Giant breeds such as the Bernese Mountain Dog have significantly shorter lifespans - 'Berners', in particular live to be an average of 6 to 8 years old, so would be considered seniors around 4 to 5. Their typical lifespan is about 12 years so they would enter their senior years at 8 to 9 years old. Labradors are a good average barometer of large breed dog.

Large dog breeds tend to have shorter lifespans, meaning they enter their golden years more quickly than smaller breeds. Some small breeds, including Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, have a shorter lifespan and are considered senior at about 8 years old. That said, there are always exceptions to the rule and that's the case here. So, a small, healthy dog might not be considered a senior until they are 12 years old. However, they age more slowly after this.Ī small-breed dog's lifespan is typically longer than a large breed dog's - up to about 16 years. Small Dogsĭogs smaller than about 20 pounds reach their adult age more quickly than larger breeds, since they are often fully grown by 6 to 8 months old. That said, in general we expect that the 'senior' life stage is the last quarter to one-third of a dog's expected life span. While there may be some anomalies or varying data when the question, 'What age is a dog a senior?' is asked. Some dogs will reach 12 years old before they begin to dramatically age. They then become adult dogs, a stage that lasts until they are around 5 or 6 before the signs of old age marking the senior life stage begin to make themselves apparent. Most dogs are puppies until they are around 6 months to 1 year old. Dog Ages & Breeds: How old is a senior dog? While many people estimate the average age at which a dog becomes a senior at about 7 years old, this can actually vary considerably between the ages of 5 and 12. Instead, when your dog enters this stage can vary greatly depending on your pooch's breed and size. You might be surprised to learn there is no firm age when a dog goes from being an adult to becoming a senior. Understanding when your pet has reached their senior years is an important aspect of being a pet parent as this will be your cue to watch for changes in habits or behaviors that you might need to take action on to keep your dog feeling happy and comfortable into their golden years. Many of these signs actually parallel symptoms of aging in humans! They will also likely start to go gray around the muzzle. You might notice your pooch slowing down a little, becoming less playful and maybe a touch more impatient with younger dogs. Similar to humans, dogs are more likely to display signs of illness or health conditions such as arthritis (which should not be ignored) when they enter their senior years. At what age is a dog considered a senior?

Animal age years