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Convert 5 dog years to Human years
How to convert 5 Dog years to Human yearsMeet Otto
Last week I had a chance to have a conversation with a good friend of mine Brett. Like most Australians he is currently in self isolation that allows him to spend more time with his beloved family and a playful dog Otto. Otto is an English Foxhound who has been a loyal companion to his owner, going out for walks in the park, playing fetch with many toys, and patrolling the area of his home, watching for any wild animals that pass by.
Brett and his family just celebrated Otto's 5th birthday, and my friend asked me if I know how to convert 5 dogs years to human years. His family noticed that some of their four-legged friend activities have been reduced in the last 6 months, and they are concerned with the overall health of Otto. He used a widely accepted formula and assumed that Otto is 35 years old in human years. I didn't have my phone with me to show the dog age calculator we developed recently. Instead, I tried to explain how this calculation works and why simply multiplying your dog age by 7 won't give you correct result. It is widely believed that a single dog year in age is equal to 7 years in a human being, but the fact is that this 7-to-1 ratio is totally wrong. To properly calculate how old a dog is in comparison to a human’s age, you must base these calculations on the size of the dog and its breed.
Dogs are a diverse species of mammals, varying in height and weight, coming in many shapes and hair types. There is a lot of variation among breeds regarding life expectancy. In Otto’s case he is a large hunting hound, and larger breeds of dogs are known to age faster when they reach the age of 5. An English Foxhound at 5 years old is the same as being 40 years old in human years.
Using the Dog Years to Human Years Calculator, you will notice the difference in the ages of each dog breed. Small dogs reach adulthood faster than big dogs as they reach skeletal and reproductive maturity sooner. Small dogs have a shortened juvenile period and an extended adulthood. Large dogs may take 2 years to reach their completely mature skeletal body size and then they may only have another 4 or 5 years of life. Great Dane, Bulldog, Rottweiler and Saint Bernard are the perfect examples of the dogs with the shortest lifespan. If you own a Bernese Mountain Dog or an Irish Wolfhound than I might have bad news for you - due to their gigantic size, these breeds live no more than 7 years on average.
Basic Principles
Knowing that smaller dog breeds have a tendency to age faster in their first 2 years of life and then their aging process slows down, the opposite is true for larger dog breeds. Here is how to calculate your dog’s true age. For the first 2 years of a dog’s life, you count 12.5 years per human year for small dogs, 10.5 years per human year for medium-sized dogs, and 9 years per human year for large dogs. After turning 3 years old, the aging process varies for all dog breeds. Small dogs like Dachshunds, Beagles and Pugs will age by 4.32, 5.20 and 5.95 years per human year respectively. Large dogs like the German Shepherd and the Boxer will age by 7.84 and 8.90 years per human year respectively.
Back to Otto and how to convert 5 dog years to human years. At 2 years of age, Otto would be 21 to 22 in human years, 10.5 or 11 multiplied by 2. If he is 40 years old in human years at the age of 5, that means that Otto will age by 18 or 19 human years in the next 3 years of his life. To calculate this, you take the 19 human years and divide it by 3 dog years. The answer is that Otto will age by 6.33 years per human year, or simply 18 divided by 3 equals 6.
Summary
English Foxhounds normally weigh 60 to 75 pounds (roughly 28 to 34 kilograms), which is in the large dog breed range, but Otto’s aging process fits more along the lines of medium-sized dogs. After turning 3 years old, Staffordshire Bull Terriers age 5.33 years per human year, Spaniels age 5.46 years per human year, and Labrador and Golden Retrievers age 5.74 years per human year. Paying close attention to his health, Otto should be able to live a long life in the range of 10 to 13 years of age. No matter what size your dog is, treating your loyal companion with great care will allow it to live a long and happy life.
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Dog Age Calculator
If you are still using the old 7-to-1 method of converting your dog age to human age you will be disappointed. The method is completely wrong!
After weeks of research and discussions with vets and dog enthusiasts, we have created this easy-to-use dog years to human years calculator. No guessing anymore - all you have to do is to choose your dog's breed and age from the dropdown menu to have the instant result. The tool is free to use and supports more than 100 breeds at the moment. Please free to share it and don't forget to leave a comment below.
https://www.dogscorner.com.au/pages/dog-years-to-human-years
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The smartest dog breeds
The Smartest dog breeds
Most of us can easily recognize specific dog breeds by their physical features and characteristics. These features are often a part of what endears us to a certain dog breed. We love the big blocky heads of Labradors, we love the cuddly sweetness of Golden Retrievers. We love the gentle hearts of the Pitbull. Every dog owner wants to believe that his or her pup is the smartest dog around, and that very well may be true. Some of the most intelligent dog breeds are some of the most popular and beloved breeds.
