
I don’t know how to break it to you. But it turns out one human year doesn’t really equal 7 dog or cat years. But here’s the simple way to truly nail down their age…if in fact they were fully...hooman.
Yep, I've created an ageing system you can follow below...
It didn't add up!
So...I guess we’ve always known there were flaws in the 7 year theory. After all, how do you explain the world’s longest lived dog, Bluey, an Australian cattle dog who reached the grand age of 29 dog years…or 203!

So how does it work?
They grow up so fast!
Wait for it. So much is achieved in the first year of life that by one year of age, they’re already the equivalent of a 30 year old person. By two years of age, they’re clocking up the big 4-0.
From there on though, things slow down a little, they mature (well, almost!) and they almost meander through their middle age.

But I’ve come up with a rule that does deliver you their accurate age.
Here’s how your dog’s ‘Brown Number’ works!
- If they’re 1 in dog or cat years, that’s 30 in human years.
- If they’re 2 in dog or cat years, that’s 40 in human years.
- From here on, use this formula…
- Age in Human years = 40 + (Dog/Cat Age x 3)
Plus, remember that typically, small dogs and cats age slower. So that human age might even be on the generous side...

How did your dog fare? Are they looking good for their age? All that fur hides the wrinkles anyway!