihuahua. There are even cases in which they exceed two decades of life.

The medium dogs For their part, they reach a couple of years younger, between ten and 15 years. Some of the medium-sized dog breeds that can reach fifteen years of age are the cocker spaniel, the beagle, the English bulldog and the West Highland White terrier.

large breed dogs like the German shepherd, the Labrador, the boxer and the golden retriever, they live somewhat less, since their life expectancy is estimated between eight and 12 years. The giant breeds among which mastiffs and Great Danes stand out, decrease even more, between six and 11 years.

So, generally, dogs live between eight and 20 years although this will be influenced by some good care the nutrition and the healthy living conditions. A small breed dog can be considered older from the age of 11 and a medium dog from the age of nine, while for a large breed dog to be considered old it only has to reach seven years.

Relationship between the age of dogs and humans

Having said all this, it is possible that the question of whether each year of our furry companion’s life is equivalent to seven of ours arises and we begin to multiply, but we do not have to. The truth is that this popular belief is not true. He rate of aging of dogs it is very different from ours.

If we talk about equivalences, it is considered that The first year of a dog’s life is similar to the 15 years of a human, and when he turns a couple of years old, as if he were a 24-year-old person. From there, you can add one lustrum human for every dog ​​year.

In this way, a three-year-old dog would have 29 human years and a four-year-old would have the equivalent of 39 our years. Once our friend turns five years old, we have to add four human years for each one of his in the small races; six human years in the medians; and eight human years in large breeds.

dog care

So that our beloved furry friends are in perfect health condition and can enjoy a long life expectancy They must have good care, which is our responsibility.

The feeding is one of the key points, and it should be adequate depending on age, since at each stage of his life he will have one or the other needs. He physical exercise It is also essential, placing special emphasis on an active life that avoids obesity, thus avoiding the risks of certain diseases.

You can’t forget the hygiene and the cleanliness you need, with frequent brushings bathrooms and a clean environment where there is no risk of contracting diseases or infections. And, of course, the check-ups at the vet where you must respect without exception the vaccination schedule and the deworming.

Remember that the preventive medicine It is always the best option, something especially important in those breeds that have some specific health problems that always appear over time.