You’ve probably tried to work out how old your dog is in “dog years”, right? It’s a fun exercise and can give you a rough idea. But it’s also a big simplification. Biologically, a dog can have puppies within its first year, but in Sweden it’s forbidden to mate a female dog before she is 18 months old. A human, on the other hand, can’t have children at age seven. So that rule of thumb is a bit too simplified.

There is now a new way to calculate a dog’s age, based on a study by researchers at the University of California, who followed 104 Labrador retrievers over several years. The results showed that dogs’ biological clocks are similar to those of humans and that dogs’ and humans’ life stages line up. The difference is that a dog’s biological clock ticks much faster than a human’s the older the dog gets.

In the first human year, your dog is 31 years old in dog years; in the second human year, it increases by 11 years; in the next human year, by six years. So the difference per year shrinks as more human years pass.

See the list below to find out how old your dog really is:

* 1 human year = 31 dog years
* 2 human years = 42.1 dog years
* 3 human years = 48.6 dog years
* 4 human years = 53.2 dog years
* 5 human years = 56.8 dog years
* 6 human years = 59.7 dog years
* 7 human years = 62.1 dog years
* 8 human years = 64.3 dog years
* 9 human years = 66.2 dog years
* 10 human years = 67.8 dog years
* 11 human years = 69.4 dog years
* 12 human years = 70.8 dog years
* 13 human years = 72 dog years
* 14 human years = 73.2 dog years
* 15 human years = 74.3 dog years
* 16 human years = 75.4 dog years
* 17 human years = 76.3 dog years
* 17 human years = 76.3 dog years
* 18 human years = 77.2 dog years
* 19 human years = 78.1 dog years
* 20 human years = 78.9 dog years

So with the help of this clock, it is possible to estimate age and even make a prediction about how long a person or dog is expected to live. But remember that this is only a general calculation. The biological clock is of course affected by disease, lifestyle, and genetics and the impact they have on our bodies.

Source: [biorxiv.org](http://biorxiv.org)

You’ve probably worked out how old your dog is in “dog years,” right? It’s a fun little exercise and can give you a rough idea. But it’s a big oversimplification.

Do Dogs Really Age “Seven Dog Years” for Every Human Year?

## Choose a Healthy Breed First and Foremost

Why is it important to consider which diseases are common in a breed before you even choose a dog? Because the tendency to develop certain illnesses is often tied to the breed, and a sick dog is an expensive dog. Breeds that suffer more injuries or illnesses than others lead to higher insurance costs, and their owners are more likely to need frequent vet visits. Even if you have insurance, regular trips to the vet quickly become expensive.

So, try to avoid buying a dog from a breed with many known health problems. Instead, choose one that has proven to be robust and resilient. Of course, there is no guarantee that your particular dog will stay healthy just because the breed is considered healthy. But by choosing wisely, you give both yourself and your dog the best possible chance of a life together with fewer injuries and illnesses.

## Statistically Healthy Breeds by Use

Information about the healthiest breeds is best based on the compensation different insurance companies pay out. There are several sets of statistics on which breeds are the healthiest. We have compiled data from 2013/2014–2018/2019 from Agria, If and Sveland, which shows the following breeds (in no particular order), grouped by primary use:

### Companion dogs:
* German Spitz (Mittelspitz)
* Bichon Havanais
* Puli
* Phalène
* Shiba
* Saluki
* Coton de Tuléar
* Jack Russell Terrier
* Japanese Spitz
* Skye Terrier

### Hunting dogs:
* Finnish Spitz
* Norrbottenspets
* Schillerstövare
* Basenji
* Gråhund
* Hamiltonstövare
* Smålandsstövare
* Hälleforshund
* Jämthund
* Norwegian Elkhound
* Drever
* Basset Fauve de Bretagne
* Shiba
* Saluki
* Finnish Lapphund
* Jack Russell Terrier

### Working dogs:
* Puli
* Siberian Husky
* Finnish Lapphund

## A Well-Cared-For Dog Is a Healthier Dog

Naturally, your dog’s health is also affected by how you care for it. You can, for example, support your dog’s health by making sure it gets the right:

* Food – Which type of food is most suitable, and how much should your dog eat to feel well? Get tips in the [Food Guide](https://skaffahund.se/matguiden)
* Exercise – Does your dog need a lot of mental and physical activity? Read more under [You and Your Dog](https://skaffahund.se/artiklar/du-och-din-hund)
* Grooming – How often does your dog need brushing? Read more under [You and Your Dog](https://skaffahund.se/artiklar/du-och-din-hund)
* Attitude – It takes a lot of work to keep your dog happy. That is something you must be prepared for when you get a dog. A happy dog is, in many cases, a healthy dog.

## Get Cheaper Insurance by Choosing the Right Breed

Besides taking good care of your dog, it also needs to be properly insured. Here, too, having a healthy breed is an advantage. Insurance premiums are partly based on the breed’s claims statistics. You will get a lower premium because healthier breeds have a lower risk of developing physical problems. That means you can be more confident that you can afford the right care for your dog if needed.

