How old is your dog, really?

The “multiply by seven” rule is wrong in two ways.

Dogs don't age at a steady pace. They race through their first two years, then slow down. A one-year-old dog is roughly a 31-year-old in human terms, not a 7-year-old. The rule underestimates young dogs by more than 75%.

It treats every breed the same. But breeds differ. A Labrador's typical lifespan is 13.1 years. A French Bulldog's is 9.8. The Labrador can expect to live a third longer.

Take two eight-year-old dogs. The ×7 rule says both are 56. But the French Bulldog has already lived 82% of a typical lifespan, while the Labrador has lived 61%. One is entering old age; the other is in late middle age.

This calculator combines research on how dogs' DNA changes with age with the lifespan records of 584,734 UK dogs across 155 breeds. It gives you an age that accounts for your dog's breed and sex.

Thinking about getting a dog? Explore the full breed table to compare typical lifespans, sizes and face shapes before you choose.