#16: Rethinking “Dog Years”
Anyone who owns a dog knows that these animals become family the moment their paws hit the floor. They’re loyal, expressive, and emotionally intelligent — but there’s still so much about them we misunderstand. One of the biggest misconceptions? That “one dog year equals seven human years.”
It’s a catchy idea, but not an accurate one. Dogs age rapidly in their earliest years, then slow down as adulthood sets in, which makes the “×7 rule” way too simple. Scientists have debated different formulas, and while nobody agrees on a perfect conversion, experts now know a dog’s aging process depends heavily on its size, breed, and genetics. In other words: understanding your dog’s “human age” isn’t as straightforward as a math trick.
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