Life Expectancy Of Dachshund Dogs and How Does It Compare To Other Breeds

You may have heard that dachshunds live a long life – what exactly is the average life expectancy of dachshund dogs and how does it compare to other breeds? Do they really live as long as people say and how much of that is a matter of luck? Knowing the key health issues you should watch out for is also important if you want your dachs to surpass their expected average lifespan.

So, how long do dachshunds live on average?

What Is The Average Life Expectancy Of Dachshund Dogs?

The standard dachshund lifespan is listed as 12 to 14 years. For mini dachshunds that is extended to 12-15 years. What’s even better is that this is just the average – a healthy dachshund that’s well-taken-care-of can live even longer. If you know any good dachs owners you’ve almost certainly seen or heard of 17 or 18-year-old dachshunds.

This is significantly longer than many other popular dog breeds. It is literally twice as long compared to some giant dog breeds who often pass away before their 10-year birthday. If you’re looking for a dog breed that will be your loyal companion for close to two decades, the dachshund is an excellent choice.

Who Is The Oldest Dachshund?

Naturally, we don’t have a record of all dachshunds that have ever lived. In fact, we only have a trustworthy and confirmed record of very few dogs – most of them from the past few decades.

However, it stands to reason that the dogs we know of are the longest living dogs anyway. With the advances in veterinary medical science and the better care dedicated pet owners provide their pups, dachshunds live longer and longer with each passing year.

The officially recognized “oldest dachshund” is a 21-year-old doxie-mix named Chanel from New York. The old pup was even featured in the Guinness Book of World Records as the “World’s Oldest Dog” and not just the oldest dachs.

There is plenty of speculation of even older dachshunds too. One famous example is Rocky, a dachshund from Shingle Springs, California. Rocky was said to have lived to 25 – and almost 26 – years. As no solid confirmation as provided, however, Rocky isn’t recognized.

Still, it’s very likely that there are other 21-year or even older dachshunds out there. We do know of a lot of dachshunds who’ve reached 20 years such as Scolly who passed away in 2013.

Read more about: The Difference Between Doxin and Dachshund – Are There Any?

What Health Issues Can Affect The Life Expectancy Of Dachshund Dogs?

Dachshunds are a relatively healthy dog breed but they are not immune to diseases and other health problems. In fact, dachshunds even have certain conditions that are pretty unique to the breed.

Getting struck by any of those can drastically reduce the life expectancy of dachshund dogs. Fortunately, most such problems can be treated or managed if caught early. Many you can even prevent altogether with the right care.

Last but not least, a lot of those health concerns are affected by certain genetic predispositions. This means that it’s very important that you always get your doxie pup from reputable breeders. Such a breeder will guarantee that they breed their pups responsibly and avoid producing inbred dogs with poor genetic makeup.

So, what are some of the health conditions that you should watch out for?

• Cancer
• Diabetes
• Cushing’s disease
• Heart disease
• Intervertebral disk disease (IVDD)
• Obesity
• Gastric Torsion
• Seizures
• Patellar luxation
• Keratoconjunctivitis sicca (KCS)
• Lafora disease
• Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA)
• Glaucoma
• Eye cataracts
• Acanthosis Nigricans

How To Pick A Puppy With A Better Than The Standard Dachshund Lifespan?

If you want to make sure that your dachshund’s life will be as long as rewarding as possible, it’s also smart to pick a healthy pup from the get-go. We talked about the genetic predisposition of dogs above but how do you figure that out for a dachshund puppy?

The simplest thing to do is to ask the breeder for a health certificate for the pup you plan on getting. All reputable dog breeders offer detailed health certificates to their clients. If a breeder refuses to give you a health certificate, this is a clear sign that you should do business with them – just turn around and walk away.

Additionally, you can also ask for copies of the health certificates of the pup’s parents. Reputable breeders should also have those readily available. This will give you even more information on the genetic makeup of the pup you’re getting, whether it’s predisposed to certain conditions, and so on.

Do not hesitate to pass on dogs with severe genetic predispositions. Not only will you avoid having to raise a sickly dog but you’ll also signal the breeder that they should be more careful in avoiding inbreeding their dogs in the future.

In short – always work with reputable breeders only. Naturally, this means avoiding pet shops and puppy mills at all costs.

How To Properly Look After A Dachshund Pup?

As with all other dogs, the three main ways to ensure a long and healthy life for your pup are:

• A proper diet – for dachshunds this means two feedings of half (or three-quarters of) a cup a day. A three-meal schedule can be even better if you have the time but remember to lower the quantities. The same goes if you want to give your dachs treats.
• Regular exercise – dachshunds don’t need too much exercise but you can’t afford to skip this step altogether. A dachshund will require about an hour of active outdoor exercise every day. Some indoor playtime every day is also a must.
• Routine vet check-ups – our recommendation is two trips to the vet every year. One can coincide with the dachs vaccination but don’t skip the second trip. A key part of dealing with any health problem is catching it early on.

How Does The Life Expectancy Of Dachshund Dogs Compare To Other Dogs?

All in all, dachshunds are one of the breeds with the longest life expectancy. With the proper care, a dachs can live up to two decades. This is amazing if you want a companion pup to grow together with a small child. Alternatively, the dachshund is an excellent dog for people in their 50s who want a canine pal to keep them company in their golden years.