Dachshund Lifespan: How Long Do Dachshunds Live?

TL;DR

The typical Dachshund lifespan is about 13 to 14 years, among the longest of any breed. In a 2024 UK study of 584,734 dogs, Dachshunds had a median lifespan of 13.2 years and Miniature Dachshunds 14.0 years, against 12.0 years for mixed breeds; the Miniature Dachshund was one of the ten longest-lived breeds. The breed's big risk is the spine: Dachshunds have 10 to 12 times the risk of intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) of other breeds, and an estimated 19% to 24% show signs of it during their lifetime. In a survey of 2,031 Dachshunds, dogs exercised for more than an hour a day had lower odds of IVDD. A Dachshund is a senior from about 9.9 years.

How long do Dachshunds live?

Dachshund age in human years

This uses the share of the Dachshund's typical lifespan (13.2 years) a dog has lived, compared with US human life expectancy of 79 years. For a Miniature Dachshund, the numbers are slightly lower. For puppies and young dogs, the DNA-based method in the calculator below is more accurate. Try any age:

Dachshunds and back problems (IVDD)

Intervertebral disc disease happens when a disc between the vertebrae degenerates and bulges or bursts, pressing on the spinal cord. The Dachshund's long back and short legs come with discs that age early.

• Dachshunds have a relative risk of IVDD 10 to 12 times that of other breeds, and 19% to 24% show signs during their lifetime.
• In the UK DachsLife survey of 2,031 Dachshunds, 15.7% had a vet-diagnosed history of IVDD, ranging from 24.4% in Standard Smooth-Haired Dachshunds to 7.1% in Standard Wire-Haired.
• In a US Dog Aging Project study of 43,517 dogs, Dachshunds had the highest owner-reported lifetime rate of IVDD of any breed: 15.3%.

What lowered the risk

These studies found associations, not proof, but they point the same way:

• Exercise: in the DachsLife survey, Dachshunds exercised for more than 1 hour a day had lower odds of IVDD, and those exercised for under 30 minutes higher odds.
• Activity: in the US study, more daily active time and regular use of stairs were linked to lower odds, while overweight dogs had 1.67 times the odds.
• Surprisingly, Dachshunds that were not allowed to jump on and off furniture had higher odds in the DachsLife survey. The authors treat these findings as starting points for further research.

Signs of a disc problem

• Reluctance to move, jump or climb
• A hunched back, or crying out when picked up
• Wobbly or weak back legs, knuckling over on the back feet
• Sudden inability to walk

Sudden weakness or paralysis is an emergency. Many dogs recover with prompt treatment: in a review of case series, dogs that could not walk but could still feel their legs recovered in 93% of cases after surgery. See dog wheelchairs for back legs.

Other Dachshund health problems

Lafora disease in Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds

Lafora disease is an inherited, late-onset form of epilepsy that is unusually common in Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds. In a study of 27 affected dogs:

• Signs started at an average age of 6.94 years.
• The first sign in 77.8% was myoclonus: sudden jerks of the head or body, sometimes set off by a sudden stimulus.
• The disease slowly progresses and has no cure.

A DNA test is available, and breeders have used it well. Among 733 Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds tested, 7.0% carried two copies of the mutation and 31.9% were carriers. Between 2012 and 2017, the share at risk fell from 10.4% to 2.7%, and dogs free of the mutation rose from 48.1% to 71.6%. Ask a breeder for the parents' results.

Weight and teeth

• Weight: overweight dogs had 1.67 times the odds of disc disease in the US study, so a lean Dachshund has a safer back.
• Teeth: in a UK study of 22,333 dogs, the odds of gum disease rose as adult body size fell, so small breeds such as Dachshunds benefit from daily tooth care. See how to brush your dog's teeth.

How to help a Dachshund live longer

1. Keep it lean. Overweight dogs had 1.67 times the odds of IVDD in the US study.
2. Exercise every day, ideally an hour or more of walking and play, to keep the back and core muscles strong.
3. Keep the muscles working as it ages. Our Muscle Strength & Recovery Soft Chews provide 150 mg calcium HMB and 160 mg L-leucine per serving as daily support for aging muscles. See muscle atrophy in dogs.
4. Lift correctly: support the chest and the back end together, so the spine stays level.
5. Use non-slip floors and ramps for the car.
6. Look after the teeth in this small breed. See how many teeth does a dog have.
7. Twice-yearly vet checks from about 9.9 years.

FAQ

What health problems do Dachshunds have?

Back disc disease (IVDD) is by far the biggest, with an estimated 19% to 24% showing signs in their lifetime. Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds can also inherit Lafora disease, a late-onset epilepsy with a DNA test, and like other small breeds Dachshunds are prone to gum disease.

How long do Dachshunds live?

Most Dachshunds live about 13 to 14 years. A 2024 UK study of 584,734 dogs found a median of 13.2 years for Dachshunds and 14.0 years for Miniature Dachshunds.

Do Miniature Dachshunds live longer than standard Dachshunds?

In the 2024 UK study, Miniature Dachshunds lived a median of 14.0 years, against 13.2 years for Dachshunds, and were among the ten longest-lived breeds.

Is 12 old for a Dachshund?

A Dachshund is a senior from about 9.9 years. At 12 it has lived about 91% of the breed's median lifespan, roughly like a person aged 72.

How common is IVDD in Dachshunds?

Very. Dachshunds have 10 to 12 times the risk of other breeds, and an estimated 19% to 24% show signs during their lifetime. In a UK survey, 15.7% had a vet-diagnosed history of IVDD.

How can I protect my Dachshund's back?

Keep it lean, exercise it every day, keep its muscles strong, lift it with the spine level, and see a vet urgently about sudden back pain or weak back legs.

References

• McMillan KM, et al. Longevity of companion dog breeds: those at risk from early death. Scientific Reports. 2024. PMID: 38302530
• Packer RM, et al. DachsLife 2015: an investigation of lifestyle associations with the risk of intervertebral disc disease in Dachshunds. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2016. PMID: 27826450
• Wee C, Nin DZ. Demographic and lifestyle characteristics impact lifetime prevalence of owner-reported intervertebral disc disease: 43,517 companion dogs in the United States. Journal of the American Veterinary Medical Association. 2025. PMID: 39813820
• Langerhuus L, Miles J. Proportion recovery and times to ambulation for non-ambulatory dogs with thoracolumbar disc extrusions treated with hemilaminectomy or conservative treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis of case-series studies. The Veterinary Journal. 2017. PMID: 28190499
• Swain L, et al. Lafora disease in miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds. PLOS ONE. 2017. PMID: 28767715
• Ahonen S, et al. Nationwide genetic testing towards eliminating Lafora disease from Miniature Wirehaired Dachshunds in the United Kingdom. Canine Genetics and Epidemiology. 2018. PMID: 29610669
• O'Neill DG, et al. Epidemiology of periodontal disease in dogs in the UK primary-care veterinary setting. Journal of Small Animal Practice. 2021. PMID: 34374104