We're for walks, runs and romps. Digging, sniffing and fetching. Belly-scratch leg kicks. A big smile. Hard play with the squeeky ball. A tail-thumpin' licking. A cold dog nose where no cold dog nose has gone before. We're for dog parks, dog doors and the dog days of summer. Shake paws? Go for a ride? Cookie? Pssssst! Get that kitty!

If there were an international holiday for dogs, on which all dogs were universally recognized for their contribution to the improvement of our quality of life on earth, we'd be for that too. Dogs make us happy. Dogs rule!



Lifespan

The old rule-of-thumb that one dog year equals seven years of a human life is not accurate. The ratio is higher with youth and decreases a bit as the dog ages. Depending on breed, a dog experiences the raging hormones of adolescence anywhere from eight months to two years or more. Generally, a dog of six has aged about as much as a 45-year-old human. At 10, she's like a human of 65; at 12, a human of 75; and at 15, a human of 90.



Dog Years

