When it comes to counting the age of a dog, it is very common for everyone to do the simple and widespread multiplication by common sense that says that one year of the animal is equivalent to seven in human time counting. But did you know that this is not quite how we can divide the different stages of a dog's life? In fact, what determines the influence of the passage of time, for them, is the size.To help you out, we've listed below everything you need to know about how to calculate your dog's age. Take a look and find out, once and for all, how old your friend is!

To begin with, you need to determine precisely what size your dog is

The first thing you need to know in order to find out how old your dog is, is the size of your pet. Both longevity and the beginning and end of their life stages often vary according to the size they are. In order to monitor your dog's growth in the best way, therefore, you need to know which size category they fall into.

- Small dogs usually weigh up to 10kg; - Medium-sized dogs are between 11kg and 25kg; - Large dogs can weigh between 26kg and 45kg; - Large dogs weigh more than 46kg.

How to calculate dog age more accurately than by multiplying by 7 human years

Once you've determined your dog's size, it's time to roughly calculate their age in human years. The values to be multiplied or added vary according to their size, so be sure to do the math correctly

• Small-sized dogs: multiply the first two years of the animal for 12.5 After that, add 4.5 at each birthday. Example: Puppy aged 2 (12.5 X 2 = 25 years); puppy aged 4 (12.5 X 2 + 4.5 + 4.5 = 34);

• Medium-sized dogs: multiply the first two years by 10.5 e add 6 at each birthday. 2 year old puppy (10.5 X 2 = 21 years); 4 year old puppy (10.5 X 2 + 6 + 6 = 33);

• Large and giant-sized dogs: multiply the first two years for 9 and on each anniversary, add 8 Puppy aged 2 (9 X 2 = 18 years); dog aged 4 (9 X 2 + 8 + 8 = 36).

Finding out what stage of life your puppy is in is more important than human age

As the specific care and needs of animals often vary according to the stage of life they are in, more important than knowing how much their age corresponds in human years is to be sure if it is a puppy, adult or elderly. This is necessary because each of these phases requires a different type of care. The rations for puppies and seniors, for example, arereinforced with specific nutrients to help the animal's health. The elderly, in some cases, will also need vitamin supplements and a lighter lifestyle routine.

Up to how many months the dog is still a puppy

The transition from puppyhood to adulthood happens at different points in a puppy's life depending on their size. Small dogs can be considered babies until they are between 9 and 12 months old, while medium and large dogs remain puppies until they reach the one year and one year and three month mark. Giant dogs,in turn, change to adulthood between one year and six months and two years.

From what age of dog can the animal be considered elderly

While small dogs tend to enter adulthood faster than other sizes, when it comes to being considered elderly, the scenario is different: the bigger the animal, the earlier it enters old age. Consequently, small dogs have a longer life expectancy.

Small animals, therefore, usually reach the elderly phase when they turn 12 years old. Medium-sized ones, on the other hand, reach old age around 10 years old. Large dogs become grandpas and grandmas at the age of 9 and giants, on the other hand, can be considered elderly at the age of 7.

Keep track of your puppy's age and life stages with your veterinarian at all times

In addition to the variations by size, the periods that mark the changes in the phases of the animal's life can also be different according to the breed of your dog. Therefore, the best way to determine when the care needs to change and thus ensure the well-being of your friend for the longest possible time is by frequently monitoring your pet with the veterinarian.