If you’re a dog owner, you have probably heard the popular myth that a single human year is equal to seven ‘dog years’. 

That would make Britain’s oldest dog, a 22-year-old Staffy from Devon named Sasha, a staggering 154 years old. 

However, experts now say that the reality of dog ageing isn’t quite as simple.

Pet food company, Purina, explained: ‘While it’s true that one year for human development is quite different to one year for a dog’s development, the actual number of dog years to human years depends on several factors.

‘The dog’s size and breed play an important part in their life expectancy, with small breeds usually living longer than larger breeds.’

That means working out how old your dog is in human terms takes some more complicated calculations than just multiplying by seven. 

Luckily, Purina has developed the Dog Years Calculator to help you work out your dog’s ‘true age’.

So, is your pet still a playful puppy or have they hit their midlife crisis earlier than expected? Take the test to find out.

Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo from Portugal, was once thought to be the world's oldest dog at 31-years old. According to the myth that one human year is worth seven dog years, that would make Bobi 217 years old. However, vets say that the calculations are not so simple

Bobi, a Rafeiro do Alentejo from Portugal, was once thought to be the world’s oldest dog at 31-years old. According to the myth that one human year is worth seven dog years, that would make Bobi 217 years old. However, vets say that the calculations are not so simple 

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How old is your dog in human years?

According to Purina, the myth that one human year is worth seven dog years probably comes from the idea that humans live about seven times as long as dogs on average.

However, this isn’t always the case since size and breed have a big impact on how fast dogs mature and age.

Purina says: ‘Larger breeds live shorter lives, so they mature more quickly.

‘Large and giant breeds are usually considered to be ‘seniors’ by the time they’re five, while medium-sized dogs won’t reach old age until they’re seven.

‘Small and toy breeds reach seniority around the age of 10.’

This is further complicated by the fact that dogs age at different speeds at different points in their life.

According to the UK Kennel Club, the first two years of a small dog’s life are equal to 12.5 human years, although this reduces to 10.5 years for a medium dog, and nine years for a large dog.

Dogs age differently depending on their size, with smaller dogs ageing slower than large dogs. Puppies also reach maturity much faster than humans so the first two years of their life are equivalent to more human years (stock image)

Dogs age differently depending on their size, with smaller dogs ageing slower than large dogs. Puppies also reach maturity much faster than humans so the first two years of their life are equivalent to more human years (stock image) 

After that, each additional year of a dog’s life is worth between 4.3 and 13.4 years depending on the breed.

The reason for the different stages is that dogs’ stages of development aren’t the same as in humans. 

Purina says: ‘We all wish our canine friends could live as long as we humans do, or even longer if possible.

‘But the reality is their life span is not the same as ours and many dogs are already full-blown adults by the time they are two years old.’

Luckily, if you want to know how old your dog is you can simply enter their age in calendar years and size into the calculator to find out.

How to help your dog live longer

On average a medium-sized dog has a life expectancy of between 10 and 13 years old.

However, in some cases, dogs can live significantly longer than this.

Sasha the Staffy from Devon (pictured), believed to be the UK's oldest dog, is 22 years old and still going strong. Although your dog might not break any records, there are some simple things you can do to help them stay healthy for longer

Sasha the Staffy from Devon (pictured), believed to be the UK’s oldest dog, is 22 years old and still going strong. Although your dog might not break any records, there are some simple things you can do to help them stay healthy for longer 

Although his claim is now disputed due to a lack of documentary evidence, Bobi the dog was previously thought to have lived 31 years and 165 days.

Likewise, Sasha the Staffy from Devon, believed to be the UK’s oldest dog, is 22 years old and still going strong.

Although not every dog will break a record for longevity, there are still some simple things you can do to help.

Healthy diet

Just like humans ensuring your dog has the right food and nutrition is key to maintaining their health.

Purina says: ‘A healthy diet comprised of all the nutrients a dog needs will help keep them happy well into their old age.’

There are lots of different choices for how to feed your dog, but some vets now suggest avoiding ultra-processed options.

As an alternative, many owners opt for a raw food diet consisting of fresh meat, a few vegetables, and dietary supplements.

Providing your dog with the right diet can help keep them healthy. That means ensuring they get all the nutrients and vitamins they need each day (stock image)

Providing your dog with the right diet can help keep them healthy. That means ensuring they get all the nutrients and vitamins they need each day (stock image) 

Regular vet visits

In order to ensure your dog stays healthy for as long as possible it’s important to visit the vet to keep an eye out for any issues.

‘Regular visits to your vet allow for early detection of any health issues, and in many cases, can prevent problems from developing in the first place, says Purina.

Rather than waiting for your dog to become ill, it is better to be proactive with checkups.

To make things easier, you can time these to coincide with your dog’s vaccination schedule.

Purina says: ‘Protecting your dog from potentially deadly diseases is crucial. Make sure your furry friend is up to date on all their vaccinations, as recommended by your vet.’

Spending lots of time together

Purina says: ‘Make sure you show your dog lots of love and affection. Strengthening your special bond will do your dog a world of good and keep them healthy and happy.’

To live as long as Bobi (pictured), experts say that it is important to spend lots of time with your furry companion. This helps them remain healthy and happy for longer

To live as long as Bobi (pictured), experts say that it is important to spend lots of time with your furry companion. This helps them remain healthy and happy for longer 

This includes giving your pet plenty of physical and mental exercise such as practicing tricks. 

Daily walks and time spent playing helps your dog maintain a healthy weight, builds up their energy, and supports a strong heart and immune system.

It is important to remember that each breed will have different exercise needs which will change throughout their lives.

So, if you have a young, energetic border collie, that means you’ll need to walk them much more than if you have an ageing sausage dog or other small breed.

DOGS WERE FIRST DOMESTICATED SOME 20,000–40,000 YEARS AGO

A genetic analysis of the world’s oldest known dog remains revealed that dogs were domesticated in a single event by humans living in Eurasia, around 20,000 to 40,000 years ago.

Dr Krishna Veeramah, an assistant professor in evolution at Stony Brook University, told MailOnline: ‘The process of dog domestication would have been a very complex process, involving a number of generations where signature dog traits evolved gradually.

‘The current hypothesis is that the domestication of dogs likely arose passively, with a population of wolves somewhere in the world living on the outskirts of hunter-gatherer camps feeding off refuse created by the humans.

‘Those wolves that were tamer and less aggressive would have been more successful at this, and while the humans did not initially gain any kind of benefit from this process, over time they would have developed some kind of symbiotic [mutually beneficial] relationship with these animals, eventually evolving into the dogs we see today.’

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Read more at DailyMail.co.uk