Dachshund colors and markings vary almost as much as their cool coat types do. The classic wiener dog pattern most people imagine is black and tan, or solid brown. But they actually can be red, blue, cream, fawn and a number of other shades. And some of their colors and patterns are linked to health issues.
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History and Origins of Dachshund Colors
Were there always so many different Dachshund colors? What is the difference between Dachshund colors and patterns? Are patterns and markings the same thing? If you are new to the wonderful world of Dachshunds, you probably have so many questions!
So let’s step back into history for a moment to discover more about the history and origins of Dachshund colors and the Dachshund breed itself.
The Dachshund today is classified as a scent hound, which means these dogs use their noses to track and hunt prey. Bred specifically to hunt burrowing small animals like badgers. This is why Dachshunds have shortened legs – this adaptation helped them dig down into a burrow after their prey without getting stuck!
Coat Types
So now let’s take a closer look at the origin and evolution of the Dachshund’s colors and coat types!
Smooth Haired Dachshund Colors
The very first, original Dachshunds had smooth, short, flat coats.
The original Dachshund coat colors were red (the most common) and black (the second most common), which is often mistaken for brown in its darker, rustier shades.
Wire Haired Dachshund Colors
In time, Dachshunds were crossed with Terriers.
The goal here was to introduce some of that traditional Terrier fire to create an even fiercer and more tenacious hunter.
The Terrier influence also introduced a new coat texture, wire haired Dachshunds, and a new coat color, wild boar.
Long Haired Dachshund Colors
Later on, Dachshunds were crossed again, this time with Spaniels and Setters.
The goal with this cross was to produce a sweeter temperament.
It was hoped this would produce a canine which was more amenable to life as a companion.
The influence of these longer coated dogs also produced a new coat texture, namely long haired Dachshunds.
This in turn saw the several new coat colors come to life, including blue (gray), fawn (Isabella), wheaten, cream and chocolate (brown).
Dachshund Colors and Breed Sizes
Both standard and miniature (and tweenie) Dachshunds can have the same basic coat colors, patterns and markings.
To clarify, according to AKC standards, a “standard” Dachshund is a dog that weighs 16 to 32 pounds, while a “miniature” Dachshund is a dog that weighs 11 pounds or less.
There is also an unofficial “tweenie” size Dachshund, but this size is not recognized by the AKC.
Overall, the colors and patterns of any Dachshund has a lot to do with coat type (smooth, wire, long). Size is not a known influencer of coat color or pattern.
Dachshund Colors and Genetics
We know quite a lot thanks to canine genetics. For example, we know that the color of a dog’s coat (or the pattern or markings) can sometimes indicate possible health issues either from birth or later in life.
This is one reason why your choice of breeder is so vital to the health and quality of life of your Dachshund puppy! It is also important to do your own research to discover what to look for when choosing the healthiest puppy.
Can Dachshund Colors Influence your Puppy’s Health?
As you might imagine, this can get complicated! Essentially, the same genes that create certain colors, patterns or markings sometimes have additional functions to carry out in a dog’s development.
This is particularly the case with dilute (recessive) color genes such as those that can produce the white coat color and blue eyes. This is a combination which has long been associated with canine deafness.
For this reason, white-coated Dachshunds with one or both blue eyes are disqualified from the show ring. As well, certain patterns and markings are associated with specific health concerns in Dachshunds.
Patterns and Health Issues
Dilute (recessive) colors such as blue (a dilute of black) and fawn (a dilute of chocolate) are associated with skin sensitivity. This includes a condition called CDA, or color dilution alopecia. CDA can cause skin allergies, skin sensitivity, sunburn, thinning coat and skin infections.
Skin cancer is more prevalent in dilute coated Dachshunds, and preventative vaccinations are less likely to work as expected. These dogs can have immune issues and a shortened lifespan.
Markings and Health Issues
The Dapple (merle), Double Dapple and Piebald (white) Dachshund patterns have been linked to several serious health issues. These include:
- missing eyes
- eye size reduction
- blindness
- deafness
- seizures
- various skin disorders
Official Dachshund Colors
The official AKC standard Dachshund colors – often called the base or self colors – include:
- red
- cream
- black and tan
- black and cream
- chocolate and tan
- blue and tan
- fawn (Isabella)
- tan and wild boar
Official AKC Dachshund colors and markings include:
- brindle (striped)
- dapple (light/dark patches)
- sable (self color with overlaid darker color)
Non-standard but recognized colors and markings include:
- brindle piebald
- double dapple
- piebald
Self Dachshund Colors
The original Dachshund colors, red and black, are still the most common colors for Dachshunds today. The official breed standard lists base (self) colors that include patterns. This means the pattern is the standard – seeing one color appear without the other is considered rare.
