Our fun-loving Dachshunds are often our best friends. If you asked any Dachshund owner about how old their Doxie lived to be they will tell you that they wish they could have lived forever.
Thinking about the passing of your Doxie can be heartbreaking so instead, it feels much better to think about how to help your Dachshund live a long full healthy life. But it’s also important to know what to expect as your Doxie ages as well.
Dachshunds and Mini Dachshunds have an average life expectancy of 12–16 years. Some owners have reported their Doxies living up to 19 years old. In human years that’s a range of 65-90+. The leading cause of premature death in Dachshunds is Cancer.
In general the smaller the dog the longer its lifespan. Studies have shown that small breeds tend to have longer lifespans than large breed dogs because large dogs age more quickly.
Doxies that keep physically and mentally active can live on average 14-17 years.
The aging process for dogs is quite interesting. It was thought in years past that dogs age 7 human years for every year that they are alive. That has since proven to be false.
For the first year of life, a dog will age 15 human years. The second year, 9 years, then 4 or 5 years for every year after that.
According to the AKC dog age calculator because Dachshunds generally weigh on average between 16-32 lbs they would be in the small to medium breed groups. Close to 60 Doxie owners shared with us how old their dogs lived to be and here are the results.
Age when deceased | >10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 + |
In Human Years | 60 | 65 | 69 | 74 | 78 | 83 | 87 | 92 |
Number of dogs who lived to that age | 9 | 2 | 4 | 9 | 6 | 11 | 8 | 9 |
Results are taken from the Dachshund Facebook group.
Disclaimer: This post may contain affiliate links. We only recommend high-quality products that are used and recommended by real owners. If you use these links to buy something we earn a small commission.
Life Span for Dachshund Mixes.
You may wonder how this changes for Dachshund mixes. Generally, mixes are thought to live slightly longer. This is because they have a more diverse genetic pool to draw from which makes them less likely to get breed-specific diseases and ailments.
Most Dachshund Mixes will have a similar lifespan to Standard Dachshunds which is 12-16 years. It may vary a year or two depending on the size of the dog that the Dachshund was bred with, with large dogs having slightly shorter lifespans. The biggest determining factor is genetic health.
There are not any conclusive studies to show that mixes live longer but vets and vet techs across the country have seen that mix-breed dogs tend to be healthier and more resilient. The exception to this is if you have a purebred Dachshund from a very responsible breeder that does extensive genetic testing and only breeds from healthy lines.
A good breeder will by trial and error learn what genetic characteristics her dogs have and will stop breeding any that may produce a negative outcome.
If you get your Dachshund from a puppy mill this will not be the case. Puppy mills are only concerned with pumping out puppies as quickly as possible in order to increase their profit.
Here is a chart of the general lifespan for different Dachshund Mixes:
Mix Name | Weight in Lbs | Average Lifespan |
|---|---|---|
Australian Shepherd & Dachshund (Auxie Doxie) | 13-45 | 13-17 Years |
Basset Hound & Dachshund (Dachshound) | 25-45 | 12-15 Years |
Beagle & Dachshund (Doxie) | 18-30 | 12-14 Years |
Border Collie & Dachshund (Doxie Collie or Border weenie) | 13-25 | 10-14 Years |
Boston Terrier & Dachshund (Bo-Dach) | 10-20 | 12-15 Years |
Chihuahua & Dachshund (Chiweenie) | 5-12 | 12-16 Years |
Chow Chow & Dachshund (Chow Weenie) | 44-70 | 9-15 Years |
Cocker Spaniel & Dachshund (Docker) | 20-30 | 12-15 Years |
Corgi & Dachshund ( Dorgi ) | 15-28 | 12-15 Years |
Dalmation & Dachshund (Dalmachshund) | 13-43 | 12-14 Years |
French Bulldog & Dachshund (French Bull Weiner) | 15-25 | 10-14 Years |
German Shepherd & Dachshund (German Australian Shepherd) | 16-90 | 7-14 Years |
Golden Retriever & Dachshund (Goldenshund) | 30-60 | 10-14 Years |
Husky & Dachshund (Aussie Siberian) | 24-53 | 10-14 Years |
Maltese & Dachshund (Mauxie) | 10-20 | 13-15 years |
Mini Dachshund | >11 | 12-17 Years |
Papillon & Dachshund (Papshund) | 10-18 | 13-16 Years |
Pit Bull & Dachshund (Doxbull) | 20-30 | 8-12 Years |
Pomeranian & Dachshund | 8-25 | 12-16 Years |
Poodle & Doxie (Doxiepoo) | 5-35 | 10-15 Years |
Rotweiler Doxie (Aussie Rottie) | 27-85 | 8-13 Years |
Shih Tzu Dachshund (Schweenie) | 9-20 | 12-17 Years |
What is the Mini Dachshund Lifespan
The teacup or mini Dachshund lifespan is 12-17 years which is similar to regular size standard Doxies. The biggest determining factor is the genetics and the health of the parents of the mini Doxie which can be influenced by the experience and planning of the breeder.
