Hip Scores 2000-2021 (Updated 2022)
The graph below shows the average hip score of those tested with the BVA per year calculated by a simple annual average of the hip scores provided by the Kennel Club. The overall trend, indicated by the orange dotted line, demonstrates that the average hip score has slightly reduced, although the range of scores varies from 0 to 75. The median (middle) hip score has remained fairly constant around 10. The number of dogs tested is also shown, and there has been a gradual increase in the uptake of dogs being hip scored over the last 21 years. However during the covid pandemic in 2020 the BVA stopped scoring and also made changes to their online submissions website which lead to delays. Therefore during 2020 there is a sudden drop in numbers scored, and a number of dogs were scored in Australia by the ANKC, since their scoring system is the same as the UK. During 2021, 10 dogs were scored via the ANKC, see ANKC summary below.
Since 2010 the Kennel Club Dog Health Group started publishing the 15yr mean and median hip scores along with the 5yr mean and median statistics in their annual report, also since 2013 they published the 5yr median scores. The data is shown in the graph below and shows a slight improvement in the 15 year average (mean), although the 15 year median score has remained fairly constant. In 2015 both the average (mean) and median hip score increased slightly, and could be related to an increase in the uptake of hip scoring which would provide a more accurate figure if the number of dogs tested were to increase more significantly.
The Dog Health Group stated that the summary is now prepared for the BVA using data from the current approximated breeding population (data from dogs scored in the last 15 years only). By representing dogs scored in the last 15 years, they say a more accurate reflection of each breed’s current state of health and improvement is given.
Year ending 2021 the 15 year mean (average score) is 12 and the 15 year median (middle score) is 10 
During the pandemic and closure of the BVA, a number of owners had dogs hip scored under the Australian scoring system (ANKC), as the scoring system is comparable with the BVA. The scores below are from ANKC certificates submitted to the breed health co-ordinator.
The BVA state – the breed mean score (BMS) is the average (sum of all the scores of the dogs examined within a given time period divided by the number of dogs in that group).
The median is the score at which there are an equal number of higher and lower scores. The median therefore represents the score of the ‘average dog’, the dog in the middle of the population with regards to its hips.
The chart below shows the proportion of the Giant Schnauzer breeding population (males and females) that have been hip scored between 2000 and 2021 i.e. 26% of breeding dogs have been hip scored. Although the number of dogs being tested is beginning to increase a larger proportion of the breeding population require testing before a more accurate hip score status can be seen and to enable the use of estimated breeding values for the Giant Schnauzer.
