Based on research, dog time is very different from human time.
Their hours, months, and even years tend to move faster.
That also explains why they get old very fast and have a shorter lifespan.
They also have a sense of time, which enables them to do things at specific times and get stressed when there is a notable change of routine.
In this article, we discuss more about how long a day, month, and year is for dogs.
We also discuss more about dogs and their sense of time, how to convert human time to dog time, among other things. Read on to learn more.
How Long Is a Day for Dogs?
For a dog, a day is equivalent to 3.5 human hours.
That means 24 hours, which is considered a full day for humans, is equivalent to 7 days for a dog.
Probably that’s the reason they always look forward to seeing you in the evening since, for them, you’ve been away for several days.
How Long Is a Year for Dogs?
One year for a human is seven years for a dog.
That explains why Dogs develop differently from humans.
If a dog and a child are born the same day, the dog will develop way faster than the child throughout its lifetime.
For example, when the child hits teenage age, the dog will be way too old.
A dog’s life span is also very short compared to that of humans.
How Long Is a Month for Dogs?
For humans, a month can be very long.
However, for dogs, it’s pretty short.
A month for a dog is equivalent to 4-5 human days.
So, anytime you are away from your canine for four or five days, to them, you have been away for an entire month, and they might be very lonely.
How To Convert Human Years To Dog Years
To convert human years to dog years, multiply its years by 7.
So, if your dog was born seven years ago, it’s already 49 years in dog years.
Converting dog years from humans’ years is particularly helpful in keeping track of their health.
For example, when your large breed dog hits around six years, it’s considered as a senior (based on the breed) and requires great care.
That’s the time you start being very cautious about weight control, hearing and seeing issues, arthritis, and other age-related complications.
You also need to start taking them to the vet more frequently for a checkup, as they are prone to many health problems.
You might also want to get health insurance for your pet when they get to their senior years to avoid expensive treatments or procedures.
Why Do Small Dog Breeds Have a Longer Lifespan Than Large Breeds?
Scientists have been baffled by this question for several years.
Smaller dog breeds have a lifespan of 12-15 years, while larger breeds live between 6-8 years.
This is because other bigger animals such as hippos and elephants have a very large lifespan compared to smaller ones like mice.
So, what is so special about smaller dogs that make them live longer than the bigger ones?
One of the answers to this question is that a large breed dog ages very fast, and every body mass pound reduces its life span.
However, more research is yet to be done concerning this topic.
Dogs And Sense of Time
If you are wondering whether dogs have a sense of time, the answer is yes.
However, they don’t have a concept of time.
They live in the moment and can’t plan ahead.
One difference between them and humans is that they cannot measure time in seconds, minutes, days, or years.
However, they can be trained based on past experiences to anticipate future events.
Like other animals, dogs have a circadian rhythm that is physical, mental, and behavioral changes.
The animal’s response to the changes is controlled by the brain, which is also responsible for hormonal and neuronal activities in the body.
The rhythms are what helps the dog to know it’s time to wake up when light sets in and other activities such as feeling sleepy when it gets dark.
The same happens to humans.
You don’t need to look at your watch to start feeling hungry or sleepy.
The rhythm controls these activities.
However, the circadian rhythm of humans is different from that of dogs.
For example, if you sleep for a few hours, you may find it difficult to wake up abruptly and take a walk.
On the other hand, dogs will sleep for a few minutes and take a walk without any problem.
What Happens When a Dog Is Left Alone for A Long Time?
While leaving your dog alone for some hours isn’t bad, leaving them alone for too long does not do them any justice as they are highly social animals.
Dogs need to socialize, even if it’s just for a few hours in a day.
If you want to travel or have already traveled and are wondering whether your fur friend is comfortable alone, just know they are not, especially if they are not used to it.
For you, you might be away for just a few hours which translates to days or weeks for them.
If left alone for a very long time, such as a few weeks, they might start some new behaviors such as destroying shoes and other household items to compensate for the interaction they used to have.
Some also suffer from separation anxiety when they don’t interact with humans or other dogs.
Some of the most common signs of separation anxiety include barking more than usual, drooling, and helping themselves in the house.
To avoid that from happening, train your dog how to be alone when they are still young.
It might be very difficult for them to adapt when they are much older.
How Do Dogs Respond to Changes in Routine?
Dogs are very good when it comes to maintaining certain routines.
Even though they can’t tell if it’s already two in the afternoon and they need to eat, or if it’s six in the morning and they need to take a morning walk, they easily develop and get used to routines.
They know when to eat, sleep, take a walk, or play.
When there is a change in routine, for example, a change in feeding time, they may get a bit stressed.
They may develop signs like potty accidents, start hiding, or even running away when there is a significant change in routine.
If you change their time for feeding, some dogs may even develop stomach upsets the first day.
If they are poor feeders, they might refuse to eat completely.
You can only entice them to eat by giving them their favorite foods or adding delicious broth to their meals when that happens.
The best thing to do is prepare them for changes gradually to ensure they don’t get stressed.
By doing so, they will adjust to the new norm after some time.
The passage of time between dogs and humans is very different.
One year for us is seven years for them.
Dogs may not have a concept of time, but their biological clock helps them have a sense of time, which is very helpful in doing particular things at certain times.