Life Stages Of A Dog

Introduction

Dogs age at a much different rate than humans do. For instance, the first two years of your dog’s life are the equivalent of 24 human years. After that, each year is just four to seven “human” years, depending on breed and size. By the time a dog reaches 10 or 11 years old, it’s considered geriatric—which is about 70 or 80 in human years. However, dogs don’t always look their ages. Some breeds age more quickly than others; certain individuals may be affected by chronic health issues that cause them to grow old before their time; and spaying/neutering can change how they age as well (in some cases speeding up the process). Here’s how you can tell how old your dog really is by looking at his physical and behavioral characteristics:

Puppyhood

Puppyhood is the first stage of a dog’s life, where they start to develop their senses and begin walking. This phase lasts around eight weeks. Puppies are born blind, deaf, toothless and lacking in muscle tone. Their soft coat changes over time as they grow older, until it becomes an adult coat (which can sometimes vary between breeds). Their tails are also shorter than an adult’s tail.

Juvenile

The juvenile stage lasts from 3 months to 18 months, and it’s the time when you will see your puppy grow into a young adult. This is a period of rapid growth that requires lots of attention and exercise. During this stage, puppies are especially prone to accidents because their bodies are still learning how to control bladder and bowel movements. They’re also susceptible to destructive chewing, so make sure you provide plenty of chew toys!

Adulthood

A dog in adulthood is at his healthiest, most athletic and playful, energetic, intelligent and sociable. This can be a difficult stage for some owners because it’s not always easy to keep up with your puppy’s youthful energy or to control the things he may want to do (if he’s particularly energetic or rambunctious). However, this is also a great time for you to bond with your dog as he matures into an adult.

Mature Adult

Mature adult dogs are between 7 and 10 years old.
At this stage, dogs are at their peak. They are very active and still have plenty of energy for running, playing, and being social with other dogs.
In this stage, your dog will want to spend a lot of time with you as well as other people or pets that they know well.

Geriatric

When a dog reaches the age of seven, his or her body is starting to slow down. Dogs are more likely to have health problems and behavioral issues as they age. You may need to make some changes in your dog’s routine to accommodate for this change in lifestyle.

For example:

Your dog may need more attention as he becomes less active and tires out easier after exercise. You should make sure that you’re spending enough time with him each day so he doesn’t get too lonely or bored while you’re away at work or school all day long!
If your aging pet has been suffering from joint pain, such as arthritis, it may be helpful for them if you take them on walks less frequently but instead opt for shorter distances at a slower pace that prevents excessive stress on their joints (and yours!).

Not sure how old your dog is? I can help you figure it out!

When it comes to determining the age of your dog, there are a few different categories that you should keep in mind. These include puppyhood, juvenile, adulthood and mature adult.

Puppyhood is the period during which dogs go through their development stages. During this time, they are growing rapidly and learning things such as how to walk on four legs or use their teeth like humans do with utensils. Puppies can be adopted from shelters at any age but will usually have been weaned off their mother’s milk by then so they will have started eating solid foods such as kibble or canned food. At this point in time it’s important for puppies (and everyone else!) to get enough sleep — but don’t worry too much about that just yet!

Conclusion

Thanks for reading! We hope you learned something new about your dog and will go forth and apply this knowledge to your own life. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to reach out.