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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 complete list of color and pattern options at the bottom of this page.
Basic Colors
| Color | Long Hair | Smooth | Wire | Changes | Base color | Modifiers |
| Black/Tan | ||||||
| Shaded Red | ||||||
| Blue/Tan | ||||||
| Chocolate/Tan | ||||||
| ee Red | ||||||
| Isabella (fawn)/Tan | ||||||
| Chocolate based red | ||||||
| Blue Based Red | ||||||
| Sable |
WIRES
| Color | Wire | Soft/Silky Wire | Changes | Base color | Modifiers |
| Wheaten | |||||
| Red Wild Boar | |||||
| Chocolate Wild Boar | |||||
| Black/Tan Wildboar | |||||
| Red Brindle Wild Boar | |||||
The Creams
| Color | Long Hair | Smooth | Changes | Base color | Modifiers |
| Shaded Cream | |||||
| ee Cream | |||||
| Black/Cream | |||||
| Chocolate/Cream | |||||
| Blue/Cream | |||||
| Isabella (fawn)/Cream | |||||
| Chocolate Based Cream | |||||
| Blue Based Cream | |||||
| Isabella (fawn) based cream |
Patterns
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 black/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.
| Long | Smooth | Wire | |
| Shaded Red | |||
| Black/Tan | |||
| Chocolate Based Red or cream | |||
| 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 at
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.
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.
Multiple Pattern Combinations
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 an unspoken code that is used to represent colors and coat type by putting letters at the end of the dog’s 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 that he is a dapple and piebald.