Colors and Varieties
There are three varieties (coat type) smooth, longhaired and wirehaired.
The Dachshund comes in many colors and patterns.
Base colors are: Red, black & tan, cream, black & cream, blue & cream, chocolate & tan, chocolate & cream, blue & tan, fawn & tan (isabella), fawn & cream, wheaton and wild boar. Blue is the dilute of black and fawn (isabella) is a dilute of chocolate.
Patterns are: dapple, double dapple, brindle, sable and piebald. The double dapple is recognized but not recommended due to the genetic abnormalities it produces when doubling up on the dapple gene. Abnormalities are blind, deaf and/or being both blind and deaf.
Base colors are: Red, black & tan, cream, black & cream, blue & cream, chocolate & tan, chocolate & cream, blue & tan, fawn & tan (isabella), fawn & cream, wheaton and wild boar. Blue is the dilute of black and fawn (isabella) is a dilute of chocolate.
Patterns are: dapple, double dapple, brindle, sable and piebald. The double dapple is recognized but not recommended due to the genetic abnormalities it produces when doubling up on the dapple gene. Abnormalities are blind, deaf and/or being both blind and deaf.
Colors
Red
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Black and Tan
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Cream
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Black and Cream
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Wild Boar
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Chocolate and Tan
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Chocolate and Cream
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Fawn and Tan (Isabella)
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Blue and Tan
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Blue and Cream
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Color and pattern misnomers:
Often times you hear people referring to a red dachshund as "brown." In the dachshund breed, it is called red and red can be either very dark, red with a black overlay, clear red or even light red, but, they are only red, and never should be referred to as "brown." Red dogs will always have a black nose as well as black nails. There are red dogs that have liver colored nails and nose, but those are red dilutes that may or may ot carry the chocolate gene. They are not chocolate-reds, they are red dilutes. There is no such color as a chocolate-red.
Another common error people make is referring to a black and tan dapple as a "silver dapple." They are not silver dapples and should be correctly be referred to as a black and tan dapple. The dapple influence will often cause a silver look to the black causing the the silver color and the error in reference to being called a silver dapple. A dog that appears all black but has even one hair that is dapple on it, is a black and tan dapple. It still carries the dapple gene even though visually it may look entirely black except for a dapple hair or small dapple patch. Red dapples often times are confused as a red smooth because their dapple pattern fades as they mature. Some red dapples retain their dapple pattern, but some do not. If they were dappled at birth, they are always a dapple regardless of whether they visually show the pattern at maturity.
Another error on color and pattern is calling a red dog with a black overly a sable. The sable pattern consists of a uniform dark overlay on red dogs. The overlay hairs are double-pigmented, with the tip of each hair much darker than the base color. The pattern usually displays a widow's peak on the head. Nose, nails and eye rims are black. Eyes are dark. The easy way to determine a dog is sable is to separate the hair and look at the hair color at skin level. It will be red and the tips of the hairs will be black.
Cream dogs never have a red tint to them. They are a buff color and when placed next to a red will be an entirely different shade. Creams always have dark brown eyes, black noses and a black eye rim. Puppies are born a grey/black color and lighten as they age. They may or may not retain the black hairs on their ears and down their back. Light red dogs, dilute reds or a pale red dog is not a cream. Creams will never have a light nose or light eyes.
Occasionally a dachshund will be all black. They are black and tans, but due to poor breeding, their tan markings are repressed and do not show. Genetically they are black and tan. The same with a dog that is all chocolate in color. Genetically they are chocolate and tans but their tan markings are hidden.
Piebalds are often confused with double dapples. Piebalds will never have blue eyes, one blue eye or any blue tick in the eye. They only have brown eyes. They will also have a solid colored head (with or without a white blaze) and have symmetrical markings on the head. A piebald will always have a white tip on their tail. They will always have a solid color and never have any shading in their color or on their body. Piebalds can have a solid white base or have ticking in their white. There is no such thing as a tri-colored dachshund. These are black and tan piebalds.
What is a pattern? How is it different than a color?
A pattern is literally a "pattern" that is on the dachshund where there are markings that fall into specific categories. Colors are just that, the color of the dog. A dachshund color is red, cream, black and tan, black and cream, chocolate and tan, blue and tan, and isabella (fawn) and tan. All dachshunds have one, and only one, self color.