Just where does your dog stack up on the list of the most intelligent dog breeds?1. Border Collie
With a distinctive black and white long coat, and a petite build, the border collie is one energetic and affectionate little smarty. The border collie is a working breed, and is happiest when he has a job to do. Whether herding sheep, running the agility course, or working as a therapy dog, this dog uses his intelligence to learn his job, perform his job, and to anticipate what is expected of him.
They have what is affectionately termed as the “herding eye.” This is an intensive stare that is used to make eye contact with and herd their charges.
Border collies don’t necessarily make the ideal choice in family pet if you are looking for a low-energy dog who will be happiest sleeping in front of the fireplace all day. They are however great family pets if you can keep their mental and physical energy stimulated with plenty of exercise.German Shepherd
One of the most intelligent dog breeds, and one of the most popular choices in dog breeds, the German shepherd excels as a working dog. Whether working with the armed forced, or working to protect a herd, these dogs with their distinctive pointed alert ears and long bushy tails are also often seen working as service dogs.
The German shepherd offers fierce loyalty, courage, fearlessness, confidence, and of course that intelligence that you are looking for. Despite having an unearned bad reputation over the years, these champions among the most intelligent dog breeds do make wonderful family pets. They are fiercely protective over their family member, and are great companions for children. It’s important to ensure that their high energy levels are tended to, to stave off boredom and destructive behavior.3. Labrador Retriever
With big paws and constantly wagging tails, the Labrador retriever is an all-around working dog that is perhaps the most popular in dog breeds. Of all the most intelligent dog breeds, Labradors possess this strong need to please the people around them. This makes them a great choice for service dog, or for a search and rescue dog.
They are intelligent, sweet-natured, gentle, and really great family pets. Their high energy and strong work drive tends to settle down when they are about 4 years old, but their being easy to train makes them a great choice for hunting companions.
4. Poodle
The poodle is not only hypoallergenic, which makes it a great choice for families where allergies to dogs may be a concern, but it is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Their high levels of intelligence make them fairly easy to train. They do well as family pets, and their love of being active makes them a great choice for tracking and retrieving. They are recognized as the national dog of France, and in fact were originally used as retrievers on the hunt.
They have a gentle and happy personality that does make them a great addition to a household with children..
5. Golden Retriever
As one of the most recognized service and family dogs, the golden retriever is a sweet and friendly breed that is just as well-suited to working as a hunting companion as it is to being a family companion. With a long silky coat, and a friendly nature, the loving nature of the golden retriever makes it a great therapy dog. The big generous heart of this dog breed makes him loyal to each member of his family.
6. Papillon
Petite, quick, and filled with curiosity, the papillon is a petite member of the spaniel family. With long-haired alert ears, this confident and intelligent toy breed lacks aggression, but is filled with energy that makes him crave exercise and training.
While they do make loyal family dogs, they do need that daily stimulation to help keep their minds occupied and their bodies burning energy. Whether they’re being trained to perform fun tricks for the family, or taking advantage of their speed and being trained for agility, you’ll find that the papillon is a gentle-natured happy pup suitable for family life.7. Bloodhound
A dopey-looking face and big drooping ears hides the intelligence of the bloodhound. As one of the most intelligent dog breeds, the bloodhound also boasts a strong independent streak that can make him something of a challenge to train. They are curious and friendly dogs that have a nose that can detect scents under even the most challenging of situations.
With a steady and calm hand, the bloodhound can be trained to be a faithful hunting companion, and family pet. They are medium to large sized dogs, but they are not excessively energetic like some of their other highly intelligent counterparts. They are just as happy sleeping on the front porch as they are chasing down rabbits.
8. Rottweiler
The distinctive look of the Rottweiler has earned it an unfounded reputation as being an aggressive breed. The truth is that this is one of the most intelligent dog breeds, and it’s a dog breed that wants to work and wants to please his handlers. They are affectionate, and enjoy cuddling up on the couch with their family members.
They do have a high level of energy that makes them well-suited to work as service dogs, law enforcement dogs, or herders out in the field. Their large stocky size is somewhat deceptive, as they are highly energetic and speedy when they are on the move. They even make great agility dogs, and enjoy the competition.
9. Shetland Sheepdog
Also known as the Sheltie, the Shetland sheepdog is a playful herding dog that is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. A miniature version of the standard collie, these long-haired petite pups are always happy and willing to learn new tricks or new duties. They are sweet-natured, affectionate, and fiercely loyal to the members of their family.
Active and agile, the Shetland sheepdog is easy to train. They do well working with herds, and also with agility and herding trails. They also tend to be slightly reserved with strangers, and will bark if they feel that the safety of their herd or family is at risk; this makes them a great choice for family guard dog.
