Permission is NOT given to copy or reproduce the pictures on this page.
This page is best viewed on a desktop
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 Color | Long Hair | Smooth | Wire | Soft Wire/Silky | Changes | Base color | Modifiers |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Clear Red | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Born Red no black hairs on ears or body | Red Ay/At | N/A |
Shaded Red | ![]() ![]() Pups are also shaded reds ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Born dark, shading often lessens with age | Red Ay/At | The gene that causes shading is not yet identified |
Black/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | No change | Black At/At | N/A |
ee Red | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Born gold or buff begins to darken and becomes more visible around a week old but may also stay the same | Black/Tan At/At | e/e |
Blue/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Black is lightened to grayish-blue hue | Black At/At | Dilute d/d |
Chocolate/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Black is lightened to chocolate | Black At/At | Chocolate b/b |
Isabella (fawn)/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Black is lightened to light brown or fawn | Black At/At | b/b + d/d |
Chocolate based red | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Red + chocolate gene. Chocolate only dilutes black so nose and eye rims | Red Ay/AT | Chocolate b/b |
Blue Based Red | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Red + blue gene. Blue only dilutes black so nose and eye rims | Red Ay/AT | Dilute d/d |
Wild Boar | N/A | N/A | ![]() | ![]() | Each hair follicle tipped in black | aw | Believed to be a pattern. Responsible gene(s) still being decided |
Sable | ![]() | ![]() | Wild Boar | Wild Boar | Each hair follicle tipped in black | aw | Believed to be a pattern. Responsible gene(s) still being decided |
Wheaten | N/A | N/A | ![]() | ![]() | Born buff or gold stays same | Red Ay/AT | Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
ee Cream | ![]() | ![]() | Typically registered as Wheaten | Typically registered as Wheaten | Born white, buff or gold stays same | Red Ay/AT or Black At/At | ee + Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Shaded/Cream | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Born very dark lightens | Red Ay/AT | Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Black/Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Lighter creamy points than black/tan | Black At/At | Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Chocolate/Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Lighter creamy points than Chocolate/tan | Black At/At | bb + Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Blue/Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Lighter creamy points than Blue/tan | Black At/At | dd+ Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Chocolate based Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Red body is modified to cream with chocolate nose, and paw pads | Red Ay/AT | bb + Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Blue based Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Red body is modified to cream with blue nose, and paw pads | Red Ay/AT | dd + Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Isabella (fawn) based cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | Red body is modified to cream with fawn nose, and paw pads | Red Ay/AT | bb + dd + Intensity MFSD12= cream/cream |
Brindle
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 shaded 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.
BRINDLES | Long | Smooth | Wire | Silky/Soft Wire |
---|---|---|---|---|
Shaded Red | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Black/Tan | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Chocolate Based Red | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Shaded Cream | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Dapple
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.
You can read more about this fascinating gene
DAPPLES | Long | Smooth | Wire | Soft Wire/Silky |
---|---|---|---|---|
ee Red | Spots | do not show | but blue eyes | still may |
Shaded Red | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Black/Tan | This pup has very minimal tan points![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Chocolate/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Blue/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Shaded Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Black/Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Chocolate/Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Harlequinn (Mh)Dapple
A length of Dapple (Merle) base pairs longer than M, which can cause areas to delete to white. While Piebald generally has even edges, Harlequinn often causes a more torn irregular look. Some of the pictured pups are also piebalds.












7 alleles on the M Locus “Merle phenotypes in dogs – SILV SINE insertions from Mc to Mh” [i]
- m Non-Merle – Wild Type
- Mc Cryptic Merle 200 – 230 bp
- Mc+ Cryptic Merle + 231 – 246 bp
- Ma Atypical Merle 247 – 254 bp
- Ma+ Atypical Merle + 255 – 264 bp
- M Merle 265 – 268 bp
- Mh Harlequin Merle 269 – 280 bp (HARVEY and PICASSO pictured above tested at 279 thru UC Davis)
[i] “Langevin et at” – Langevin M, Synkova H, Jancuskova T, Pekova S (2018) Merle phenotypes in dogs – SILV SINE insertions from Mc to Mh. PLoS ONE 13(9): e0198536. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0198536
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, and 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
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 old rule for piebalds was they must have four white feet and a white tip on the tail however with modern genetic testing we are learning there is so much more to it than that.
PIEBALD | Long | Smooth | Wire | Soft Wire/Silky |
ee Red | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Shaded Red | ![]() ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Black/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Chocolate/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | |
Blue/Tan | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Shaded Cream | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
Ticking Spots
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.
Ticking | Red Base | Black/Tan Base | Chocolate/Tan |
---|---|---|---|
Light | ![]() | ![]() | |
Medium | ![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Heavy | ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
Multiple Pattern Combinations
Brindle Piebald | Dapple Piebald | Brindle/Dapple/Piebald |
---|---|---|
![]() | ![]() | ![]() |
![]() ![]() | ![]() ![]() | ![]() |
![]() | ![]() | |
![]() | ||
![]() |