Miniature Dachshunds are a relatively new breed coming into popularity during the 1960s. Mini Doxies are created by breeding the smallest full-bred Dachshunds with each other in order to try and get their offspring to be even smaller.
This can be dangerous and often considered unethical as runts tend to be the smallest and weakest of litters and may develop more health problems. It may also cause some breeders to ignore other genetic health issues the may be continuing by breeding small Doxies because smaller Doxies are rarer and there is a smaller genetic pool to choose from.
In rare cases, mini Dachshunds may be the result of a dwarfism gene. This gene limits the skeletal and cartilage growth of the dog making it impossible for them to grow to their normal size. If this is the case the dog will most likely have a lot of health problems and a much shorter lifespan.
Puppy mills and unethical breeders may use this tactic to breed very small Dachshunds but the dogs will be very unhealthy. Please always try to do your research to make sure you are getting your puppy from an ethical breeder.
An ethical breeder takes good care of their puppies making sure that they are healthy, well socialized, and that they have enough space to learn and grow.
Factors that Can Influence How Long Your Dachshund Lives
If you are like me and most owners we want to do all that we can to help our furry friends live the longest healthiest lives possible. There are some things that are in our control and some that are out of our control.
Here is a list of things that may influence the lifespan of your Aussie and what you can do to help them have a long healthy life!
Size
We already discussed how size can play a role in lifespan. Generally, the smaller the dog the longer its life expectancy will be unless there are genetic diseases or issues inherited because of poor breeding.
There’s not much we can do about the size of our pup. So this factor I would mark out of our control to influence.
Breeding and Genetics
Besides size, genetics and breeding may be the other most important factor. This isn’t something you can directly influence, but when you are choosing a Dachshund Puppy you will have the opportunity to find a breeder that is experienced, ethical, and understands how to breed puppies that are healthy and free of genetic abnormalities and problems.
Nutrition & Proper Weight Management
Nutrition can play a big role in how healthy our dog is and how long they live. The ingredients in our dog’s food can have a significant impact on whether they develop chronic diseases or terminal illnesses like cancer.
Obesity in Dachshunds is very dangerous. It is often a risk factor for many diseases and ailments. Keeping your dog at a proper weight by feeding them on a schedule as well as avoiding table scraps and other empty calories or junk food will go a long way in helping your Dachshund to be healthy.
Exercise
Exercise can help your dog live longer as it will increase flexibility and endurance, strengthen muscles around the joints, and can help stave off health problems caused by obesity. Exercise also aids bowel function, which is especially important in older dogs.
Proper exercise and mental stimulation for your Dachshund can help prevent problems like obsessive licking, and anxiety behaviors.
Dachshunds are hound dogs breeds and need plenty of exercise and stimulation. You should strive for a minimum of 30 minutes to 1 hour of exercise a day.
Healthcare
Making sure your Dachshund gets proper healthcare treatment can go a long way in preventing and early death. Dogs who have been neglected tend to have an increased mortality rate.
Your adult Dachshund should see a vet at least once a year, your Dachshund puppy starting when you bring it home once every 3–4 weeks until they’re 16 weeks old, following a basic vaccine schedule.
Pro Tip: If you are not able to get a hold of a vet near you, or you want to avoid an unnecessary ER trip, there are online resources that you can turn to. Here is our best recommendation:
Pawp: a 24/7 digital clinic for pets that connects you to an experienced vet
Why we love it:
🐾 Answers 24/7! 🐾 No waiting! 🐾 Get Answers Online with Local Vets! 🐾 Quick Response Time! 🐾 Easy Sign UP!
Try Pawp 7 Days For Free
Vaccinating your Dachshunds at the proper times will help to prevent diseases like Parvo and Kennel cough that if caught could drastically shorten your dog’s life.
Why Is My Dachshund Limping?
Proper Grooming
Keep their coat brushed and washed properly. Brushing them at least once a week will help keep the mats away on a long-haired Dachshund and the coat clean and shiny on a regular Dachshund. Keeping them well-groomed gives you an opportunity to keep an eye out for parasites such as fleas and ticks. Brushing often will also be a huge benefit in controlling your Dachshunds shedding.
Keep their teeth and gums healthy
Keep your Doxies tail healthy and well-groomed
By the age of two 80% of dogs have some form of dental disease. As your dog gets older this can progress to lead them down an unhealthy path and could potentially cause a gum infection bad enough to cause organ failure which would decrease their lifespan.
Tips to keep your Dachshunds Teeth Healthy:
- Brush their teeth (ideally daily, but weekly is still better than nothing)
- Dental Chews
- High Quality Dry Kibble
More Tips for Healthy Teeth: Dachshund Teeth Complete Guide (Cleaning, Problems, and More)
Environment
You can work towards creating a healthy environment for your dog by:
- Keeping toxic chemicals out of reach
- Be aware of toxic foods and plants
- Don’t let them chew on or eat harmful things (If your Dachshund eats things it shouldn’t READ THIS!)
- Consider getting a friend for your Dachshund
- Don’t yell at or scold your dog
- Spend time training your dog. You never know when having good recall could save their life!
