Colors/Patterns/Coats

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Coat Types

There are three types of AKC accepted coat types (Long, Smooth, and Wire) and one fairly new addition (Silky/Soft Wire) which is not always considered politically correct.


Long
Smooth
Wire
Soft/Silky Wire

The AKC list of colors for dachshunds is rather vague and only lists the most “predominant” ones. This does not mean that other colors and patterns are not allowed, there’s just no room to describe all of them and there is no disqualification for color, however, there are limits on colors allowed at AKC shows. You can find a more complete list of color and pattern options at the bottom of this page.

Basic Colors

Base ColorLong HairSmoothWireSoft Wire/SilkyChanges
ee/Recessive
Red		Born gold or buff begins to darken and becomes more visible around a week old but may also stay the same
Clear Red
Shaded Red
Pups are also shaded reds
Born dark, shading often lessens with age
Black/TanNo change
Blue/TanBlk/Tan + dilute (blue) gene
Chocolate/TanBlk/Tan + Chocolate gene
Isabella/TanChocolate + Blue gene
Chocolate based redRed + chocolate gene. Chocolate only dilutes black so nose and eye rims
Blue Based RedRed + blue gene. Blue only dilutes black so nose and eye rims
Wild BoarN/AN/AEach hair follicle tipped in black
WheatenN/AN/ABorn buff or gold stays same
ee CreamBorn buff or gold stays same
Shaded/Cream
Born very dark lightens
Black/CreamLighter creamy points than black/tan
Chocolate/CreamLighter creamy points than Chocolate/tan

Brindle

BRINDLESLongSmoothWireSilky/Soft Wire
Shaded Red
Black/Tan
Chocolate Based Red
Shaded Cream
The Kbr allele is a separate mutation that allows the A locus to be expressed. However, the expression causes a brindling of the agouti patterns. Brindle is Dominant so one parent must be Brindle for the offspring to inherit it. Brindle can not be carried.
The inheritance ratio varies. However there can be homozygous brindles. Spottadachs has owned several over the years. Unlike Double dapples, double brindles do NOT have health issues.
Brindle affects red (or cream) not black coloring so on blk/tan it shows up in the tan markings only, on chocolate based reds the stripes are chocolate colored. ee can hide brindle as it lightens all black markings until they are not visible.

Dapple

DAPPLESLongSmoothWireSoft Wire/Silky
ee RedSpotsdo not showbut blue eyes still may
Shaded Red
Black/TanThis pup has very minimal tan points
Chocolate/Tan
Blue/Tan
Shaded Cream
Black/Cream
Chocolate/Cream
Dapple as it is called in Dachshunds AKA: M-Locus Merle is sometimes confused with heavy ticking. One parent must be Dapple for the offspring to inherit it. Dapple can not be carried. The inheritance ratio varies.
Dapple tends to be difficult to see on a red dog except when very young. Cryptic or Phantom merle can also cause a dog to look like they are not merle. Testing is always advisable if there is any question. New tests are being developed for multiple types of the dapple/merle gene.

Double Dapple

Double Dapple occurs only when two dapples are bred together and the offspring inherits one dapple gene from each parent. Not all offspring from a dapple to dapple breeding will be double dapple however the health implications are so bad for those who are unlucky enough to turn out double dapple it is not worth the risk.
Double dapples can be afflicted by any combination of the following: Blindness, deafness, extreme food sensitivity, intestinal deformities, reproductive system malformations, higher rate of cancer, just to name a few of the possible health issues. Buyer beware: Not all are visible or apparent as pups.
Offspring of a double dapple (bred to a non dapple mate) will be 100% single dapples and do not inherit the illnesses caused by the double dose of dapple/merle factor.

Piebald

PIEBALDLongSmoothWireSoft Wire/Silky
ee Red
Shaded Red
Black/Tan
Chocolate/Tan
Blue/Tan
Shaded Cream
There are two types of white body markings in Dachshunds. The first is the actual (S Locus) Piebald which can vary in how expressive it is from covering only a small area on the body to covering almost the entire body. The rule for piebald is they must have four white feet and a white tip on the tail.
Only dogs with four white feet and tail tip should be registered as piebald. Otherwise the dog (even if it has white on the chest, or head) should be registered without a pattern unless another pattern is also present.

Ticking Spots

TickingRed BaseBlack/Tan BaseChocolate/Tan
Light
Medium
Heavy
Ticking ONLY shows on the white caused by Piebald. Ticking can vary from heavy to light distribution. Ticking does not show up until around a week and a half and may continue to come in until adulthood. It is the same gene that causes the spotting in Dalmations, heelers, and setters to name a few.

Multiple Pattern Combinations

Brindle PiebaldDapple PiebaldBrindle/Dapple/Piebald

Long and Smooth pups

AKC Accepted Pattern Codes

Brindle 051
Dapple 020
Sable 026
Brindle Piebald 127
Double Dapple 050
Piebald 025
Unfortunately there is not a code for Dapple/Piebald yet so it is wisest to mark your dog as dapple where it can cause health concerns.
Most breeders have a unspoken code that is used to represent colors and coat type by putting letters at the end of the dogs name.
These initials usually run body size, coat type, then pattern(s).
M- miniature
S- smooth coat
L- long hair
W- wire coat
B- brindle
P- piebald
D- dapple
For example “Spotta Pockets Full Of Cash MLDP” is our miniature, long hair, dapple, piebald, male. In this manner we are able to note in a manner other breeders can understand when looking at his pedigree he is a dapple and piebald.