How to tell how old my dog is

Reviewed by Amy Flowers, DVM on May 06, 2021

If you own a dog, you've heard this rule: 1 year for Fido equals 7 years for you. Turns out, the math isn't that simple. Dogs mature more quickly than we do early on. So the first year of your fuzzy friend’s life is equal to about 15 human years.

Size and breed also play a role. Smaller dogs tend to live longer than larger ones, but they may mature more quickly in the first few years of life. A huge pup might age more slowly at first, but be nearing middle age at 5. Tiny and toy breeds don't become "seniors" until around age 10. Medium-sized pooches are somewhere in the middle on both counts.

If you’ve adopted a puppy or dog but don't know their history, you may not know how old they are. Even if you don’t know the birth date, you can still guess their age.

Their teeth should give you a rough idea of their age. These guidelines will vary from dog to dog, and they also depend on the kind of dental care (if any) they had before you got them.

By 8 weeks: All baby teeth are in.
By 7 months: All permanent teeth are in and are white and clean.
By 1-2 years: Teeth are duller and the back teeth may have some yellowing.
By 3-5 years: All teeth may have tartar buildup and some tooth wear.
By 5-10 years: Teeth show more wear and signs of disease.
By 10-15 years: Teeth are worn, and heavy tartar buildup is likely. Some teeth may be missing.

Your vet can also guess their age based on a complete physical exam or tests that look at bones, joints, muscles, and internal organs. Senior dogs might show some specific signs of aging.

Cloudy eyes
Gray hair. It starts around the muzzle then spreads to other areas of the face, head, and body.
Loose skin
Stiff legs

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If you have rescued or found a puppy, you may not know exactly how old they are. Looking at the size of the puppy can give you a rough estimate, but different breeds grow at different rates. The easiest way to determine a puppy’s age is to look at their teeth, assess their behavior, and take them to the vet.

1

Check for no teeth. Puppies who do not have teeth that have grown in yet are newborns. They also probably haven’t opened their eyes and are still spending all their time with their mother. If the puppy has no teeth, they are up to three weeks old.[1] X Research source Go to source
2
Look for canine teeth. Canines are the four pointy teeth that dogs have. There are two on the top and two on the bottom. These are the first teeth to come in. They will start to come in between three to four weeks of age.[2] X Research source Go to source
3
Watch for the first sets of incisors. The incisors are the small teeth in the front of the mouth between the canines. Two sets of incisors will be the next teeth that come in for puppies. They come in around four to five weeks of age.[3] X Research source Go to source
4
Monitor for the first sets of premolars. Premolars are the teeth that are right beside the canines. Between four to six weeks, the first two sets of premolars will grow into the puppy’s mouth.[4] X Research source Go to source
5
Watch for the last sets of incisors and premolars. The last sets of these teeth come a few weeks after the first sets. The last set of incisors will grow in around five to six weeks of age, and the last four premolars will come at six to eight weeks.[5] X Research source Go to source
6
Look for a full set of baby teeth. By eight weeks, the puppy will have all their baby teeth. They are very sharp. As the puppy grows between eight and sixteen weeks, the head and jaw will grow, which will cause the teeth to have spaces between them. They will also start to look too small for the puppy’s mouth.[6] X Research source Go to source
7
Notice the permanent teeth coming in. Between sixteen weeks and eight months, the baby teeth will fall out and be replaced with permanent teeth. They start in the front with the incisors. The teeth will be replaced in order through the mouth. The older your puppy is, the farther back the transitioning between the teeth will be.[7] X Research source Go to source
- Most baby teeth are all gone by five months, and all adult teeth will be visible between eight to twelve months.

1
Look for small puppies with closed eyes. Puppies up to two weeks old are tiny in size. They haven’t opened their eyes yet. The puppies do not move around very much and stay close to their mother. They mainly only root, feed from the mother, and sleep.[8] X Research source Go to source
2
Notice if the puppy is just starting to walk. Puppies open their eyes when they are around two to three weeks old. They start walking and adventuring out of the whelping box during this time. They appear to become more aware of their surroundings and they begin to explore on their own. This is characteristic of puppies up to around five to six weeks old.[9] X Research source Go to source
3
Check to see if your puppy is eating solid food. Puppies generally get their food from their mother until between five to seven weeks old. Puppies who are transitioning to eating solid foods and who are becoming independent of their mother are probably around six to eight weeks old.[10] X Research source Go to source
4
Watch for increased chewing and playing. As the puppy grows, they start becoming more active. By eight weeks old, the puppy is acting how people typically expect a puppy to act. Because their teeth are coming in, they begin chewing on things. They also begin playing in an energetic manner and exploring everything around them.[11] X Research source Go to source
- They may also start acting restless or whining due to their teeth.
- They will also spend a lot of time sleeping in between playing and chewing.
5
Monitor the puppy’s growth. Puppies have a growth spurt between eight and sixteen weeks of age, and then they continue visibly growing over the next several months.[12] X Research source Go to source
6
Watch for a change in their coat. As they age, puppies will lose their puppy coats and gain their adult coat. Puppy coats are very soft, while adult coats are denser and thicker.
7
Watch for behavioral problems. Puppies who are between six to twelve months old will start testing their boundaries. They get an increase in energy and are distracted easily by everything. They may start chewing more things around the house, and they love to explore and may wander off.[13] X Research source Go to source
- At this age, the puppy may ignore you and forget behaviors they previously learned.
8
Determine if the puppy has slowed their growth and development. Most puppies will have reached their full size by the time they are between eight and twelve months old. Larger breeds will continue growing for up to two years. A dog under two years is still considered an adolescent. They have some puppy-like qualities, like chewing and energy, but they may have calmed some.[14] X Research source Go to source
9
Observe whether a female puppy is in heat. Unspayed female dogs typically have their first heat at 6-24 months old. You can tell that your dog is in heat if she’s nervous, very alert, and gets distracted easily. You also might notice that her vulva is swollen, or producing blood-tinged or straw-colored vaginal discharge.[15] X Research source Go to source
10
Check a male puppy’s genitals to get an idea of his age. A male puppy’s testicles should descend into its scrotum within the first 7 weeks after birth. You’ll be able to tell because the testicles will be much more noticeable.[16] X Research source Go to source
11
Take the puppy to the vet. If you are unable to figure out how old the puppy is based on the teeth or developmental stage, you can take them to the vet. The vet will be able to look at the size and breed, along with the teeth, and give you a fairly accurate estimated age.
- Whenever you first get a puppy, you should take them to the vet to get a checkup. The vet can tell you their age during your first visit.

Co-authored by:

Certified Veterinary Technician

This article was co-authored by Deanne Pawlisch, CVT, MA. Deanne Pawlisch is a Certified Veterinary Technician, who does corporate training for veterinary practices and has taught at the NAVTA-approved Veterinary Assistant Program at the Harper College in Illinois and in 2011 was elected to the board of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation. Deanne has been a Board Member of the Veterinary Emergency and Critical Care Foundation in San Antonio, Texas since 2011. She holds a BS in Anthropology from Loyola University and an MA in Anthropology from Northern Illinois University. This article has been viewed 319,313 times.

Co-authors: 4

Updated: November 10, 2020

Article Rating: 92% - 134 votes

Categories: Puppy Care

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"This article has given me a great insight into what to expect and how to treat the dog appropriately, thank you."

"I have a dog named Buster and I wondered how old he was and now I figured out that he was 12 weeks old."
"I found the information clear and concise, and the diagrams of the puppy teething stages very helpful."

How to tell how old my dog is

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