If you are buying a mixed-breed dog, keep in mind that the purchase price may be lower, but it is almost impossible to reliably predict how healthy the dog will be as an adult.

In the [Insurance Guide](https://skaffahund.se/forsakringsguiden) you can compare different companies and policies so you can easily find the solution that suits you and your dog best.

So think it through in advance and choose a dog with a good health profile – for your sake and your dog’s.

The ten healthiest dog breeds according to if.se are listed below, for the period 2014–2018.

The 24 Healthiest Dog Breeds

It can be hard to choose a name for your new best friend. Here we list the most popular male and female dog names among those who were registered for pet insurance last year. Maybe you’ll find some inspiration for what to name your dog.

Here are the most common names for puppies born in 2018 with insurance from Agria Djurförsäkring.

| Females      | Males       |
| ------------ |-------------|
| 1. Molly | 1. Charlie |
| 2. Bella | 2. Sigge |
| 3. Doris | 3. Ludde |
| 4. Elsa | 4. Bosse |
| 5. Sally | 5. Hugo |
| 6. Alice | 6. Bamse |
| 7. Stella | 7. Leo |
| 8. Wilma | 8. Ozzy |
| 9. Nova | 9. Rocky |
| 10. Selma | 10. Harry |
| 11. Maja | 11. Milo |
| 12. Freja | 12. Max |
| 13. Ronja | 13. Elvis |
| 14. Saga | 14. Zorro |
| 15. Tindra | 15. Buster |
| 16. Mimmi | 16. Malte |
| 17. Daisy | 17. Sixten |
| 18. Smilla | 18. Morris |
| 19. Luna | 19. Gizmo |
| 20. Svea | 20. Loke |
| 21. Nellie | 21. Nisse |
| 22. Ebba | 22. Molle |
| 23. Ella | 23. Diesel |
| 24. Lisa | 24. Enzo |
| 25. Siri | 25. Tyson |

Are you like many others and want a more unique name? Here we list the fifteen rarest names in 2018.
1. Madonna  
1. Joy  
1. Ante  
1. Ebbe  
1. Zoya  
1. Bibbi  
1. Storm  
1. Armani  
1. Bertil  
1. Frazze  
1. Snoddas  
1. Bobbo  
1. Bonny  
1. Ricki  
1. Zazza  

*Source: [50 Populäraste Hundnamnen](https://www.agria.se/hund/artiklar/om-hund/50-popularaste-hundnamnen/)*

What were the fifty most popular dog names in 2018? See the male and female names here.

Fifty Most Common Dog Names 2018

There are archaeological finds in Europe showing that a strong relationship between humans and dogs existed as far back as 100,000 years ago. People trained wolves to hunt and to guard humans from lions, bears, and other dangerous predators. In return, the wolves received food, shelter from the rain, and other treats – like something to chew on. This is how the first relationship between humans and dogs began.

When the Stone Age began, humans spent a lot of time breeding offspring that were intelligent and less aggressive. Over time, this breeding resulted in what we now call the dog.

## The Romans
The Romans were the first to use dogs as pets. The bond became so strong that they began taking dogs with them into wars across Europe. As they traveled through Europe, they collected different dog breeds and brought them back home.

Monks in Rome started breeding purebred dogs to sell to the wealthy. They hung heavy stones around the necks of mixed-breed dogs to prevent them from mating with the purebred dogs.

## The Crusades
Rats were a very big problem during the Crusades. To prevent the spread of disease, small dogs were used to hunt the rats. Examples of breeds that were used include terriers and spaniels.

![Hund i sten](https://skaffahundse.s3.amazonaws.com/content/production/31fefc0e570cb3860f2a6d4b38c6490d/7Tf6k9BlnoQIFTX5fGGEawccfUu3GDXu.jpg)

## The Middle Ages
During the Middle Ages, hunting was a popular sport in England, which led to a number of different breeds becoming popular at that time – such as the Greyhound and the Mastiff.

## The first dog show
The first dog show was held in England in 1859. The exhibition brought together many dog lovers from all over the world and helped secure the most popular purebred dogs.

Many new breeds were developed during the 19th century because people no longer cared about the special breeds that had belonged to the upper class. These breeds were developed for specific purposes – above all to help with farming.

## The dog in the future
To be able to use dogs for new purposes, people must understand how dogs should be trained and raised. Humans have been able to train dogs to do different tasks for several thousand years. Dogs improve people’s quality of life. It has been shown that daily contact with a dog helps physically ill people recover more quickly.

In the future, the relationship between humans and dogs is expected to remain primarily as a companionship-based one, just as it is today.

The history of the dog is very, very old. Finds in Europe show that humans and dogs already had a close relationship as far back as 100,000 years ago.

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