Why the 7-year rule for dog years is nonsense – and how a simple 2-point rule delivers realistic results
The old rule of thumb says: one dog year equals seven human years.
According to this calculation, Puk would be – on his 14th birthday – 98 years old today.
But that is obviously nonsense.
Realistically, Puk is about 70 human years old.
How does this enormous difference come about?
And why is the 7-year rule so far off?
Why the 7-year rule doesn’t work
Dogs do not age linearly.
But the 7-year rule acts as if every dog year meant the same aging progress.
In reality, dogs age:
- extremely fast in the first year (more comparable to 15 human years),
- a bit slower in the second year,
- and from the third year on, moderately – about four human years per dog year.
This makes it clear: the blanket seven years fit neither at the beginning nor in later age.
The simple 2-point rule – realistic and easy to remember
Modern veterinary medical data can be reduced to two memory aids:
- 1st dog year = 15 human years
- 2nd dog year = +9 human years
From then on: +4 years per dog year
That’s all you need to get a much more accurate estimate.
How old is Puk really?
Puk turns 14 years old today.
With the new rule, we get:
- first dog year → 15 human years
- second dog year → 24 human years
- from the third year: 11 further dog years × 4 = 44 human years
- Total: 15 + 9 + 44 = 68 human years
If you typically round the age a bit generously, you get about 70 years –
a healthily aged senior, but not a centenarian.
Conclusion
The 7-year rule is a likeable myth, but clearly disproven scientifically.
In contrast, a simple 2-point rule delivers surprisingly precise results – and explains why Puk is about 70 today and not nearly 100.
All the best, dear Puk – to many more healthy years. 🐾❤️
