dogyears - dot - com

dog dot yrs - at - gmail dot com

We're for dogs!

Some people are for the whales. Some are for the trees. We're for dogs. Boy dogs and
girl dogs. The big ones and the little ones. The guardians and the comedians. The pure
breeds and the mutts.
We're for walks, runs and romps. Digging, sniffing and fetching. Belly-scratch leg kicks.
A big smile. Hard play with the squeeky ball. A tail-thumpin' licking. A cold dog nose
where no cold dog nose has gone before. We're for dog parks, dog doors and the dog
days of summer. Shake paws? Go for a ride? Cookie? Pssssst! Get that kitty!
If there were an international holiday for dogs, on which all dogs were universally
recognized for their contribution to the improvement of our quality of life on earth, we'd
be for that too. Dogs make us happy. Dogs rule!
Lifespan
The old rule-of-thumb that one dog year equals seven years of a human life is not
accurate. The ratio is higher with youth and decreases a bit as the dog ages.
Depending on breed, a dog experiences the raging hormones of adolescence
anywhere from eight months to two years or more. Generally, a dog of six has aged
about as much as a 45-year-old human. At 10, she's like a human of 65; at 12, a
human of 75; and at 15, a human of 90.

Dog Years
A dog's lifespan is only a fraction of the average human's lifespan, which means that a
dog ages more quickly in the same amount of time. This chart shows how a dog's age
might be adjusted to compare to a human's age.
Canine Age Human Age
2 Months 14 Months
6 Months 5 Years
8 Months 9 Years
1 Year 15 Years
2 Years 24 Years
3 Years 28 Years
4 Years 32 Years
5 Years 37 Years
6 Years 42 Years
7 Years 47 Years
8 Years 52 Years
9 Years 57 Years
10 Years 62 Years
11 Years 67 Years
12 Years 72 Years
13 Years 77 Years
14 Years 82 Years

Approximate Annual Dog Care Costs

Costs vary depending on charges by individual veterinarians. Costs do not include any
initial adoption fee or purchase cost for the animal. Assuming the average lifespan of a
dog is ten years, the estimated cost of owning a dog for its lifetime is over $8300.
Year 1 Ea Succeeding Year
Food $400 $400
Distemper/Parvo $60 $15
Rabies Shots $20 $5
Worming $25 $10
Spay / Neuter $55
Heartworm $50 $50
License $10 $10
Accessories $100 $75
Emergency Vet $250 $250
Total $970 $818