The patterns found in dachshunds are dapple, double dapple, brindle, sable, and piebald. Any pattern can be superimposed over any self, or solid, color; for instance, black and tan dapple, red brindle, chocolate and tan piebald. The color is named first, followed by the pattern, if any.
What does the dapple pattern look like?
In dapple dachshunds, patches of lighter color are intermingled with patches of the self color, sometimes with a patch of white hair on the chests. For instance, black and tan dapples, often incorrectly called silver dapples, have patches of silver colored hair mixed in with areas of black hair, giving the dog an overall mottled appearance. If the dapple pattern should occur across the face, one or both eyes may have blue speckles or may be entirely blue. In chocolate and tan dapples, areas of yellowish hair occur along with patches of chocolate hair. Red dapples are very often hard to distinguish, because the pattern of lighter red patches is often not very distinct and fade as the dog get older.
One parent must have the dapple pattern in order to produce a dapple puppy. Two solid, self-colored dogs cannot produce a dapple . A dachshund is considered to be a dapple if it has even one tiny dappled patch on it. Sometimes this dappled patch is only noticeable when it is a puppy, usually on the ears or belly, and often fades away with age. This dog should still be registered as a dapple, because it will produce some dapple puppies when bred to a dog with no pattern present.
What is a double dapple?
When two dapples are bred together, they may produce a double dapple puppy. Double dapples usually have large areas of white on their bodies in addition to the self colored, and dappled patches. For instance, a blue and tan double dapple with have patches of steel blue and silver on a white background. Double dapples' eyes may be completely blue, and they may have white blazes on their heads, white tail tips, and extensive white on their feet, bellies, and sides. Only experienced breeders should attempt double dapple breeding, as deaf and partially deaf puppies may result from this breeding. Reduced eye size and missing eyes are not that uncommon, either, in double dapples.
What is a brindle?
In brindle dachshunds, dark stripes, like a zebra, are superimposed over the dog's self color. A red brindle will have blackish stripes all over its body, while a black and tan brindle may only show the brindle pattern in its tan markings, because the dark stripes would not be visible against the dog's black coat. One parent must be a brindle in order to produce a brindle puppy.
How can I determine if a dachshund has the sable pattern?
Sable is perhaps the most difficult pattern to describe. Many people mistakenly call a red dog with a heavy black overlay a sable. This is incorrect. The dog is a red with black overlay and should be registered as red with no pattern. A true red sable is so dark it almost looks like a black and tan from a distance. All body hairs, except on the face and feet, are banded with two colors, the self color occurs closest to the dog's body while the darker color occurs near the hair tip. The face and feet are usually just the dog's self color. Therefore, a red sable will have body hairs which are red near the base and black near the tips, and a red face and red feet. One parent must be a sable to produce a sable pup.
What does the piebald pattern look like and how is it different from the dapple pattern?
Piebald is simply a white-spotting pattern superimposed over any self color; there is no variation in the color of the solid spots or patches as there is in dapple dachshunds. True piebalds never have blue eyes, one blue eye, or any blue on the eye. They must have dark eyes. Piebalds always have white tail tips. They have a fully colored head where both sides are red or black/tan. They never have one colored side. The amount of white on a piebald is variable, ranging from a full or partial white collar, white chest, belly, and feet, and a white tail tip (often called "Irish spotting") to an almost pure white dog with a patch of color on the head and base of the tail. For instance, black and tan piebalds have solid black body patches on a white background, but they may have tan markings, or spots, where tan markings would normally occur on a self-colored dog, such as the face, feet, and under the tail. It is incorrect to refer to black and tan piebalds as tricolors. Red piebalds have solid red spots, sometimes with intermingled black hairs, on a white background. When ticking is present, tiny dots of color appear on the white areas, varying in amounts from a few single dots to an abundance of dots which run together to form a roaning effect. Both parents must be piebald, or carry the piebald gene, to produce a piebald pup.
Here is a great resource link from Dutchwood Kennels on colors and patterns.
