![\"How](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/old-rescue-dog-770x578.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nThat\u2019s what we\u2019ll look at in this blog post, using 6 specific indicators! <\/p>\n\n\n\n
How Old Is My Rescue Dog?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Well, I\u2019m not going to lie to you, determining the exact age of a rescue dog can be challenging!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Especially if you don’t have access to their complete medical and background information. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
With Wally, I was lucky because I DID have that information.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I knew that he was an owner surrender to a kill shelter and had been pulled by a rescue organization.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
From there, he was adopted out to a family who returned him to the rescue organization 2.5 months later because they claimed to be allergic to him.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
A few days before he was returned, I started fostering for the rescue, and my first foster pup was Wally.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Since I turned into a foster failure and adopted Wally myself, that’s how Wally and I ended up with each other.<\/p>\n\n\n
![\"Wally](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/rescue-dog-age-sit-770x1155.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nWally shortly after I adopted him, clearly a young pup!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
But either way, his adoption paperwork came with his certificate of rabies vaccination, which mentioned his date of birth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Fun fact: it\u2019s on the same day and month as mine, August 11, but obviously a different year, 2017. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
So it was obviously meant to be!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
OK, now without further ado, let\u2019s look at how to tell the age of a rescue dog!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Inspect Your Rescue Dog\u2019s Teeth <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Your rescue dog\u2019s teeth are one the best indicators for their age, so go ahead and examine your dog’s teeth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
Puppies usually have very white, clean teeth, while older dogs usually have more tartar buildup and signs of wear. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
As a general rule of thumb, puppies start losing their sharp baby teeth around 4-6 months, and their permanent teeth come in by 6-8 months.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between 1 and 2 years of age, dog teeth lose the pearly white shine that\u2019s so common in puppies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Between 3 and 5 years of age, dogs tend to have some yellow or brownish deposits on their teeth, especially if they weren\u2019t provided with healthy dog chews such as bully sticks that help clean their teeth<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Between 5 and 10 years of age, dog teeth start showing more wear and tear, including signs of periodontal disease such as:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Tip: Indirect signs of dental issues in your rescue dog can also be difficulties in chewing or favoring one side of the mouth when chewing, as well as pawing at their mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Senior pups who are older than 10 tend to have heavy tartar buildup paired with missing and broken teeth. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Some senior dogs may even be missing all of their teeth!<\/p>\n\n\n 12 month old German Shepherd Dane showing off his pearly whites! He was one of my dog walking clients, and a rescue pup.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Another way of telling the age of a rescue dog is to look at the color of their fur.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because just like humans, dogs can experience graying fur as they enter their senior years. <\/p>\n\n\n\n On average, this happens anywhere from 5 to 10 years of age.<\/p>\n\n\n\n It typically begins around the muzzle or the face and can continue to be reflected in their coat. <\/p>\n\n\n\n However, the onset and extent of graying can vary among dogs and breeds.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Since smaller dog breeds tend to have longer lifespans, they may experience graying later in life compared to larger breeds with shorter lifespans.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Wally, for example, is a medium size dog who will turn 6 next month and doesn\u2019t show any signs of graying yet. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Good to know: Graying can also be a sign of chronic stress, anxiety and certain medical conditions in dogs like autoimmune diseases, hypothyroidism and nutritional deficiencies. <\/p>\n\n\n 8 year old Lab mix Macy with her graying muzzle. She was one of my former dog walking clients.<\/p>\n\n\n\n A dog\u2019s eyes can also help reveal the age of a rescue dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Besides graying fur, older dogs commonly develop a cloudiness in their eyes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Again, this happens sooner in large dogs with a shorter lifespan as it does in smaller dog breeds with a longer life expectancy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n But either way, the cloudiness or opacity in older dogs’ eyes is often associated with a condition called nuclear sclerosis or lenticular sclerosis. <\/p>\n\n\n 11 year old Shih Tzu Normie\u2019s clouded eye (he only had one eye). He was also a former dog walking client. <\/p>\n\n\n\n It\u2019s a natural age-related change in the lens of the eye where the lens fibers become compacted and densely packed with proteins, causing the lens to appear hazy or cloudy.