So here is a primer to help you understand how breeders and show judges define each of these Dachshund colors.
Red
The red color spectrum can range from a very light strawberry blonde to a dark reddish brown.
Black
The black coat color is relatively rare only when the dog is all black without any tan markings.
Tan
The tan color spectrum can also sometimes be mistaken for red or brown. It ranges from light tan/brown to a darker tan/reddish brown.
Cream
The cream color is most commonly seen in the miniature long hair Dachshunds. This color is a lovely buttery, ivory color with very little variance. Puppies that will grow up with a cream-colored coat often start out life with a darker grey/black coat.
Chocolate
The chocolate coat color is one that can also get confusing, as it looks similar to tan or red. Chocolate will often be combined with tan or cream.
Blue
The coat color commonly called blue is actually a dilute form of black. It can take on more of a blue/steel grey tone or a lavender/grey tone.
Fawn
Sometimes called Isabella, this is a dilute version of chocolate brown. Fawn often looks silvery/tan or silvery/grey or even silvery/blue.
(paid link) Dachshund Colors and Patterns
Dachshund patterns typically have two colors. There is a main color and an accent color (often called “color points”).
In each of these common Dachshund colors and patterns, the first color in the pair typically covers the head and body. The second color in the pair appears above the eyes, on the sides of the muzzle, down the front of the throat and on the paws.
Here are the most common (but not the only possible) Dachshund colors and patterns:
- Black & tan.
- Blue and tan.
- Chocolate & cream.
- Fawn (Isabella) and tan.
Dachshund Colors and Markings
The words pattern and markings are used fairly interchangeably to describe different Dachshund colors and combinations.
But in general, these words point to something more than just one self (single) or two co-occurring colors (such as “black and tan”).
There is another coloration occurring either because a third color has been introduced or because of how the colors overlay with one another.
The main Dachshund markings are wild boar (some breeders consider this a color rather than a pattern/marking), dapple, double dapple, sable and piebald.
Rare Dachshund Colors
One particularly rare Dachshund color is white. It is acceptable as a minor marking only, like a splash across the chest. Pure white Dachshunds are not eligible to compete in AKC shows.
True all-black or all-chocolate Dachshund coats are also relatively rare.
Joyce Collard says
I purchased a black/tan female dachshund in 2019. The sire was a red wirehair, mother was a smooth red. There were 6 pups, 3 girls, 3 boys. 3 had short coat and 2 a silky wire coat. 3 black and tan, 3 red. At about 3-4 months, my girl started changing color. Started at head and went to her tail. She is now a silvery gray with dark gray undercoat with light tan face whiskers. No one can tell me why this happened. The breeder is well known on FaceBook and I also know the sire’s breeder. I have never been able to connect with any owners of her litter mates but did see her full brother from another litter and he was a red wire
Brooke says
This could have been because the father or mother may have had a dilute gene in them causing the colors to change. Being that your pup was initially a black/tan, the dd (dilution gene) can dilute the colors to a silver, gray color also known as “blue”. Dilute Dachshunds are known to suffer from Color Dilution Alopecia where the hair is very thin, and falls out and the skin is particularly sensitive to infection, dermatitis and skin cancers. This doesn’t mean this will happen to your pup. Just something to keep an eye out for as she matures!
betty says
i am so excited. i just got my first mini. he is long haired all black with the tiniest 1 cm little splash of white on his chest. simply adorable and lovable. his mom and dad both were dapples. and he was the only black long haired. his sense of smell in amazing at even 10 weeks. he was the only black long haired in the litter and the last to be adopted. we feel really excited to have him.
Erin says
I have a gorgeous ‘ee red’ female purebred pup who I would eventually like to breed. She is very fair with black nose and eyes. What should I look for in a sire to get the most unique looking pups?
Marlene says
I would think breeding with a black and tan would give you some of each color. Lbre
d my red male with a black and tan female and there were 5 pups 2 black and tan and 2 red and 1 sort of a mahogany with tannish points. They were beautiful!
Samantha Rose says
I have an all black and white dachshund. No brown at all or other colors at all. I’ve never personally seen a dachshund like this(being a dog groomer for 9 years now) and a lot of people tell me they’ve never seen that either. Is there a reason they are not typically black and white such as health problems? Thank you!
Lynn Anglin says
What would a female red brindle and a solid red male color pups usually turn out
Gavin Whittal says
Hi,I am wanting a chocolate /tan dachshund, anyone know where to get one,I can forward a picture to give you a idea.
Emily says
I have a true black dachshund. He is 3 months old. No other colour markings, just black. I don’t know next to anything about his parents other than one is long haired and the other is short, so I’m not sure what my boy will be. His coat seems to be in between. Longer hair at his ears and feet, body feels longer than average short hair but longer than the long haired. Truly not sure how his coat will grow as he grows. He’s beautiful. Such a friendly boy too, loves meeting new people!
