# How do I figure out how old my dog is?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933>\
**Category:** Factual Questions\
**Created:** [January 11, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933 "2004-01-11T04:23:45Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 7\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![godnotgood](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/ba8739/32.png) [@godnotgood](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/godnotgood)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 4:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933/1 "2004-01-11T04:23:45Z")

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We have a dog that we took from a shelter and we don’t know that much about her. She is a rottweiler but a little on the small side - 60lbs or so. We were told she is 2 or 3 years old.

I want to know which - 2 or 3. How do I find out - preferably without having to saw her leg off and count the rings.

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**Author:** ![Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/50afbb/32.png) [@Duck\_Duck\_Goose](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Duck_Duck_Goose)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 5:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933/2 "2004-01-11T05:11:42Z")

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You can’t. Sorry.

[[http://www.purinaone.com/online\_vet\_dog\_qa\_archive\_category.asp?category=Examining+your+Dog&VetChooser=1&ICDB\_Session=1](http://www.purinaone.com/online_vet_dog_qa_archive_category.asp?category=Examining+your+Dog&VetChooser=1&ICDB_Session=1)

> [@](#):
>
> How can you tell exactly how old a dog is?
> 
> Unfortunately determining the age of a dog is not an exact science. The most commonly used method is to look at their teeth. Naturally, if they still have “baby” teeth, then they are under 6 months of age.
> 
> Once all the adult teeth have erupted then the veterinarian can use the amount of wear and tartar on the teeth to try and determine the dog’s age. It also helps to observe the behavioral patterns of the dog as well. Younger dogs will have more puppy like and energetic behaviors while older dogs maybe more sedate. However, it is usually only possible to give an approximate age once they are over a year old.

[Chart of teeth eruption dates, FWIW.](http://www.hsus2.org/international/library/eng_ht_determine_age.html)

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**Author:** ![BobT](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/8e8cbc/32.png) [@BobT](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/BobT)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 6:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933/3 "2004-01-11T06:29:00Z")

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Did you ask the dog? She might know. 🙂

I adopted a full-grown cat from a shelter and they estimated she was 3. That was 12 years ago. So I really don’t know how old she is. They looked at her teeth and guessed three and the vet has “15” on her chart. Regardless, when she goes to the vet, she gets the “geriatric panel.”

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**Author:** ![Captain\_Amazing](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/6de8d8/32.png) [@Captain\_Amazing](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Captain_Amazing)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 7:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933/4 "2004-01-11T07:23:35Z")

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Turn him into a human, ask him how old he is, then turn him back into a dog and divide by 7.

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**Author:** ![Fish](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/bc8723/32.png) [@Fish](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fish)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 7:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933/5 "2004-01-11T07:33:51Z")

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But whatever you do, do **not** cut him open and count the rings. That’s how you determine the age of a Hobbit.

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**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 7:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933/6 "2004-01-11T07:37:51Z")

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Check her driver’s license.

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**Author:** ![friedo](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/8edcca/32.png) [@friedo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/friedo)\
**Post date:** [January 11, 2004, 7:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-do-i-figure-out-how-old-my-dog-is/223933/7 "2004-01-11T07:50:57Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> Check her driver’s license.

If she came from a shelter, it’s probably a fake anyway.