- Microchip your Dachshund
- Provide a comfortable and safe place for your dog to sleep and rest
If you are wondering how much sleep is normal for your Dachshund sure to read our article all about Dachshund sleep.
How Much Do Dachshunds Sleep? (Inside Info From Owners) – Paws and Learn
Why Is My Dachshund Limping? – Paws and Learn
Mental Stimulation
Keeping them young and Healthy requires a fit and active brain as well. Providing your dog with adequate mental stimulation is important. Especially for Dachshunds, since they are a working breed and have an instinctual desire to track and hunt. They need to be kept busy with good things to do.
Lots of Love
This one is the coolest! Love and affection from an owner have the potential to counteract other negative effects on their dog.
There was an experiment done in the 1970s to study the effect of diet on heart health.
Over several months, they fed a control group of rabbits a high-fat diet and monitored their blood pressure, heart rate, and cholesterol.
As expected, many of the rabbits showed a buildup of fatty deposits on the inside of their arteries, but the curious thing was although all of the rabbits had a buildup, one group surprisingly had as much as 60 percent less than the others. It appeared as though they were looking at two different groups of rabbits.
After spending a lot of time trying to figure out why the results were different even though the rabbits had been fed the exact same diet they discovered that one of the research staff members had been in charge of the group that that was significantly healthier.
She had been giving them affection cuddles and lots of pets. She had been giving them love and this made the rabbits healthier despite their diet!
Dachshund Health Problems and What They Die From
The most common cause of pre-mature death for Dachshunds is cancer followed by epilepsy. The two most common cancers that Doxies get are lymphoma and Hemangiosarcoma (HSA). Young Dachshunds have higher rates of accidents causing death than other breeds.
Dachshunds are very smart and curious. This can be great when it comes to training them because they catch on fast, but it can also put them more at risk for getting into trouble and getting hurt or dying at a young age.
When Doxie owners talk about how old their dogs live to be there are always a handful of comments discussing how tragic accidents get the younger Doxies into trouble.
#1 Cause of Premature Death
– Cancer –
With lymphoma and Hemangiosarcoma (HSA) counting for over half of all cancer deaths.
HSA in Dachshunds is a highly aggressive malignant tumor of the cells that line blood vessels. It is much more common in large breed dogs. The primary site is usually the spleen but can include other sites such as the liver, heart, kidneys, bladder, muscle, and subcutaneous tissues.
The cause of HSA is unknown but breeding dogs which develop HSA are extremely likely to have offspring with HSA.
If a breeder is aware of any offspring or any dog connected to the bloodline of the dogs that they breed that has developed HSA they should stop breeding those dogs immediately.
Other Causes of Cancer in Dogs
- Exposure to secondhand smoke
- Ultraviolet exposure (Too much sunlight)
- Toxic chemicals, pesticides, and herbicides around your dog
- Obesity
- Internal factors of gene mutations
#2 Cause Of Premature Death.
– Heart Problems–
Another genetic condition that can affect Doxies is called Patent Ductus Arteriosis
This is detected in puppies when the vet listens to its heart she will detect a heart murmur. This tells them that a small vessel that carries blood between two parts of the heart didn’t close properly.
This will make the blood travel to parts of the body that it should be and puts extra strain on the heart.
How to tell: Heart murmur, coughing, tired during exercise, shortness of breath, weak legs.
What to do: Your vet will likely recommend surgery to close the blood vessel.
Other Health Issues Dachshunds Face
Besides cancer and heart problems, here are some other diseases that a Dachshund could face.
– Hip and Elbow Dysplasia –
Another inherited disease, this one causes arthritis in the elbows and hips of our precious pooches. This disease will show up more as your dog matures and ages.
Watch for stiffness in your dog as he gets up and moves or walks. Obesity can cause this disease to be a lot worse and have an earlier onset.
This is another reason why it’s important to get your dog from a good breeder. A responsible breeder will check their dog for genetic conditions to make sure they don’t have them before they breed puppies.
What to do: Talk to your vet about getting medication to help alleviate the pain. They will take an x-ray to check for problems. Sometimes surgery will be recommended if it’s causing your dog severe limitations.
How to Prevent it: Again a good diet that keeps your dog at a healthy weight and appropriate exercise.
– Cataracts –
Cataracts are an opacity in the lens of the eye, and when mature can lead to loss of vision. These usually don’t develop until later in life.
How to tell: If you notice your dog having a difficult time seeing. You may notice your dog bumping into things like furniture, or developing a cloudy appearance to their eyes.
What to do: Your vet may prescribe a medicated eye drop (typically a topical anti-inflammatory or a steroid) to reduce inflammation of the eye. Surgery is usually the most effective way to help restore your dog’s vision.
While we strive to give the most accurate and helpful information about your pet’s health that we can, this article is meant to be informational only and not medical advice. Never disregard, avoid or delay in obtaining medical advice from your veterinarian or other qualified veterinary health care provider regardless of what you have read on this site or elsewhere.
