WHAT PATTERN IS ON THAT DACHSHUND?

This section is to help in the definition of the Dachshund pattern. (To be used as a guide…not a standard)

                                                 The PIEBALD Dachshund

Areas of full color on a white background.

Usually big round spots on a white background. Similar to a pinto horse.

They may also have ticking (small spots of color in the white field. Like freckles).

The ticking spots may only be just a few little spots on the toes and muzzle.  Ticking spots can also be heavy and cover most of the white background. The piebald pattern can only occur when both parents are piebald or carry it. You can have different patterns on a piebald in the spots. (Like Dapples in the Piebald spots or Brindling stripes in the Piebald spots).

                                                The DAPPLE Dachshund

Lighter colored areas contrasting with darker areas of the same color. Spots where some of the color is lighter. The color is usually lighter than the base color. Dappling may occur in the eyes; the eyes are blue or may have spots of blue in them. All colors mentioned above may occur in a dapple pattern. A small amount of white on the chest is also acceptable.

Breeding a dapple to a solid will produce both solids as well as dapples. Breeding a dapple to another dapple will produce solids, dapples and double dapples. (However, this should be done with caution and extensive knowledge as severe consequences may occur-See “double dapple” for further information).       

                                            The DOUBLE DAPPLE Dachshund

Varying amounts of white throughout the body in addition to the dapple pattern. This pattern can only occur when both parents are dapples.  This does not mean the entire litter is dapple or double dapple; there can be solid colors produced. Must have areas of white on the body for it to be a double dapple. Double dapple dachshunds should ONLY be bred to solids-this will produce solids and dappled puppies. Double dapples should NEVER be bred to another dapple or double dapple. Double dapples can have severe birth defects if breeding is done haphazardly-blind, missing or malformed eyes, deaf of partial deafness-breeding for double dapples should be only be done with excellent knowledge of the breed as well as the lines involved in the potential breeding.

                                                 The BRINDLE Dachshund

Tiger like stripes all over the body, commonly seen in the Red colored dachshund.  Also very pretty in the Creams. The striping can also be seen in tan points (or cream points) and on the legs of the two-colored dachshund.

                                       The BRINDLED DAPPLE Dachshund

A Brindled Dapple dachshund will show characteristics of both patterns. Most commonly seen as tiger like stripes on 1/2 the dachshund’s body and dappling spots on the other 1/2 of the same dachshund’s body. This is most commonly seen in the Red colored dachshund. Also very pretty in the Creams. Sometimes, in the red and cream coated dachshunds, the dappling can fade and seem to disappear to the point where only the brindling is visible. The dog should still be marked as a dappled brindle, even if the dappling is faded, because the dog still has the ability to produce dapples, and if breed to another dapple, double dapples! This pattern is also apparent where the striping can also be seen tan points (or cream points) and on the legs of the two-colored dachshund. And in this case, the dappling would be on the body or main coat areas of the dachshund. This can occur in all the colors mentioned. Breeding a brindled dapple to a solid will produce solids as well as dapples and brindled dapples. Breeding a brindled dapple to another dapple will produce solids, dapples, brindles, brindled dapples and double dapples. (However, this should be done with caution and extensive knowledge of severe consequences may occur.

                                        The SABLE/WILD BOAR Dachshund

The Sable pattern most commonly appears in the long coated dachshunds.The Wild Boar  pattern most commonly appears in the wire coated dachshunds. A true sable/wild boar will appear to be black/tan from distance. This is because their hair is banded, red at the base, black at the tips. The coat color of red (most common) is at the base of the hair fades into black tips. The dachshund’s undercoat will usually be red, with a very heavy layer of black over the base coat color. (Sables are often mistakenly labeled when a dachshund has black hairs on back and neck over red color.  Sable is an uncommon pattern. This is a pattern that can not be truly labeled until the pups reaches 6 months of age. Many pups labeled sable/wild boar lose the black overlay and become simply red with no pattern. This pattern is most commonly seen in reds but may occur with other colors.