Dachs-Life 2015 Survey update after 5 weeks

Post date: Feb 21, 2015 7:10:44 PM

After 5 weeks, we now have just under 1700 responses to our Dachs-Life 2015 Breed Lifestyle and IVDD survey.

The oldest Dachshund in the survey is 15; the youngest is just 4 months old (11% of surveyed Dachshunds are under 12 months). Mini Smooths make up 37% of the responses and Longs are 7%. 46% of respondents own more than one Dachshund.

Male dogs make up 52% of the responses and 56% of the Dachshunds (male and female) have been spayed or neutered. 10% of those were neutered under 6 months of age. The majority (46%) were neutered between 6 and 12 months old. 15% of the dogs in the survey have been bred from (had puppies, or been used at stud).

The average weight of all the Miniature Dachshunds is 5.6 kg (12.3 pounds) and the average weight of all the Standards is 11.2 kg (24.7 pounds). The average weight of neutered Miniatures is 5.7 kg and entire Miniatures is 5.4 kg. The average weight of neutered Standards is 11.0 kg and entire Standards is 11.4 kg.

The average length:height ratio of all the dogs surveyed is 2:1 (measured from point of breastbone, to end of rump for length and height at the withers). This is, remarkably, exactly what the UK Kennel Club Breed Standard suggests a Dachshund's proportions should be. The average ratio of back length to height at the withers (BLHW) is 1.7. This is towards the higher end of the BLHW ratio reported as being a risk factor in the RVC's 2013 research paper (Packer et al).

80% of owners reported their Dachshund's body condition being "ideal". 12% reported their dog being under the ideal and 8% over the ideal.

16% of Dachshunds in the survey have experienced some degree of back disease (IVDD). The average age for their first reported incident was 5 years and half the dogs' pain/wobbliness/inability to walk developed in less than a day. IVDD reports by variety are as follows:

• • Smooth 24%

  • Long 12%

  • Wire 8%

  • Mini Smooth 18%

  • Mini Long 15%

  • Mini Wire 19%

These results include all ages within each variety and the data will need to be analysed by age to give a better risk profile. Nevertheless, these results do align with our 2012 Survey where Smooths and Mini Smooths had the highest prevalence of IVDD and Longs and Wires were least likely to have back problems.

After IVDD, skin allergies are the health condition with the highest prevalence (12%).

88% of respondents are in the UK:

The survey is still open and you can complete it here.