Just how old is your dog really? More than likely you know the dogs age in years, or at least have an approximation of its age, but do you really have any idea how old it may be- chronologically speaking?
I'm sure you've heard of the old "seven year theory". You know, the system where each year of a dog or cats life is the equivalent of 7 of ours. An example of this thinking would be that a 1 year old dog would be the age and developmental equal of a 7 year old person. Now just how many 7 year old kids do you know that are sexually mature -and able to reproduce? A cat or dog is much more likely to have a litter when it is one year or younger, or at the other extreme,ten years or older, than is a human who is under the age of seven or over the age of seventy! This system was simple- but too simple. Many people today may still use these calculations when coming to some idea of their pets chronological age. Still, due to examples like the one above you can see why this most simple of systems is not accepted today.
In the early 1950's a French veterinarian, Monsieur LeBeau, formulated another system to address this problem. In LeBeau's system, a dog/cat of 1 year in age became the equivalent of a 15 year old person- due to the onset of puberty in each species. The second year of a dog/cats life became the equivalent of a 24 year old person- someone/ something that has reached full maturity. After two, each year of an animals life would equal 4 years of human life.
Pop quiz time! Just how old would a 6 year old cat "really" be using this newer system? According to the LeBeau theory, the dog/cat would be the equivalent of a 40 year old person. Remember, 24+ (4*4)= 40. How about a 10 year old dog? If you came up with 56 then you were correct! It is interesting to note that dogs and cats move up this newer age scale at the same rate until they reach the age of 14. At that time the rates begin to differ between dogs and cats compared in human age terminology. This chart would work quite well for a dog or cat having an average life expectancy(ALE) of 14 years. As we all know, oftentimes animals,as do people, may exceed the ALE which would call for further refinement of this age formula. For this we need to be aware of something called the maximum life span(MLS). Basically, the average life expectancy is the amount of years a person, animal, etc. may reasonably expect to live. The MLS on the other hand, is the genetically based maximum age beyond which no member of that species may live.
Now, with that in mind, consider this addendum to the first age chart. A human maximum life span is close to 110 years. A cats maximum life span is around the mid-30's, while a dogs maximum life span is around 29. So, just how do you calculate a cat or dogs age who lives past the 14 year mark? In this event, each year of life past 14 for a dog would equal 2 1/2 human years, and only 2 for a cat. Due to recent research it has been found that many times an animal may live past his ALE when given improved care, activity, social and psychological stimulation. If we examine the oldest living dogs on record, we can begin to see that most had a regular moderate exercise program that included differing levels of psychological and social stimulation.
Currently, the oldest living dog on record worked as a herding dog in Australia(29 years old). The runner-up, a mere 27 years of age, was a Lab who lived in the home of a game keeper in England. Other famous notables include Higgins, the terrier on Petticoat Junction and the Beverly Hillbillies(20); Pal, the collie who started the role of Lassie(18);and,last but certainly not least, Rin Tin Tin, movie star and German Shepherd who lived to be at least 16 years of age.
The following charts will show you just how LeBeaux theories work when determining the age of your pet. We hope this material is of help to you in the future.
AGE
Cat/Dog Human
1---------------------------15
2---------------------------24
3------------- --------------28
4---------------------------32
5---------------------------36
6-- -------------------------40
7---------------------------44
8---------------------------4 8
9---------------------------52
10-------------------------56
11----------------- --------60
12-------------------------64
13-------------------------68
14--------- ----------------72
AGE Cats/Humans Dogs/Humans
15------------74--------------------74.5
16------------76------------------- -77
17------------78--------------------79.5
18------------80--------------------82
< p>19------------82--------------------84.520------------84--------------------87
21---- --------86--------------------89.5
22------------88--------------------92
23------------ 90--------------------94.5
24------------92--------------------97
25------------94------ --------------99.5
26------------96--------------------102
27------------98------------- -------104.5
28-----------100-------------------107
29-----------102-------------------1 09.5
30-----------104
31-----------106
32-----------108
33-----------110
34-----------112
Article written and reprinted with permission of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com/ Purebred Dogs, Puppies and Dog Breeders - "Your New Best Friend"
Copyright 2005. All rights reserved.
Debbie Ray, owner of: http://www.pedigreedpups.com is a lifetime dog lover and owner and breeder of german shepherd dogs for over 15 years.
local house cleaners Park Ridge ..This is the story of my dog called Shandy. He... Read More
... Read More
Out of all the pet animals, the cat is most... Read More
While dogs tend to get lots of exercise, cats are... Read More
I know there are differing opinions on the subject of... Read More
Dog training is definitely not rocket science and is easier... Read More
Do you want a Westie as a pet? What are... Read More
Showing off your dog in front of friends and family... Read More
According to holistic veternarian Dr. Jane Bicks, the maximum life... Read More
In the last decade or so, the popularity of sugar... Read More
Toys are fun both for our dogs and us. Lucky... Read More
How many times have you seen this situation where a... Read More
Do you make a lot of trips to the vet's... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
Did you know that your goldfish can live for over... Read More
Presently, and throughout the 1990s a phenomena swept through the... Read More
Vitamins Can Increase Your Dog's Life Span!There is evidence to... Read More
Many people don't realize that their dogs, just like human... Read More
A new puppy is a joyous addition to any home.... Read More
Proper training of your dog should begin when he is... Read More
Good filtration is the prime priority in the discus tank.... Read More
Dog grooming is relatively simple for most dogs. I have... Read More
Newer doesn't always mean better.Adopting an older dog may be... Read More
The 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With... Read More
If you're like me, then you don't really have the... Read More
move out cleaning service Glenview ..Have you ever dreamed of living with a bobcat or... Read More
"Your cat has feline diabetes." If this is your vet's... Read More
Which parrot is right for me? This is a question... Read More
So, you've got yourself a pregnant cat.Was it a stray... Read More
Caring for your dogs teeth is a vital part of... Read More
Sometimes puppies are born that can't suckle properly, and it's... Read More
If you thought dog noses were just a source of... Read More
Good filtration is the prime priority in the discus tank.... Read More
Everyday someone asks me, "How do you start a pet-sitting... Read More
Opening your heart to a Pomeranian can be fun, but... Read More
Anyone wanting a new kitten should be a cat lover.... Read More
Like us, birds need variety in life. To be happy... Read More
As a parent, you want to be able to give... Read More
How can my child benefit from having a pet?1.Social skills... Read More
Over the past couple of years, animal rescues have been... Read More
"Westies" or West Highland White Terriers are furry coated dogs,... Read More
The 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With... Read More
Dogs have been known as man's best friend for decades.... Read More
Until a very recent period, dog worms were thought to... Read More
Puppy development and growth is very exciting. After a puppy... Read More
Doggie day care is becoming more and more prevalent in... Read More
This mysterious cat is originally from the country of Siam,... Read More
The other day I was doing a research online for... Read More
The most important thing to remember in analyzing the behavior... Read More
Almost without exception, breeders will advertise that their favorite terrier,... Read More
Pet |