How old is a 7 year old Bulldog in human years
How to Calculate Dog Years to Human Years
Since the 1950s, the popular calculation of how old a dog was in human years has been that one dog year is the equivalent of seven human years. Even though this formula has been around for a surprisingly long time, the reality is not so cut-and-dried. That doesnt stop people from defaulting to this traditional calculation. You cant really kill the seven-year rule, says Kelly M. Cassidy, a curator of the Charles R. Connor Museum at Washington State University, who compiles studies about longevity in dogs.
One explanation for how this formula got started is that the 7:1 ratio seems to have been based on the statistic that people lived to about 70, and dogs to about 10.
My guess is it was a marketing ploy, says William Fortney, a veterinarian at Kansas State University. He tells the Wall Street Journal that it was a way to educate the public on how fast a dog ages compared to a human, predominantly from a health standpoint. It was a way to encourage owners to bring in their pets at least once a year.
How toCalculate Dog Years to Human Years?
As a general guideline, though, the American Veterinary Medical Association breaks it down like this:
- 15 human years equals the first year of a medium-sized dogs life.
- Year two for a dog equals about nine years for a human.
- And after that, each human year would be approximately five years for a dog.
How Do Researchers Come Up With Those Numbers?
There are many several factors to consider, so its not possible to pin it down precisely, but the AVMA says: Cats and small dogs are generally considered senior at seven years old, but we all know theyve got plenty of life left in them at that age. Larger-breed dogs tend to have shorter lifespans compared to smaller breeds and are often considered senior when they are 5 to 6 years of age. The senior classification is based on the fact that pets age faster than people, and veterinarians start seeing more age-related problems in these pets. Contrary to popular belief, dogs do not age at a rate of 7 human years for each year in dog years.
An example would be the Great Dane. The average life expectancy, according to the Great Dane Club of America, is about 710 years. Therefore, a 4-year-old Great Dane would already be 35 in human years. Again, keep in mind that these are rough estimates.
The National Center for Health Statistics doesnt keep records for dogs. Instead, there are three main sources for data on their longevity: pet-insurance companies, breed-club surveys, and veterinary hospitals.
Why DoSmaller Dogs Live Longer than Larger Dogs?
This phenomenon has baffled scientists for years, and research has yet to explain the relationship between body mass and a dogs lifespan.
Generally speaking, large mammals, like elephants and whales, tend to live longer than small ones, like mice. So why do small dogs have a longer average life span than large breeds?
Large dogs age at an accelerated pace, and their lives seem to unwind in fast motion, according to researcher Cornelia Kraus, an evolutionary biologist at the University of Gttingen in Germany, speaking to Inside Science. Scientists concluded that every 4.4 pounds of body mass reduced a dogs life expectancy by about a month. The reason why is still unknown, though Kraus puts forward several possibilities, including that larger dogs may succumb to age-related illnesses sooner and that the accelerated growth of large dogs may lead to a higher likelihood of abnormal cell growth and death from cancer. Scientists plan future studies to better explain the link between growth and mortality.
Canine gerontology is a burgeoning field of science, as dog lovers are looking to not only extend the time they have with their pets, but to improve the quality of that time. The Dog Aging Project is studying the aging process in dogs, using geroscience research to delay aging and promote healthy longevity.
Whether measured in human years or dog years, as our dogs mature and age there is beauty and charm at every step along the way. With their gray muzzles and wise expressions, senior dogs are especially lovable and poignant.
2019 Epigenetic Clock Study
A2019 studyby researchers at the University of California San Diego put forth a new method for calculating dog age, based on changes made to human and dog DNA over time. In both species, methyl groups are added to DNA molecules throughout aging, altering DNA activity without altering the DNA itself. As a result, DNA methylation has been used by scientists to study aging in humans through an epigenetic clock.
The research team performed targeted DNA sequencing in 104 Labrador Retrievers spanning a 16 year age range, in an attempt to compare dogs epigenetic clocks to those of humans. The results allowed them to derive a formula for adjusting dogs ages to human years, by multiplying the natural logarithm of the dogs age by 16 and adding 31 (human_age = 16ln(dog_age) + 31).Thisnatural logarithm calculatorcan help.