.10. Doberman pinscher
As another dog breed that has an unearned negative reputation, the Doberman pinscher is one of the most intelligent dog breeds. Their long legs give them great speed that make them a solid choice for working with law enforcement or the military. The Doberman boasts a keen intelligence that makes him easy to train, and willing to learn. Strength and endurance levels unmatched by other larger dog breeds ensure that this breed is able to keep up with the rigors of being a working dog.
The Doberman is also sweet-natured around those he feels loyal to, and can make a great choice in family pet so long as he is allowed plenty of exercise to help burn off that excess energy.
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Basic Dog training commands
Basic dog training commands
If you feel it is time to start training a dog, this article is for you! Dog training consists of two essential elements - behavioral balancing and command training; however, dog training should begin with teaching basic commands and try to communicate with the pet. Dogs can learn different commands for different purposes. For example, you can teach a dog to hunt, to guard a house, to be helping blind people. But before teaching your dog all difficult commands, you need to make sure that your pet knows all the basic ones like sit, lay, come.
It is easier to control the behavior of your pet when it knows all the basic commands. Also, it is easier to protect your pet from all the danger outside. The most important thing for the pet owners is that while you are teaching your dog different types of commands, a bond between you and your pet is getting stronger every minute.The command "SIT"
The command "SIT" is one of the most easily learned commands for the pet, so it is obvious that this should be the first command learned, so where to start? First of all, make your pet to pay attention to you by giving it some treats. Make sure you have time for the training and have fun!
● Take the snack and keep it close to your pet's nose.
● Slowly raise the snack upwards, the dog will follow, and this action will encourage him to sit.
● When your dog sits down, say the "SIT" command, give him a snack, share the joy and repeat the task.
Repeat this task a few times a day until your dog will be used to this command. You can then ask the dog to sit down before giving a meal, going outside or in other situations that require a calm dog's temper.
.The command "COME"
The main dog training commands are formed from teaching your pet to come to you. It does not matter what phrase you use for the command; it's essential that it is simple and acceptable for both you and your pet. This command can help if you accidentally released a dog leash or leave the open door and your pet escapes.
● Put a collar on the dog's neck and attach a leash.
● Get down to its level and tell the command "COME" by gently pulling it through the leash.
● When the dog comes to you, give him a delicious treat, share the joy and repeat the task again.
Once the dog understands this command using a leash, release it and repeat the command in a safe environment.The command "LAY"
It is harder to teach this command than previous ones. When training a dog to lie down, you should be relaxed and calm.
● Take a delicious snack (the one the dog likes the most) and hold it in your hand.
● Hold the treat next to the dog's nose and when the pet sniffs it, lower your arm to the ground - the dog starts to follow the hand.
● Slightly push your hand toward the dog (or toward you) to encourage the dog to lie down. The dog's body should follow the head; this is the principle of this exercise.
● When the dog lies down, tell the command "LAY" and give it the treat, share the joy and repeat the task.
It is recommended that this command would be repeated every day. If the dog tries to sit or move from the place, say "No" and pull the arm. Be happy when your pet is trying to listen and do not force it too hard to lie down, because the dog is trying to figure out what it is being asked for.The command "CALM DOWN"
Before you start teaching this command, make sure that your dog knows the command "SIT."
● Ask the dog to sit down.
● Show your empty palm next to the dog's nose and say "CALM DOWN."
● Hold the palm for 3-5 seconds and give a delicious treat if during this time the dog remained calm.
● Repeat the exercise by taking a few steps back.
● Gradually extend the command's time and distance.
● Show to your pet that you are pleased even if it listens for only a few seconds!
The command "CALM DOWN" is a dog self-control exercise, so do not forget if you need to take a lot of time to master it. This command is difficult to learn for small and energetic dogs because they want to run and play.The command "LEAVE IT"
This command can protect against dangers that intrigue, smells good, but are dangerous! The goal of the command is to show the dog that it gets something more valuable if he ignores a particular item.
● Take a snack into both palms.
● Show the dog a treat in one hand, hold it and say "LEAVE IT."
● Let him try to pick out the snack from the hand and ignore this behavior.
● When the dog stops trying to grab the snack, give him the treat from the other palm.
● Repeat until the dog leaves the palm after hearing the command.
● Later, give the taste only when, after the command, the dog leaves your arm and looks at you.
When your dog learns to ignore the snack and make eye contact, you can make the task more difficult. You will need two different snacks. One of them must be a simple one, and the other is a delicious (the one that the dog would like).These five main dog training commands will help you to make a bond with the pet and teach your dog how to behave, which is a valuable investment of your time and energy. Remember, the training process takes a long time, so start only when you are in a good mood and have time. In this way, your lessons will be fun for both you and your dog.
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How to Introduce a Puppy to Your Older Dog
How to Introduce a Puppy to Your Older Dog
Humans are the most receptive creations because of their openness to all other creatures. Dogs have for some time become indispensable creatures to humans and have always tallied along with them. The greatest difference between them and humans is their inability to accept new challenges and though this is common among other animals, dogs seem to have the upper hand.