Donna says
Hello, I think you’re Dachshund may have a coat/hair that is commonly called a broken coat.
Which are just as “Beautiful as any Dachshund”
Meaning it has both a long and a short coat or hair. This can happen when breading both types of dogs coats or dog’s hair types. For example, the mother of the pup may have a short coat/hair and or the father may have a long coat/hair or even the grandparents may have had these type of coats. Resulting in a pup that has both long and short coat/hair types. Gorgeous just the same !
I hope this helps you out some.
Pamela Nichols says
I have 2 Daschund dogs. One is a wired hair and the other is a long wired hair. We recently had 6 puppies, 5 of them are gray with black spots, and touched of brown on their faces and feet. The other one is black with brown face and feet. They are so adorable. They were born in 9-11-2020. I absolutely love my babies!!!
Ron says
I had two White & Black Dachshunds. One male (Phillip) smooth, and one female (Lillian) Wire Haired. They were litter mates born August 7th 2010. Lilly developed kidney disease in August of 2018. Lilly just passed September 6th 2020. Phillip developed kidney disease the beginning of April 2020 and passed at the end of April. I am devastated over the loss of both on them. Did they develop this disease because of their color? I would also like to get on a list of breeders to purchase two more Wire Haired. They seem to be hard to fine in Michigan. I would appreciate any help. Thank you!
Toni says
I’m looking for a tiger striped mini chiweenie. Mine passed away 2 months ago and I’m still heartbroken. Does anyone know where to find one?
Stacy says
I am getting a puppy from a Black and Tan mama and daddy. What colors might their litter be? Will they all be Black and Tan
Theresa Azhocar says
I bred my red dachshund, dark red with my ee cream male dachshund. Two puppies were born red like her. One stayed dark red like her mama and the red boy lightened up a lot, so he is lighter. But one girl was born dark silver grey and one boy was born silver or grey. The girl was more darker grey. The girl has lost a lot of her dark grey and has a lot of cream and black tips continuing falling off but has like a lilac tint to her in areas with the tip of her tale black and a shade of a black streak on her back that has faded a lot. She is barely six weeks. The boy is cream and lost all his silver and he has like a light lay of a bronze. I thought a red dog and a ee cream only produce red pups. The girl had white nails there turning black and black whiskers. How can you tell the difference from a deluded red to a cream? There father is a ee cream and the boy might be a shade off of dad
Brittany Pryor says
I have a chocolate and tan mini female long haired who has white spots coming in. I started noticing them when she was about 3-4 months old. Is She considered piebald? She has two bigger above her tail along with several others sprouting elsewhere. Should I have a dapple/ piebald test done? I can email photos if I could for better view of her white markings.
Mel says
Is a white patch on the chest mean dapple?
Jaleen says
Is it OK to breed a red female and a chocolate/tan male?
Becky says
Any two colors can be bred, unless you’re trying to get puppies of certain colors.
Colors have genetic dominance: red is dominant over black and chocolate; black is dominant over chocolate; chocolate is least-dominant (recessive) so a chocolate bred to a red will NOT make chocolate pups UNLESS the red carries one gene for chocolate.
Every puppy has two color genes, inheriting one from each parent based on whatever they carry from their parents, and so on. A red or cream dog may carry either black or chocolate; a black may have two black genes or a black and a chocolate – it won’t “carry” the more-dominant red. Likewise, chocolate cannot “carry” either black or red, as it requires two chocolate genes in order to have the chocolate color. Chocolate (and isabella) dogs are said to be “homozygous” – they ONLY have two chocolate genes. Reds and blacks may also be homozygous for their color, meaning they only have two red genes, or two black genes, but chocolate is the only one that *requires* two of the same genes in order to be chocolate.
So, your red female and chocolate & tan male may be bred to produce, depending on what recessive color the red may also be carrying:
red
chocolate-based red, AKA liver-nose red
black & tan, if she’s carrying black from one of her parents
chocolate & tan, if she’s carrying chocolate from one of her parents
Kristin says
I recently adopted a 6 mo. male. His coat is dilute red (EE red). I am trying to find out if he is likely to get CDA? Everything I can find on the internet that talks about CDA in dachshunds focuses on blue and Isabella dilutes, so I’m wondering if we’re in the clear. If someone who has more knowledge than I could chime in, I would really appreciate it!
Eleanor says
Hi Kristin! I’m pretty sure any dachshund with the dilute gene can get cda. I think they don’t mention dilute reds because it is very unusual to find them. Hopefully your boy won’t get it.
Becky says
There are two distinct “dilute” genes: one affects only red and lightens it to cream; the other only affects black and chocolate, turning them to blue and isabella/fawn, respectively. A cream bred to a black or chocolate that doesn’t carry dilute will not produce blue or isabella pups.