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The cloudiness tends to start near the center of the lens and then spreads outward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n (Age-related) cataracts are another type of eye condition that causes cloudiness, but unlike nuclear sclerosis, it involves the lens becoming more opaque and can lead to vision impairment. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Hearing can be affected by age-related changes in dogs, just as it can in humans. <\/p>\n\n\n\n So if your rescue pup doesn\u2019t seem responsive to sounds in general and seems to ignore you when you call them, they\u2019re likely older than 5.<\/p>\n\n\n\n And no, we\u2019re not talking about selective hearing!<\/p>\n\n\n\n Note: Certain ear infections or injuries to the ears can damage the structures involved in hearing, leading to temporary or permanent hearing loss. <\/p>\n\n\n\n These issues can occur at any age and are not exclusive to older dogs!<\/p>\n\n\n\n That said, you\u2019ll want to take multiple factors into consideration when you\u2019re trying to determine if your rescue dog\u2019s hearing issues mean they\u2019re an older dog.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Young puppies generally have a soft, plump appearance with less defined muscle tone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They may have a rounder belly and shorter limbs that seem out of proportion compared to the rest of their body.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Adult dogs, between 2 to 7 years old, tend to have a more mature body shape and well-defined muscle tone. <\/p>\n\n\n\n They should have a balance between muscle mass and body fat, resulting in a healthy and fit appearance. <\/p>\n\n\n\n As dogs enter their senior years, around 7 years and older, they usually start to show signs of age-related changes. <\/p>\n\n\n\n Their body shape can become less defined, and they may have looser skin, a slight sagging of muscles, and even some fatty deposits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Puppies and young dogs under the age of 3 are generally more energetic and playful than older dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During this life stage, they\u2019re more active, playful, and curious than older dogs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Younger dogs also have shorter attention spans and may exhibit more destructive behavior. <\/p>\n\n\n\n For example, chewing on inappropriate items like your furniture, shoes and your kids\u2019 toys.<\/p>\n\n\n\n By the way, check out our blog post on how to stop a dog from chewing on things<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n On the other hand, older dogs are usually calmer, have a more predictable routine, and show signs of maturity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Regardless of the age of a rescue dog, a fun way to celebrate them is their \u201cGotcha Day\u201d. <\/p>\n\n\n\n That\u2019s the day when you adopted your pup!<\/p>\n\n\n\n For Wally, I celebrate both his actual birthday on August 11 as well as his Gotcha Day on February 1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Here are some ideas to make either celebration extra special:<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your rescue pup does well around other dogs, invite their doggie friends over for a fun-filled celebration. <\/p>\n\n\n\n You can set up a dog-friendly party area with dog birthday party decorations<\/a>, yummy treats, and dog toys that encourage joint playtime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
![\"12](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/rescue-dog-age-tongue-out-770x1155.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nDoes Your Rescue Dog Have Any Signs Of Graying Fur?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"8](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/rescue-dog-age-ball-mouth-770x1155.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nTake A Look At Your Rescue Dog\u2019s Eyes<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"11](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/rescue-dog-age-staring-770x1155.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\nHow\u2019s Your Rescue Dog\u2019s Hearing?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
How To Tell The Age Of A Rescue Dog: Muscle Tone & Body Shape<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Observe Your Rescue Dog\u2019s Energy Level & Behavior<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Celebrate Your Rescue Dog\u2019s Gotcha Day <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
But even if you only end up guesstimating the age of your rescue dog, that\u2019s OK too. <\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Throw a “Puppy Paw-ty”<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/dogs-play-figth-770x738.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"Wally](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/rescue-dog-age-standing-barbara-770x770.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n![\"How](\"https:\/\/puppyintraining.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/how-old-is-my-rescue-dog.jpg\")
<\/figure><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"