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Writer's pictureHusnain Farooq
Jan 20, 202112 min read

All Dachshund Colors and Patterns Explained With Pictures

What I adore the most about the Dachshund breed aside from their short legs and long bodies is their wide variety of colors. But this isn’t the “I love them because they’re cute” kind of interest. Let me tell you why.

In my recent blog post on interesting Dachshund facts, I mentioned something about their bad reputation during World War I. They were rebranded by the American Kennel Club (AKC) just to sort of redeeming their popularity, but unfortunately, it didn’t work.

What greatly helped them regain their fame over time are their natural qualities that appealed to many pet lovers, including their various colors.

In other words, their 15 shades and all of their combinations are not only aesthetically pleasing but also historically instrumental for the breed’s current status.

If you want to learn more about the colors I’m talking about, just keep on reading this guide. I also added all of their color patterns which are also fascinating!

What Are the Standard Dachshund Colors and Patterns According to Different Kennel Clubs?

It is generally known that there are 15 Dachshund colors which include black and cream, black and tan, blue and cream, blue and tan, chocolate and cream, chocolate and tan, cream, fawn and cream, fawn and tan, red, wheaten, wild boar, black, chocolate, and fawn.

These shades are presented in six patterns which are brindle, dapple, sable, piebald, brindle dapple, and double dapple.

In this section, I’ll discuss which of the colors I have mentioned above are recognized by the American Kennel Club (AKC), Canadian Kennel Club (CKC), United Kennel Club (UKC), and Federation Cynologique Internationale (FCI).

Note that some color names may vary, but they still pertain to the same shade.

Single-Colored Dachshunds Description and Pictures

Single-colored Dachshunds are exactly what their name implies. They don’t have any markings on their coat, and their solid color is rich and velvety.

Here are their six variations:

Cream Dachshund

Among all the Dachshund colors, creams are found to be the most elegant-looking. They appear softer than their other cousins because they almost resemble bunny rabbits.

Like other breeds, their coat’s shade may either be very light that it is almost white or a bit darker or golden cream. They also come in two varieties:

Clear Cream Dachshund

Clear cream Dachshunds don’t have any tint of black in them. As seen in the photo above, all parts of their body and their face don’t exhibit any dark-colored points. This is due to the “Chinchilla” dilution gene.

Shaded Cream Dachshund

Shaded cream Dachshunds have black accents on their coat since they have dominant EE genes. This phenomenon is mostly observed on English cream Dachshunds and fades over time.

Red Dachshund

Red Dachshunds are typically rusty brown in color. They are pretty common because a single copy of the dominant red gene can already create them. To complete their overall features, they have black noses and nails.

Similar to creams, they also come in two types:

Solid Red Dachshund

This red Dachshund doesn’t have any white markings or black tint on its coat.

Shaded Red Dachshund

Shaded red Dachshunds have a black overlay on their ears, back, and tail. This should not be confused with Sables because they are entirely different.

Wheaten Dachshund

Wheaten Dachshunds are incredibly rare. Their color falls between whitish hues and light golden brown, or simply the color of wheat.

Originally, this coat color is only found on wiry-haired Dachshunds. By interbreeding the different coat types, you can now see wheaten Doxies who are either smooth or long-haired.

Black Dachshund

Solid black Dachshunds are labeled as non-standard by the AKC as they are very hard to come across. They occasionally show up in some litter, especially those produced in puppy mills due to poor breeding practices.

Basically, they should have tan points, but it is repressed due to certain recessive genes that should have been identified by the breeder through DNA testing.

Chocolate Dachshund

Like solid black Dachshunds, chocolate Dachshunds who do not have any cream or tan markings on their face and body are also difficult to find. I think you already realize that since I wasn’t able to include a sample picture of one.

This color variation is not considered standard by the AKC, so they aren’t allowed to join conformation shows.

Fawn Dachshund

The fawn coloration is also known as isabella and appears in all types of Dachshund coats. Normally, this is observed as a faded chocolate tone, but some pups appear light yellowish tan.

Two-Colored Dachshunds Description and Pictures

It’s hard not to fall into the Dachshund spell, especially if they are sporting two colors on their coat. Below are all the recognized bi-colored Dachshund varieties:

Wild Boar Dachshund

When I first heard about this coat coloration, I got immediately intrigued. I’m used to hearing about the basic color terms such as red, chocolate, or black, but not a wild boar.

Turns out, the wild boar color got its name from its animal namesake because the resemblance is pretty obvious. Dachshunds with this coat often look black and tan from a distance, but up close, you’ll see that they are also covered with goldish highlights which makes them unique.

Oh, one more thing! They only occur in wire-haired and smooth-haired Dachshunds.

Black and Cream Dachshund

This Dachshund is a total looker. In fact, if you put all the two-colored Doxies side by side, this will probably stand out. Why?

Their coat combines the darkest and lightest Dachshund colors: black and cream. The cream points are seen over their eyes, around their muzzle, on their chest and feet, and under their tail. Meanwhile, their eyes, nose, and nails remain black.

