SK Dox Mini Dachshunds
Purebred AKC Miniature Dachshund's since 1992
Dachshund Patterns
Now, let's address the many Dachshund patterns. Any pattern may be superimposed over any of the self colors described here. It is also possible to have more than one pattern on a dog,
Solid - Simply means the dog has no pattern, any of the colors above with no patterns and only show the base color.
Sable/Wild Boar - Wild boar occurs in wire and smooth coats. Sable only occurs in long coats. The dogs have individual hair strands that are two different colors, a base color (usually red) at the root progressing to black at the tip. Many people mistakenly call a red dog with a heavy black overlay a sable. This is incorrect; the dog 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. 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.
Dapple - The dapple gene is a semi-dominant gene, which means that one parent must have the dapple pattern in order to produce a dapple puppy. One dog must be dapple to produce it. It is not carried. Two solid, self-colored dogs cannot produce a dapple. Dapple can manifest in 1 spot to all over the body. Dapple dilutes certain parts of the dogs coat. The dappling gene can even hit parts of the eye or the whole eye making it appear wholly or partially blue. Dapple can occur in all colors. Black and tan dapples, often incorrectly called silver dapples, or blue dapple because they have patches of silver gray color. In chocolate and tan dapples, patches of lighter chocolate colored hair. When determining what color dapple you have you have to look at the base color and not the dappling color. Reds or creams can be hidden dapples as the dappling only shows in their shading once they are born and can disappear as they age. There are dapple modifier genes such as patchwork which can make the dog appear to have 2 colors of dappling instead of one. Dappling can be combined with any other patterns except another dapple.
Two dapples should never be bred together as it can create a lethal combination and double dapples can be produced.
Double Dapple -Same as a dapple but also with large areas of white on their bodies in addition to the self colored and dappled patches. Double dapples are the result of breeding two dapples together. They are characterized by having large amount of white areas mixed in with their dappling (not to be confused with dapple piebalds). The white areas on a double dapple usually have rough edging and are random. The white is caused by where the two dapple genes have overlay twice. Double dapples are frowned upon as they can be born with major health issues. They can be born wholly or partially deaf, wholly or partially blind, and have eye defects, and even internal organ deformities. Neither should red or creams be bred to dapples as they could be hidden dapples.
Piebald - a white pattern superimposed over any self color, 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 to an almost pure white dog with a patch of color on the head and at the base of the tail. This wide range in the amount of white on a piebald is simply part of the piebald pattern and all variations are acceptable.
Piebalds come in three varieties: tuxedo, plated, and extreme. Tuxedo piebalds have the minimum allowance of white on them to be considered piebald which is, 4 full white feet or "socks", white chest/stomach, white tipped tail, and sometimes a white area on the head. Plated piebalds are 50% white. Extreme piebalds are more than 50% white. Two true piebalds will produce all piebald puppies. Piebald is recessive and both parents must be or carry it to produce it. Piebalds can have ticking or they can be born without. Ticking is usually not apparent at birth, but shows as they mature.
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 roan effect, similar to that seen in English Setters and German Short hair Pointers. Ticking is just a part of the piebald pattern and any amounts, or none at all, are acceptable.
Dapple Piebald - a dog showing both patterns, will look just like a piebald only some or all spots of color will be dappled as well. The dapple and piebald pattern can show together. Although characterized by white areas mixed in with the dappling, there are no health risks like with double dapples.
Brindle - dark stripes, are superimposed over the dog's self color. Brindle is a dominant gene. One parent must be brindle to produce it. The brindle pattern can be hidden by the e gene. If the dog is pointed the brindle will only appear in the dog's tan/cream points. There are no health risks with breeding brindle to brindle.
Brindle Piebald - a dog showing both patterns, will look just like a piebald only some or all spots of color will be Brindle as well. The brindle and piebald pattern can show together. Truly Beautiful Dogs!
Dapple Brindle Piebald - Very Rarely you will get a triple patterned dog, a dog showing all three patterns, will look just like a piebald only some or all spots of color will have the brindle striping in some spots as well as dappling in others. Truly Beautiful Dogs!