As the study included just a single breed, your own dogs human age based on this formula may not quite match up. Its known that different breeds age differently, so the UCSD formula may lack enough variables for conclusive results. Regardless, the new science-backed formula put forth is certainly more useful to those looking to calculate dogs human age than the long-debunked multiply by 7 myth.
Did You Know?
Evidently, people have been comparing human-to-dog years for centuries.
In 1268, the artisans creating the Cosmati Pavement in Westminster Abbey inscribed into the floor a prediction for Judgement Day: If the reader wisely considers all that is laid down, he will find here the end of the primum mobile; a hedge lives for three years, add dogs and horses and men, stags and ravens, eagles, enormous whales, the world: each one following triples the years of the one before.
By this math, a dog lives to nine, a man to 80. If these statistics were accurate, between 1268 and the mid-20th century, dogs had a year trimmed off their lifespan, and we lost almost a decade. Luckily for both species, our lifespans have gone in the other direction.
If you are the proud owner of a senior dog, celebrate the love they give you with senior dog toys, hip & joint treats, and comfy orthopedic dog beds to make their golden years the best ever.
How Old is American Bulldog in Human Age? American Bulldog Age Calculator
Quick Links: Table of Contents
Converting American Bulldog Age to Human Age
A very long time ago, people thought that one year in a dog`s life was equal to 9 human years. A record of this assumption could be found on a 1268 inscription on the floor of Westminister Abby in the United Kingdom.
Then, an update happened, and people started believing that one year in a dog`s life was equivalent to 7 human years.
However, if you think about it really well, converting your dog`s age to its human age by multiplying your dog`s age by 7 or by 9 does not make any sense.
To debunk the 1 dog-year to 7 human-years myth, let us take a 1-year-old American Bulldog as an example. A one-year-old American Bulldog is mature enough to make puppies. However, a seven-year-old human is nowhere close to being capable of having babies.
The moral of this is that the relationship between aging in American Bulldogs and aging in humans is not simple. In scientific terms, the aging relationship between American Bulldogs and humans is not linear. So, you cannot just convert your American Bulldog`s age to its equivalent human age by just multiplying by a single number.
You need a special table or calculator to convert your American Bulldogs age to its human age. This article provides you with the table/calculator that you need for this conversion.
A Brief History of the Science behind Dog Age to Human Age Conversion
In 1953, a French researcher by the name A. Lebeau published a paper to show that the relationship between a dog`s age and a human`s age is not constant over the lifespan of the dog. Lebeau`s paper was titled L`age du Chien et celui de l`Homme. Essai de statistique sur la mortalite canine (The age of the Dog and that of the Man. Canine Mortality Statistical Essay).
To convert a dog`s age to its human age, Lebeau divided the stages of a dog`s life roughly into puberty, adulthood, old age, and end of life. He then proposed a series of numbers (multipliers) that can be used to multiply a dog at each of these different life stages to obtain the dog`s equivalent human age. This means there is a multiplier for converting a dog`s age at puberty to its equivalent human age, a different multiplier for converting a dog`s age at adulthood to its human age, and so on.
Building on Lebeau`s work, scientists also realized that one size does not fit all when it comes to converting a dog`s age to its equivalent human age. This is because small-sized dog breeds live longer than giant-sized dog breeds. Hence, smaller dog breeds age slower than giant breeds. Thus converting a small-sized dog breed age to its human age requires a formula that is different from the formula for a giant-sized breed.
Therefore, in 1997, researchers from Purdue University developed a dog age to human age conversion method that extended Lebeau`s work. Their method took dog breed size into account in converting a dog`s age to its human age equivalent.
In this article, we have developed a dog-age-to-human-age calculator and table that lets you convert your American Bulldog`s age to its human age based on the method developed by Purdue University veterinarians.
Also, recently in 2020, researchers from the University of California, San Diego (UCSD) developed what they called a better method for converting a dog`s age to its human age.
These scientists at UCSD compared the DNAs of humans and the DNAs of Labrador Retrievers at different ages to develop a mathematical relationship between a dog`s age and a human`s age.