Cream dachshunds are not affected by CDA the way blues and isabellas are. CDA typically causes thin coat, and abnormally short hair on what should be a longhair dog, making them look like a fuzzy toy with a lot of the fuzz worn off. I have worked with hundreds of dachshunds over the past 18 years, and have never seen a cream doxie with allopecia.
Just being blue or isabella does not guarantee that the dog will have CDA or any of the other issues those colors can have. The breeder with whom I work takes great pains to remove any such dogs from her breeding program, retaining only those without problems, and as a result, many of her blues and isabellas have stunningly lush coats and are just as healthy as any of her non-dilute dogs.
Debra says
I have a new born cream dachshund, she’s dilute red. She is the only one out the litter this colour.
Would she be good for breeding with any KC registered stud dachshund ?
Shaun F says
I got a triple dapple dashound named Mickey he is back, tan, with lots of grey spots on him and a white spo
Tina says
I have just acquired a Isabella dachshund aged 14 months, he has a large white mark on his chest it’s not a splash like it should be. Poor little thing is scared of everything and everyone, won’t go on a lead and so we can’t take him out on a walk, and he doesn’t want to snuggle with anyone I wonder what I could do.
Annie Simmonds says
The best thing to do is to let Isabella come to you when she is ready, give her space to settle, make sure she has a place she can go to rest like a crate with cover over, nice bedding and soft fleece blanket so she can burrow into, this is so important for Dachshunds especially rescue ones. To get him into the garden invest in a soft choker lead, this is not harsh just allows gentle guidance, remember to praise her when she allows you to take her into garden. Make sure you put it on correctly. Sit on the floor and have some toys around and gentle try to get her to play use small treats to encourage and to reward her when she interacts. If you give her space and be patient with her you will gain her trust in time then once you have it you can start working with her. I wish you and Isabella all the best for a happy future together, don’t be despondent it will take time. We rescued two mini dachshunds one with aggression issues but we did what I have suggested to you and now we are able to go for walks, play and cuddles but it took time, but oh so worth the wait, love them both to bits, and even though their has been improvement the aggression is something we will always have to be mindful of.
Melissa Cunard says
My Isabella male is now 13 plus years now. We got him along with a red dapple male. They were about 8 weeks different in age, but my red one made my Isabella a much better dog. He was like his security blanket. Possibly another pup would help, but I know it is a big commitment. They were together forever. My Isabella (Otto) was very nervous and skittish and was very dependent on my red male. They were very different personalities. My red one passed March 2019 and Otto was pretty lost but is doing ok now. I recently got a male pup who is 4 months now and things are going well.
Mary Weller says
I had a white piebald. Full of life and very affectionate. He passed away at 4 years and 11 months old. Unknown cause but he was in multi system failure.
T Fries says
My best buddy Clarence is a piebald with medium length hair that is very soft. His colors are red (brown) and white. He’s as stubborn as the day is long and funnier than one can imagine. I’d be lost without this most honorable friend in my life and I thank God for bringing us together. Ironically my ex fiance bought him before we met , one night at her place this furry little ball came running out of nowhere squeaking his toy as fast as he could and that moment was when we bonded , when my ex and I broke up , Clarence made it clear who he wanted to be with and the rest is history. My ex and I are good friends now and Clarence is my funny lil bro.
Bundy says
you had a nice ex – I had to go to court to get my friend – me, my friend, and the lawyer are now a happy family
Lois says
I rescued a miniature red and 3months later rescued a black and tan. They are inseparable. Red (Max) highly intelligent/playfull and black/tan (Rocky) easy going/stubborn. Great personalities and great companions. Both approaching 10 years old. My first standard brown dachshund (Cocoa) lived until 17 yrs. Thanks!
Lois
Phoenix/USA
Mel says
I have a babygirl, 8 mos old she is a red w/ beautiful light hazel eyes! And I have a long haired, cream & tan colored male, he’s 18 mos and he is a handsome one! They are my lovebugs !!
Bundy says
“red w/ beautiful light hazel eyes!” – that is my favorite coloring – and always a brown nose – they seem more sensitive, but maybe that is just the ones I’ve known
Rhonda says
Hello…
This is so interesting!!
I have had 1 red/tan dachshund and 2 black & tan..
I LOVE the mini dachshund breed!
If possible, I would love to have you look at a photo of my cousins dachshund.
He is 9mos & he is so stinkin cute!
I believe he is an Isabella or Fawn color..
Would it be possible for me to email you a picture of him, just to see what you think?? I completely understand that you cannot be absolutely positive without physically seeing him..but I believe you will know just by the photo!!
Thanks so much for your time!
Rhonda
Georgia/USA