In a recent study by Åsbjer et al. (2024), Swedish researchers explored the awareness, experiences, and opinions of various stakeholders, including 1806 dog owners, 557 vets, 1357 breeders, and 108 show judges, regarding Brachycephalic Obstructive Airway Syndrome (BOAS) and related health issues. The findings are both eye-opening and concerning, highlighting the need for further action from a range of stakeholders. The study revealed that while most stakeholders are well aware of the health problems associated with brachycephaly, there is a significant divide in opinions on how to address the ..read more

I have updated the trend graphs of Dachshund registrations now that the KC’s 2023 data have been published. Registrations of Mini Smooths seem to have peaked (thank goodness) but Mini Longs are increasing in popularity. Their registrations have more than doubled in the past 4 years. Mini Wires continue to be the lowest number of Minis and their trend has been stable over the past 25 years. They did drop slightly between 2011 and 2016, probably due to conerns over Lafora Disease. With all the excellent progress made by MW breeders using the Lafora DNA test, registration numbers are back to the ..read more

The 9th annual British Veterinary Neurology Society (BVNS) Symposium took place on March 20th, 2024 in Manchester, focusing on the theme of “Disc Disease – You Think You Know It…”. This meeting brought together veterinary neurologists, neurosurgeons, geneticists and other experts to share the latest research on intervertebral disc disease (IVDD), which disproportionately affects breeds like dachshunds. The programme featured several presentations highly relevant for dachshund owners and breeders concerned about this painful and debilitating condition. Here were some of the key highlights: Keyn ..read more

As it’s Crufts this month and we will be seeing displays of many different dog talents, I thought it would be timely to share some recent research into Gifted Word Learner dogs. If  you ever wondered how much your dog can understand what you say or you have a furry friend who can fetch their favourite toy by name, you might be the owner of a rare and remarkable Gifted Word Learner (GWL) dog. Dogs are a popular model for studying social cognition, as they have evolved and developed in human society. Only a rare group of dogs have the ability to associate a verbal label with an object. For ..read more

  As a dog breeder or owner, you likely choose your breed for its distinctive looks, personality, working ability or because it holds a special place in your heart. Behind the unique traits we love lies generations of dedicated breeding. But this can come at a cost – reduced genetic diversity and rising inherited diseases and health issues in many pedigree dog breeds.    A recent paper by John Cole, published in the Journal of Dairy Science, on managing inbreeding in dairy cattle, highlights concerns and solutions that dog breeders could usefully learn from. While cows and dogs ..read more

Miniature Dachshund Club Championship Show – Miniature Wires 11th February 2024 It is 12 years since I last judged Miniature Wires and I was delighted to have the opportunity to do so again.  There were plenty of high quality exhibits to choose from and some hotly contested classes, particularly in the puppies.  I was especially impressed with the correct, parallel up and back action displayed by most of the entry.  Parallel hind action going away,  is something we don’t uniformly see in my breed, Standard Wires.  Mouths were good and only a few of the exhibits were ov ..read more

As dog breeders, we know that different breeds have vastly different life expectancies. Small breeds like Chihuahuas can live over 15 years, while giant breeds like Great Danes rarely make it past 7 or 8. This two-fold difference in lifespan likely translates to differences in how dogs age behaviourally and cognitively as well. But how exactly does expected lifespan impact dogs’ senior years? And what other physical traits, like body size and head shape, influence ageing patterns? A new large-scale study by Turcsán and Kubinyi (2023) sheds light on these questions by analysing survey ..read more

Spruce won his 2nd CC and Best of Breed at the first Championship Show of 2024. Wires were judged by Jason Hunt (Carpaccio) at the Southern Dachshund show held in Woking on 7th January. The 2nd photo below shows him in the Best in Show challenge, judged by Geraldine Brace. His sister, Pumpkin, also won her class (Junior Bitch ..read more

This article was published in the Our Dogs Annual 2024. The health and welfare of pedigree dogs has been a major concern in recent years. Issues around exaggerated conformation, inherited diseases, and irresponsible breeding practices came to widespread public attention following the BBC documentary ‘Pedigree Dogs Exposed’ in 2008. This sparked numerous initiatives aimed at improving dog health, including research studies, actions by kennel clubs and breed clubs, education campaigns, and legislation.  In 2011, the KarltonIndex Awards were established in the UK to recognise and incentivise ..read more

It’s Cadbury’s 13th Birthday today and he’s still looking as handsome as ever. His coat has gone very soft, but apart from that, he is very fit and active. He’s still up for chasing squirrels and deer when he’s out for his daily walk. Last year, on his Birthday, I shared a series of photos showing him from a puppy, through to adulthood ..read more