|  Old age creeps up on everyone eventually, and of course our dogs are no exception to this. With their life crammed into a much shorter span than ours, their aging process can sometimes feel very quick to us – one day he’s a lively puppy and then all of a sudden he’s got a grey muzzle and arthritic legs. But old age doesn’t have to be all bad news for your dog, as modern diets and veterinary care – along with a healthy dose of TLC – can keep old dogs feeling young for many years.
The first thing to understand when considering the older dog is ‘What age is old for a dog?’ This is a tricky question, as different dogs tend to age at different rates. But here are a couple of tips that should help you get a rough idea of your dog’s human age. The first thing to say is that the well-known formula of one dog year being equal to seven human years is no use at all. The best way to work out your dog’s human age is by following one of these formulae: - For little dogs (up to 10kg) – 12 human years per dog year for the first two years, and then 4 per year thereafter. So a 10 year old terrier will be 56 and a 15 year old will be 76.
- For medium dogs (10-30kg) – 10 human years per dog year for the first two years, and then 5 per year thereafter. A 10 year old spaniel, for example, will be 60 and a 15 year old will be 85.
- For big dogs (30kg +) – A bit simpler - 8 human years per dog year all the way. So an 8 year old German Shepherd will be roughly 64 in human terms.
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