1 Tip, 1 Idea, 1 Quote.
On Your Dog's Age
Dog Trainer Auckland
June 2, 2026
1 Tip - on life with your dog
How old is my dog? The breeder will know their age, or if you are there when they are born, so will you, but a dog from a rescue? Their age will be a guide only. A dog's teeth provide the best estimate.
1 Idea - on the leading edge
Vets estimate a dog's age by examining their teeth. In puppies, it's surprisingly accurate. Called deciduous teeth, they are fully in by 6-8 weeks, then replaced with adult teeth by 5 -7 months. Each tooth arrives on a consistent schedule, with the canines usually appearing by 5 months.
Once all 42 adult teeth are in, vets use the wear patterns on the teeth to estimate age, with diet, chewing habits, and genetics all playing a part. But as you can imagine, it's an educated estimate, not an exact science.
1 Quote - on dogs
'Long in the tooth', a term originally used to estimate age by examining teeth in horses. The same principle applies to dogs (and women, when originally coined in 1852).
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