In this article, we have also developed a table and a calculator that lets you convert your American Bulldog`s age to its human age based on the method developed by the scientists from UCSD.
Finally, we developed our method and its calculator that lets your convert your human age to your American Bulldog`s age. You are definitely not as old as you think (in American Bulldog`s years).
In summary, this article contains:
- American Bulldog-age-to-human-age calculator based on the method developed by Purdue University Researchers.
- American Bulldog-age-to-human-age calculator based on the method developed by UCSD Researchers.
- Human-age-to-American Bulldog-age calculator based on the method developed by us.
How to Convert Your American Bulldog`s Age to Human Age
In 1997, researchers from Purdue University developed a method for converting a dog`s age to its human age. Their method was based on the 1953 work of the French Veterinarian, A. Lebeau that we discussed above.
Researchers from Purdue University took Lebeau`s work further by taking into account two important factors to develop a more accurate method for converting a dog`s age into its human equivalent age:
- The size of the dog: Smaller dog breeds live longer than larger breed dogs
- The lifespan of the dog: Dog breeds that live longer lives will age slower than dog breeds that live shorter lives
American Bulldogs have a lifespan of 10 to 16 years.
American Bulldogs are large-sized dogs. American Bulldogs weigh 60 to 120 pounds.
The method developed by the Purdue University veterinarian researchers took into account the lifespan and size of American Bulldog in converting American Bulldog age to human age.
The researchers used data on the lifespan and weight of 5,608 mixed breed dogs and 17,927 purebred dogs to develop their method for converting the ages of dogs (of different breed sizes and lifespans ) to their equivalent human ages.
The calculator below lets you convert your American Bulldog`s age to its human age based on the Purdue University method. Just enter your American Bulldog`s age in the calculator and it will compute your American Bulldog`s human age. If you do not know your American Bulldog`s exact age, enter an approximate age in the calculator.
Also, the table below shows how old your American Bulldog is in human years based on the method developed by the researchers.
Note that your American Bulldog`s human age changes day by day. Therefore, always check back to use the calculator to find your American Bulldog`s up-to-date human age.
American Bulldog Age to Human Age Calculator (Purdue Uni. Method)
Below is a American Bulldog age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from Purdue University.
The calculator will tell your American Bulldog`s human age based on your American Bulldog`s dog birthday. Also, the calculator will tell you which day is your American Bulldog`s human birthday! Try it out!
American Bulldog Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
---|---|
1 | 16 |
2 | 22 |
3 | 28 |
4 | 34 |
5 | 39 |
6 | 43 |
7 | 48 |
8 | 52 |
9 | 57 |
10 | 61 |
11 | 66 |
12 | 70 |
13 | 75 |
14 | 80 |
15 | 86 |
16 | 92 |
How Long Do American Bulldogs Live in Human Years?
The average lifespan of the American Bulldog is 13.0 years. In human years, the American Bulldog lives for 75 years.
How Old is 5-year-old American Bulldog in Human Years?
A 5-year old American Bulldog is 39 years old in human years.
How Old is 6-year-old American Bulldog in Human Years?
A 6-year old American Bulldog is 43 years old in human years.
How Old is 10-year-old American Bulldog in Human Years?
A 10-year old American Bulldog is 61 years old in human years.
How Old is 12-year-old American Bulldog in Human Years?
A 12-year old American Bulldog is 70 years old in human years.
Your American Bulldog`s Age to Human Age (UCSD Method)
The limitation of this method is that it was derived from a study of Labrador Retrievers. This method is accurate if applied to a dog breed with a similar lifespan as the Labrador Retrievers. Labrador Retrievers have a lifespan of 12 years.
In 2020, the researchers from the University of California San Diego (UCSD) developed a method for converting a dog`s age to its human age is based on what is called epigenetics. Epigenetics is the study of how the way an animal lives changes the animal`s DNA.
Using the methods of epigenetics, one can learn about a person`s life or a dog`s life simply by scrolling through the DNA of the dog or the human (take that Instagram!).
With the techniques of epigenetics, scientists can look at a man`s, a dog`s, or a mouse`s DNA to figure out how old the man, the dog, or the mouse is, without anyone telling the scientist when the man, dog, or mouse was born. This is pretty cool.