Most people are fond of dogs and there are times when they have inkling to bring in puppies to their homes. At such times, dog lovers often develop feet of clay; wondering the best way to bring in the new pet without an ugly incident rearing up between the puppy and the family. You shouldn’t be taken aback by the unimagined scenario that would play out before your eyes if adequate measures are not adopted in the introduction and integration of a new puppy.
Though people regard puppies as bundles of love that must be within the confines of a home with all facilities provisioned to assure their comfort, most adult dogs such as the one you might have in your home have contrary views. Introducing a puppy to your older dog is one of the trickiest tasks and you have to make their first meeting monumental with positive undertones. Here’s how to introduce a puppy to your older dog.
Ahead of the Introduction
It is your primary duty as the dog owner to take certain precautions in your puppy introduction to avoid negative incidents. Thinking few steps ahead with anticipation of likely troubles will help you adopt preventive measures that would reduce hitches experienced in conventional puppy-to-dog introductions.The behavioral adaptations of your older dog over the years are of importance as this helps you watch out for signs that could impede the introduction. The watchword here is prevention and you’re expected to take into account your older dog’s earlier characteristics and body language because this will help you figure out the best time to strike the connection between your new puppy and your older dog.
Here’s what to do
Puppy introduction in a home already dominated by an adult dog is tricky and security must be paramount to facilitate smooth connection between the two pets at first sight. If you’re wondering how to go about the pre-introduction stage, here are some of the steps you have to take.
Up-to-Date Vaccination
You might not wish for this but there are tendencies that your new puppy might get into a fight with your older dog at first sight. The puppy is a new member of your home and obviously had not been in the picture. Your older dog might take offence with the presence and spoil for a fight to secure his territory (your home) because he might feel his position threatened with the presence of the puppy. Up-to-date vaccination for your older dog will go the extra mile in keeping your puppy away from diseases that might be transmitted in the course of the squabble.
Neutral Meet and Greet Territory
Your home is your older dog’s territory and should be avoided when your puppy is to meet the dog. Though meet and greets can be struck here, chances are high that squabbles might crop up if your older dog is not at home with the puppy. A neutral territory (probably outside the confines of your dog’s home) will be just fine for initial introductions.
Create Spaces
The period of introduction is to be guarded jealously and you should give each dog as much space as their behavior requires. Their foods and drinks should be separated and hence, separate food dishes should be purchased to serve that purpose. If you don’t want your home to become boxing ring of sorts for your older dog and new puppy, you have to give each dog his corner and create spaces to keep them apart when they are not under supervision.
Remove all Toys
Your older dog must have some chew toys. These should be removed at the earliest time as they can figure out as willing tools in the hands of your older dog in the event of a fight. These toys also have to be away so the puppy doesn’t get to see them and attempt playing with them which might bull your older dog into a fight.
Howdy Crate must be Handy
As much as you want to keep away your puppy from your older dog at the initial stage, you have to get both into contact once in a while. Howdy crate herein entails enclosing both dogs in separate crates and from the walls of their crates; they can get to be in the know of each other’s sounds and pup scents. This is a great way of introducing your new puppy to your older dog with necessarily creating room for a showdown.
Guided Walks
Sequel to howdy crating is parallel walking as devised means to initiate meet and greet between your older dog and the in-coming puppy. During the walk, both dogs are leashed and are placed under supervised walking. Your puppy can take the lead with the walker leading the way and your older dog staging behind.
This scenario creates room for mental imagination on your older dog and it might start figuring out the idea behind the walk and might culminate in friendly disposal to your puppy. The walk together allows both dogs see often and get to know each other’s physical dispositions. The walk helps reduce tensed feelings they might have had and further establishes familiarity between them.
During the walk, positions can be swapped at intervals with your older dog taking the lead this time and the puppy coming behind. After some time, they should be placed at adjacent positions and separated by only a few feet.
When Foes Become Allies
Discordant tunes are imminent because your new puppy and older dog are literary from different worlds and same way the puppy wouldn’t want to be attacked on a first visit, your older dog sis set for a showdown to protect its territory.
Behaviorists are of the opinion that religious applications of some of these steps would record defining moments in your puppy’s integration into your home. Though these steps would keep them away from premeditated fights initiated by your older dog, eyes should be kept on the older dog and his behavioral patterns placed under close scrutiny.
Body languages such as teeth display, growling and prolonged stares in the direction of the puppy shouldn’t be taken for granted. Such are signs that your older dog might be spoiling for a showdown.
Forestalling this demands you separate their food dishes and don’t force their closeness on them; that would happen naturally. You are rather to place them under supervised plays and at due time, strike an introduction in a neutral environment (it might be in a friend’s place).
How to convert 5 Dog years to Human years
