How old is my dog in human years? Table from 1 to 16
A 7-year-old dog is about 49 in human years by the American Kennel Club rule and about 62 by the UC San Diego epigenetic clock; neither is 49. The table below runs from 1 to 16 dog years with both methods next to the old "times seven", then the cat table from International Cat Care. Small dogs age slower after year two and giant breeds faster, which no single formula captures.
Dog years to human years, 1 to 16
AKC rule: 15 human years for the first dog year, 9 for the second, 5 for each year after (medium-sized dog). Epigenetic clock: human age = 16 x ln(dog age) + 31, from DNA methylation in Labradors (UC San Diego, 2019-2020). The last column is the old rule of thumb, for comparison only.
| Dog years | AKC rule | Epigenetic clock | Times seven (old rule) |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 | 31 | 7 |
| 2 | 24 | 42 | 14 |
| 3 | 29 | 49 | 21 |
| 4 | 34 | 53 | 28 |
| 5 | 39 | 57 | 35 |
| 6 | 44 | 60 | 42 |
| 7 | 49 | 62 | 49 |
| 8 | 54 | 64 | 56 |
| 9 | 59 | 66 | 63 |
| 10 | 64 | 68 | 70 |
| 11 | 69 | 69 | 77 |
| 12 | 74 | 71 | 84 |
| 13 | 79 | 72 | 91 |
| 14 | 84 | 73 | 98 |
| 15 | 89 | 74 | 105 |
| 16 | 94 | 75 | 112 |
Cat years to human years
| Cat years | Human years |
|---|---|
| 1 | 15 |
| 2 | 24 |
| 3 | 28 |
| 5 | 36 |
| 7 | 44 |
| 10 | 56 |
| 12 | 64 |
| 15 | 76 |
| 18 | 88 |
| 20 | 96 |
Size changes the answer
Large dogs age faster: giant breeds are senior at 5 or 6, small breeds at 7 or later (AVMA). The AKC rule fits a medium dog; for a Great Dane the years after two count for more, for a Yorkshire terrier for less. Type any age in years and months into the dog age calculator to see both methods side by side.
Frequently asked questions
- How old is a 2-year-old dog in human years?
- 24 by the AKC rule (15 for the first year plus 9 for the second) and about 42 by the epigenetic clock, which front-loads ageing because the first year of a dog's life covers puberty and full growth.
- Is a 7-year-old dog a senior?
- Roughly 49-62 in human terms. The AVMA calls cats and small dogs senior at about 7, and large or giant breeds as early as 5 or 6, so a 7-year-old Labrador is a senior while a 7-year-old Chihuahua is middle-aged.
- How old is a 12-year-old dog?
- 74 by the AKC rule, 71 by the epigenetic clock. The two methods converge in old age: the clock rises slowly after year ten because DNA methylation changes slow down.
- Does the epigenetic clock work for puppies?
- No: 16 ln(age) + 31 is defined for dogs one year and older (at 6 months it would give nothing), and it was measured in 104 Labradors, so use it as a second opinion for adult dogs, not for puppies or as a breed-specific figure.
- How old is my cat in human years?
- International Cat Care: 15 at one year, 24 at two, then 4 human years per cat year: 36 at five, 56 at ten, 76 at fifteen, 96 at twenty.
More guides
- How many cups of dog food per day?
Cups of kibble a day by dog weight from the calories on your bag: tables for 300 to 450 kcal per cup, inactive and active adults, and meals.
- How much should I feed my dog? Grams and cups by weight
Daily calories and grams of dry food for dogs from 2 to 50 kg, inactive and active, on foods from 3,400 to 4,000 kcal/kg, with the WSAVA chart range.
- How many calories does a dog need per day?
Calories a day by weight and life stage from the NRC 2006 equations behind the WSAVA charts: adults 2 to 60 kg, puppies by adult size, weight loss.
- How much wet food to feed a cat per day?
Pouches and cans a day for cats from 3 to 6 kg, wet only or half wet, half dry, for pouches labelled 70 to 110 kcal, plus the grams of kibble to add.
Last updated 2026-09-15. Figures are planning estimates from typical product data: check the yield, size or coverage printed on what you buy and round up.