Our dogs are perfect to us. There is nothing about them that we don’t love. But if we had to identify one single flaw about our dogs it’s probably something that isn’t even within their control. And that would be their age. While humans can live for 80 years or more, the sad reality is that our dogs’ lifespans are much shorter. And that makes us sad because it means that they won’t be around forever.
On average or dogs will live to be between the ages of 10 to 18 years. Their lifespans are also factored by their breed, health, and general lifestyle. The reason that dogs age different from humans is because of their shorter lifespans. We notice these differences when comparing dogs and humans. Our dogs are considered fully ground adults when they’re a year old, versus humans who aren’t fully grown until well into their late teens. And one year of a dog’s life is the equivalent of 4 to 7 human years. That is quite a rapid difference. But the exact age time gap all boils down to the dog’s breed and size, as well as their general health. There are some dog breeds that are actually known to age much quicker than other dog breeds, which is why their lifespans differ by a few years.
But why is it that our furry friends age more rapidly than humans? The answer is simple. Their genetic make up differs. Our dogs’ bodies actually have higher metabolisms and generally work harder than ours. Even their hearts beat more rapidly than a human’s heartbeat. All that extra work that their bodies do mean that their bodies will age and wear out much quicker than ours. But with proper diet and exercise, we can keep them around for as long as their little lifespans will allow. And that’s really all we can aim for.