This is kind of similar to counting the teeth of a horse to determine the age of a horse or counting the rings in a tree to determine the age of the tree, etc. However, the techniques used in epigenetics are way more accurate than crude methods of estimating age by counting teeth or rings. This is because the methods of epigenetics look at a dog`s DNA.
Furthermore, one can match the signatures of aging seen in a dog`s DNA to the signature of aging seen in a human`s DNA to convert a dog`s age to its equivalent human age.
According to the researchers, converting a dog age to human age makes sense because dogs (especially American Bulldogs) and humans live together and share similar lifestyles. Our American Bulldogs are exposed to the same environment as we do. We treat our American Bulldogs as we treat ourselves.
We take our American Bulldogs to the animal doctors just as we humans take ourselves to doctors for health checkups or treatment when sick. We give our American Bulldogs vaccines and medications, human-style. In short, American Bulldogs have similar lifestyles as humans do. Therefore, a dog`s life and human life will definitely mirror each other.
No other animal species has such an intimate relationship with humans as dogs do. Dogs and humans have come a long way together.
Furthermore, dogs and humans go through similar well-defined life stages: birth, baby stage, young age stage, adolescence, adulthood, and old age. Therefore, converting a dog`s age to a human age is not a wild idea.
Based on their study of 104 Labrador Retrievers, the UCSD researchers came up with a neat formula for converting dog age to human age. Interestingly, this formula applies to aging in mice as well, and the researcher believes that the formula will apply to all dog breeds, and just not the Labrador dog breed that they used in their study.
The formula they came up with is this: human_age = 16 ln(dog_age) + 31
Use the calculator or table below to convert your American Bulldog`s age to its human age based on this formula. For the calculator, simply enter your American Bulldog age in the calculator to get its human age and its human birthday.
American Bulldog Age to Human Age Calculator (UCSD Method)
Below is a American Bulldog age to human age calculator that is based on the methods developed by researchers from UCSD.
American Bulldog Age (Years) | Human Age (Years) |
---|---|
1 | 31 |
2 | 42 |
3 | 48 |
4 | 53 |
5 | 56 |
6 | 59 |
7 | 62 |
8 | 64 |
9 | 66 |
10 | 67 |
11 | 69 |
12 | 70 |
13 | 72 |
14 | 73 |
15 | 74 |
16 | 75 |
17 | 76 |
18 | 77 |
How Old Are You in American Bulldog Years?
Since new research from UCSD has given us the formula to convert American Bulldog age to human equivalent age, then it is possible to reverse this formula to convert human age to American Bulldog age. Therefore, here, we have developed the reverse formula that allows you to convert your age to your American Bulldog`s equivalent age. Enter your age below to calculate your age in American Bulldog years.
Human Age to American Bulldog Age Calculator
Your Human Age (Years) | American Bulldog Age Equivalent (Months) |
---|---|
2 | 0 years, 1 months |
6 | 0 years, 2 months |
10 | 0 years, 3 months |
14 | 0 years, 4 months |
18 | 0 years, 5 months |
22 | 0 years, 6 months |
26 | 0 years, 8 months |
30 | 0 years, 11 months |
34 | 1 years, 2 months |
38 | 1 years, 6 months |
42 | 1 years, 11 months |
46 | 2 years, 6 months |
50 | 3 years, 3 months |
54 | 4 years, 2 months |
58 | 5 years, 4 months |
62 | 6 years, 11 months |
66 | 8 years, 10 months |
70 | 11 years, 5 months |
74 | 14 years, 8 months |
78 | 18 years, 10 months |
82 | 24 years, 2 months |
Conclusion on American Bulldog Age to Human Age
As your American Bulldog grows older, you will start seeing changes in your American Bulldog. Some of the common signs of aging in American Bulldog are Fading of American Bulldog Coat Color, Graying of hair, health problems like hearing loss and loss of sight, lower activity level, bad American Bulldog behavior like having accidents in the house, irritability, etc.
When your American Bulldog starts to show signs of aging, make sure you empathize with your American Bulldog. You may also consider getting health insurance for your American Bulldog so that you can better handle the cost associated with taking care of a senior American Bulldog.