Your dog will express different needs — and tender a range of rewards — at each stage of their life, from bouncing baby pup to elderly companion.
Puppies are demanding and energetic, adolescents unpredictable. Senior dogs will have slowed to a comfortably lazy pace by the time they reach adulthood. Adult dogs are eager and self-assured.
Ups and downs will unavoidably occur over the course of your years together, just like in human relationships, but being prepared will put you ahead of the game. During your dog’s life, they will:
Smaller dogs typically mature earlier and live longer than larger breeds; larger dogs typically mature later and have shorter lifespans and senior citizenship.
Nevertheless, each dog grows and ages at their own pace. The stages of a dog’s life are roughly broken down as follows:
There are no hard-and-fast rules for what dogs will do or when they will do it because they are as unique as people.
If you treat your dog with the love and respect they deserve, you can anticipate devotion, adoration, and a few mistakes as the two of you work to bridge the human-canine communication gap.
Dogs mature at varying rates, with larger dogs typically maturing more slowly than smaller dogs. Nevertheless, regardless of timing, they all experience the same phases: active puppyhood, unpredictable adolescence, the largely uneventful adult years, and the slower, lazier senior years.
Let us know in the comments below your dog’s age, stage, and any changes they have undergone as they have aged.
Puppies and How to Take Care of Them
Life Stage No. 1: Puppy. From the time it is born until it can reproduce, your dog is a puppy.
Depending on your dog’s breed, this occurs at various ages. Smaller breeds typically mature sexually sooner than larger breeds.
Weaning. Puppies slowly switch from their mothers milk to eating other foods when theyre 3 or 4 weeks old. They should be fully switched over from milk to food by the time theyre 7 or 8 weeks old.
Feeding. Your puppy’s daily feeding schedule changes as it ages:
Once or twice a day, starting at age 1, feed your dog. Â Tiny dogs may need more frequent meals.
Dental Care. Dogs may show signs of gum disease by age 4 — or even as early as age 1 in some small-breed dogs — if you dont take proper care of their teeth. So the right time to begin proper dental care is when your dog is still a puppy. To clean your puppys teeth, use a special toothbrush made for dogs or else use a clean piece of gauze wrapped around your finger. You can make your own toothpaste out of baking soda and water or buy one that is specially formulated for dogs. Never use toothpaste thats meant for people.
House training. As soon as your puppy is weaned, you can start talking to them about house training. However, they are still growing, so don’t anticipate them to pick things up quickly. Typically, they can go without accidents until they are 4 to 6 months old.
Spaying and neutering. You might want to have your puppy neutered (male testicles removed) or spayed (female ovaries and uterus removed). These operations keep dogs from reproducing and having more puppies. Your puppy will typically undergo them when it is around 6 months old.
Spaying and neutering while they are puppies rather than as adults can help prevent problems like breast cancer and testicular disease when they get older.
Vaccines. Dogs need several rounds of vaccinations or shots during their first year. Talk to your veterinarian about which ones your dog needs and when to get them.
Your dog is at the height of their health during these three phases. Each breed may have different ages for these stages, but the following are some general guidelines:
Life Stage No. 2: Junior. Now your dog is kind of like a teenager. They can reproduce, but because they are still growing, they have not reached adulthood yet. At this stage, they are between 6 and 12 months old.
Life Stage No. 3: Adult. Once your dog has reached adulthood, they are considered to be “adults.” They look and behave like a grown dog. Their age ranges from 1 to 7 years.
Life Stage No. 4: Mature. Your dog has hit middle age! Their age is older than 7 years. Breeds that are smaller — as measured by weight, not height — tend to live longer than bigger dogs.
Although they are typically easier to care for than puppies, adult dogs still require your assistance with the following things in order to live their best lives:
Exercise. No matter their life stage, be sure your dog gets plenty of exercise. It will help keep them happy and at a healthy weight. Just donât overdo it, especially in large and giant breeds, because their skeletons are not mature until about 2 years of age.
Vaccines and visits to the vet. Take your dog to the vet for a checkup and vaccinations once a year to protect them from illness.
Older Dogs and How to Take Care of Them
Life Stage No. 5: Senior. When your dog reaches the last quarter of their life expectancy, they move into this stage. A dogs lifespan varies according to size and breed.
Life Stage No. 6: Geriatric. Dogs remain in this final stage for the remainder of their lives after reaching their life expectancy.
Your dog might slow down and require a little more attention as they age.
Food. Dogs that are older might not require as much food as puppies. Consult your veterinarian about whether you should switch to senior dog food and how much to feed them.
Checkups. You may need to begin taking your older dog to the vet for checkups every 6 months. Thats because later in life, dogs are more likely to develop arthritis and other diseases. Routine blood tests can help detect problems early, such as kidney disease. Early diagnosis and therapy can help prolong their life.
Your dog may develop bad breath and dental problems as they get older. Talk to your vet about how to care for your dogs teeth.
Temperature. Older dogs still need exercise. But they often cant handle extreme temperatures as well. So, protect your senior dog from overheating.
Home. Dogs may experience vision problems, difficulty walking, and difficulty thinking clearly as they age. By keeping the floor free of electrical cords and other objects, you can “age-proof” your home and safeguard your dog. To alleviate pressure on their joints when they are lying down, give them thicker bedding.
At what age is a dog considered a senior?
Similar to humans, dogs are more likely to exhibit symptoms of illness or medical conditions such as arthritis as they age (which should not be disregarded). Your dog may appear to be slowing down a little, acting less playful, and possibly growing impatient around younger dogs.
They might also begin to develop a gray ring around their muzzle. In fact, many of these symptoms are similar to human aging symptoms!
Knowing when your pet has reached their senior years is an essential part of being a pet parent because it will give you the signal to watch for any changes in habits or behaviors that you might need to address in order to keep your dog content and comfortable well into old age.
It may surprise you to learn that there is no specific age at which a dog transitions from being an adult to a senior. Instead, depending on your dog’s breed and size, it can be difficult to predict when they will reach this stage.
While many people believe that a dog reaches senior status around the age of 7, this can actually vary greatly between the ages of 5 and 12.
FAQ
At what age are dogs considered adults?
While their bones are still developing, which can take anywhere from six to twenty-four months, puppies continue to grow in height and size until they are one year old, when they are officially classified as adult dogs.
Is a 1 year old dog a puppy?
Between the ages of 12 and 18 months, a dog is no longer a puppy, with some variation based on breed, size, and temperament.
Is a 7 month old dog still a puppy?
Your puppy is reaching the height of adolescence at around 7 months old. Puppy adolescence is one of the most difficult stages to pass through because puppy hood is filled with obstacles, challenges, and hoops to jump through.
At what age is a dog considered a puppy?
In general, a puppy is considered an adult dog between the ages of 1 and 2 years, once their bones have fully developed and they’ve reached their final height and size. However, if you’re anything like us, you’ll probably continue to refer to your dog as a puppy until they’re old and grey.