Black and Tan Dachshund

Nope, the dog in the photo above is not a Doberman! It is actually a black and tan Dachshund.

Doxies with the black and tan coloration is black all over with tan points above their eyes, around their muzzle, on their feet and chest, and on their tails. In short, their tan accents are located similar to that of the cream.

Since this color is recessive, if two black and tan Dachshunds are bred together, there is a greater chance that they will produce a litter with the same color.

Watch this video to see them in action:


Benji Boy the Doxie - Miniature long haired dachshund puppy<a href="https://youtu.be/HJOr3P_MiyU" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FHJOr3P_MiyU%2F0.jpg" alt="Benji Boy the Doxie - Miniature long haired dachshund puppy" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>


Blue and Cream Dachshund

Blue and Cream Dachshunds are not as flashy as the black and cream, but they almost look similar especially if the base coat is of a darker blue tone.

But wait, before I go deeper into this, let me clarify that I’m not talking about the blue color of the sky. The blue coat of Dachshunds, as is with other dogs, is close to gray. Specifically, it is gunmetal blue in tone.

The cream points of this dog are seen around their muzzles, over their eyes, on their chest and feet, and on their tail.

Blue and Tan Dachshund

Photo from @hugo_blu_ (IG)

This is a rare color combination, but one that is most welcomed by Dachshund fanciers. The base coat of this dog is a dark metallic gray, while the points are tan. The location of the points is the same as the blue and cream Doxies.

At first glance, you’ll mistake this dog for a blue Doberman because their similarities are quite deceptive to the untrained eye.

Chocolate and Cream Dachshund

Don’t you just want to take home this charming Dachshund? Well, I do. And it’s primarily because of their coat color combination.

Their base hairs are primarily a deep chocolate color covering their forehead, ears, back, and tail. But this is blended with some cream points, which range from a golden blonde to off-white. It looks really cool!

Chocolate and Tan Dachshund

A chocolate and tan Dachshund is another two-colored pup that will snatch your heart in just a glance. I know I sound too mushy but just look at the Doxie in the picture above.

The rich chocolate coat of this Dachshund variety works well with their dark tan points. They don’t have any black tint in them as well, so their eyes, nose, and nails are either brown to light brown.

Fawn (Isabella) and Cream Dachshund

Photo from @dawg.muva (IG)

Fawn and cream Dachshunds do not have a chocolate tone in them despite what some breeders would make you believe. Their main hair color, which is isabella, should be a washed-out chocolate tone, while their cream points may either be golden or off-white.

Some pet owners say that they look like Weimaraners with cream points and I totally agree.

Fawn (Isabella) and Tan Dachshund

The last but definitely not the least Dachshund color combination is the fawn and tan.

Its primary coat is diluted chocolate called fawn or isabella, while its markings are a deep tan. Many are confused with this variety because there are instances that the concentration of the tan hues is almost similar to the isabella shade.

What Are the Different Dachshund Patterns?

If you think it’s time to close this tab since we’re already done with all the Dachshund colors, allow me a second to change your mind.

In this section, I’ll introduce to you the six stunning color patterns that you can choose from if you want to bring home your own Doxie.

Brindle Dachshund

Brindle Dachshunds are remarkably unique. Their base coat is light-colored (usually tan or red) and they have visible patterns on their coat which can be compared to tiger stripes.

These alternating streaks are either black, liver, blue, gray, or isabella (fawn).

Dapple Dachshund

Photo from @pupperoti (IG)

The dog in the photo above is a blue and tan dapple Dachshund. As you will notice, there are dark-colored spots in its washed out blue coat.

These random patches are associated with the merle gene which is why this color pattern is viewed as problematic. I’ll give you more context about this as we discuss the relationship between coat color and the health of Dachshunds.

Sable Dachshund

Sable Dachshunds appear dark-colored even though their coat is actually light because of having black-tipped hairs. Some sable Doxies even appear to have black masks on their face because of the concentration of these black tippings.

Brindle Piebald Dachshund

Brindle Piebald Dachshunds are tagged as non-standard by the AKC but are still sought after by many Dachshund enthusiasts because they look one of a kind.

This pattern obviously occurs when a brindle Dachshund is bred with a pup carrying the piebald gene. Their coat exhibits dark-colored patches on a white base, while some parts are deeply colored with dark streaks.

Double Dapple Dachshund

I know you are impressed by the color pattern of this pup, but trust me, you wouldn’t want to own a double dapple Dachshund.

This color is achieved through breeding two merle dogs, which results in multiple health issues. They may amaze your canine loving friends with their dominant white markings, but they would definitely stress you out with their need for constant veterinary check-ups.

Piebald Dachshund

The pup above is an example of a cream piebald Dachshund. The dark spots that are randomly distributed on their coat are created through a recessive gene.

What Are Hidden Dapple Dachshunds?

Hidden dapple Dachshunds are dogs whose distinctive dapple spots or markings lighten as they mature. Because of this, they are mistaken as regular-colored pups and inadvertently bred to another dapple by some irresponsible breeders.