A pattern is literally a "pattern" that is on the dachshund where there are markings that fall into specific categories. Colors are just that, the color of the dog. A dachshund color is red, cream, black and tan, black and cream, chocolate and tan, blue and tan, and isabella (fawn) and tan. All dachshunds have one, and only one, self color.
The patterns found in dachshunds are dapple, double dapple, brindle, sable, and piebald. Any pattern can be superimposed over any self, or solid, color; for instance, black and tan dapple, red brindle, chocolate and tan piebald. The color is named first, followed by the pattern, if any.
What does the dapple pattern look like?
In dapple dachshunds, patches of lighter color are intermingled with patches of the self color, sometimes with a patch of white hair on the chests. For instance, black and tan dapples, often incorrectly called silver dapples, have patches of silver colored hair mixed in with areas of black hair, giving the dog an overall mottled appearance. If the dapple pattern should occur across the face, one or both eyes may have blue speckles or may be entirely blue. In chocolate and tan dapples, areas of yellowish hair occur along with patches of chocolate hair. Red dapples are very often hard to distinguish, because the pattern of lighter red patches is often not very distinct and fade as the dog get older.
One parent must have the dapple pattern in order to produce a dapple puppy. Two solid, self-colored dogs cannot produce a dapple . A dachshund is considered to be a dapple if it has even one tiny dappled patch on it. Sometimes this dappled patch is only noticeable when it is a puppy, usually on the ears or belly, and often fades away with age. This dog should still be registered as a dapple, because it will produce some dapple puppies when bred to a dog with no pattern present.
What is a double dapple?
When two dapples are bred together, they may produce a double dapple puppy. Double dapples usually have large areas of white on their bodies in addition to the self colored, and dappled patches. For instance, a blue and tan double dapple with have patches of steel blue and silver on a white background. Double dapples' eyes may be completely blue, and they may have white blazes on their heads, white tail tips, and extensive white on their feet, bellies, and sides. Only experienced breeders should attempt double dapple breeding, as deaf and partially deaf puppies may result from this breeding. Reduced eye size and missing eyes are not that uncommon, either, in double dapples.
What is a brindle?
In brindle dachshunds, dark stripes, like a zebra, are superimposed over the dog's self color. A red brindle will have blackish stripes all over its body, while a black and tan brindle may only show the brindle pattern in its tan markings, because the dark stripes would not be visible against the dog's black coat. One parent must be a brindle in order to produce a brindle puppy.
How can I determine if a dachshund has the sable pattern?
Sable is perhaps the most difficult pattern to describe. Many people mistakenly call a red dog with a heavy black overlay a sable. This is incorrect. The dog is a red with black overlay and should be registered as red with no pattern. A true red sable is so dark it almost looks like a black and tan from a distance. All body hairs, except on the face and feet, are banded with two colors, the self color occurs closest to the dog's body while the darker color occurs near the hair tip. The face and feet are usually just the dog's self color. Therefore, a red sable will have body hairs which are red near the base and black near the tips, and a red face and red feet. One parent must be a sable to produce a sable pup.
What does the piebald pattern look like and how is it different from the dapple pattern?
Piebald is simply a white-spotting pattern superimposed over any self color; there is no variation in the color of the solid spots or patches as there is in dapple dachshunds. True piebalds never have blue eyes, one blue eye, or any blue on the eye. They must have dark eyes. Piebalds always have white tail tips. They have a fully colored head where both sides are red or black/tan. They never have one colored side. The amount of white on a piebald is variable, ranging from a full or partial white collar, white chest, belly, and feet, and a white tail tip (often called "Irish spotting") to an almost pure white dog with a patch of color on the head and base of the tail. For instance, black and tan piebalds have solid black body patches on a white background, but they may have tan markings, or spots, where tan markings would normally occur on a self-colored dog, such as the face, feet, and under the tail. It is incorrect to refer to black and tan piebalds as tricolors. Red piebalds have solid red spots, sometimes with intermingled black hairs, on a white background. When ticking is present, tiny dots of color appear on the white areas, varying in amounts from a few single dots to an abundance of dots which run together to form a roaning effect. Both parents must be piebald, or carry the piebald gene, to produce a piebald pup.
Here is a great resource link from Dutchwood Kennels on colors and patterns.