Mating two dapples together produce double dapples that are frowned upon by many due to the string of diseases associated with them. It is suggested that studs undergo DNA testing, so hidden dapples can be identified.

What Is the Rarest Dachshund Color?

The rarest Dachshund colors are mostly the solid ones. They only occur occasionally and they aren’t allowed to join conformation shows by top kennel clubs.

I have listed them below according to their rarity: the first one being the hardest to find.

  1. Black Dachshund

  2. Chocolate Dachshund

  3. Fawn Dachshund

Since these colors are rare, they are a bit more expensive than the other varieties. This is acceptable if you bought your pup from a responsible breeder.

What Is the Most Common Dachshund Color?

The colors below are the most commonly seen shades in the Dachshund breed. They are your best options if you are on a budget but dream of bringing home a Dachshund.

  1. Red Dachshund

  2. Cream Dachshund

  3. Black and tan Dachshund

  4. Black and cream Dachshund

  5. Chocolate and tan Dachshund

  6. Blue and tan Dachshund

  7. Fawn (isabella) and tan Dachshund

Note that all the colors mentioned above are not arranged in any particular order.

Dachshund Coat Genetics: Why Do Dachshunds Have Many Different Colors?

Coat color genetics is quite a broad and complicated topic, but I’ll try to make it digestible so non-science folks like me won’t zone out on this part.

Dachshunds have two main pigments on their coat and they are called eumelanin and phaeomelanin.

Eumelanin is black in default, while phaeomelanin is red. Due to certain genes, these pigments turn out a different color which is now seen on the Dachshund’s coat.

You may already know that all beings, including dogs, are made up of genes that always come in pairs. For Dachshunds, there are 10 gene series that are composed of different forms or alleles. As mentioned, all of these genes alter their eumelanin and phaeomelanin concentration.

If you are interested in a more detailed discussion about this, head over to Reed’s Kennels’ article dedicated to Dachshund genetics.

The Effect of Coat Color on Dachshund’s Health and Behavior

Dachshund’s coat color doesn’t affect the way they behave. That, I am sure of. I have worked with a lot of breeds before and not once did I observe a certain color to be more aggressive or more passive.

There are also no published researches that can prove such a correlation. I suggest you ignore baseless myths like rare black Dachshunds are feral and impossible to tame because they are also playful and loyal pets.

In terms of the effect of Dachshund color on their health, this is where the boat tips a bit. Most blue and fawn Doxies are more prone to Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA) since they are produced by altering their coat’s pigments.

CDA manifests through hair thinning or hair loss and itchy or flaky skin. Dogs afflicted with these are born with a normal coat, but after six months, their hair follicles self-destruct, so they longer grow new hairs on the affected areas of their skin.

Aside from this, some Dachshund color patterns are predisposed to many alarming health concerns. These are the double dapples and the piebalds. The most common health issues observed in these dogs are blindness, deafness, microphthalmia, and missing eyes.

According to the Dachshund Breed Council, the health problems mentioned above are more prevalent in double dapples than in piebalds because they are carriers of a certain lethal gene.

Double dapple Dachshunds also have more white or pigmentless areas on their coat, increasing their likelihood of inheriting congenital disorders.

Do Dachshund Puppies Change Color When They Grow?

Technically speaking, Dachshunds do not change color because it is predetermined by their genes. You won’t see a red Dachshund puppy suddenly turn into gray because that’s not how dog genetics works.

It is possible, however, for these dogs to lighten or darken as they mature. Red Dachshunds may turn a dark mahogany color, or they may also lighten a bit. Again, this is all the work of the genes they inherited from their parents.

If your adult Dachshund has graying hairs, you also don’t have to be alarmed. This is a sign that they are going through the natural aging process similar to us humans.

Related Questions

What Are the Three Types of Dachshund Coats?

Your Dachshund’s coat may either be smooth, long, or wired. Smooth-coated Dachshunds are silky to the touch and less-shedding than the other two types.

The second one which is the long-haired Dachshund is distinct for its long straight coat. Meanwhile, the third type called wire-haired Dachshund has curly or coarse hairs that are prone to knotting and matting.

What Colors Do Mini Dachshunds Come In?

Dachshund colors are the same across all sizes of the breed, so you don’t have to worry about choosing a certain size (even if you don’t want to) in order to take home your desired color.

Final Thoughts: Which Dachshund Color Is Right for You?

That’s a lot to take in, isn’t it? Well, I hope you learned some useful facts from this article enough to pass an imaginary pop quiz.

Remember that in choosing the perfect Dachshund color for you, skip those associated with several health issues. This way, you can enjoy how aesthetically pleasing they are without you being interrupted by frequent clinic visits.

Also, be mindful of breeders who sell rare Dachshund colors such as black, chocolate, and fawn. Some of them take advantage of the fact that these dogs are hard to find and charge a huge amount of money for puppies who weren’t raised in good living conditions.

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