Colors

Miniature Dachshund Colors

RED – Red Dachshunds are widely known and recognized for their beautiful range of “red” coloring.  From a
deep mahogany red to a pale golden and all shades of brownish red in between, the array is truly splendid.  Red
Dachshunds may be a clear red or they may have black hairs in their coats.  Some reds have black trim around
their eyes and ears and also along their backs.  This darker trim often fades as the puppy gets older.  The reds
should have black noses and nail color and brown eyes.     

BLACK/TAN – Black and Tan Dachshunds are also widely known and recognized.  They have a shiny black
coat and have tan or reddish-brown markings on the face, chest, four feet and under the tail.  The nose pad and
nails should be black.  The eyes should be a dark rich brown and the markings should be deep tan and even –
not pale red or indistinct.  *** Note that Black and Cream Dachshunds are the same except that their
markings are a light cream instead of a reddish-brown or tan.

BLACK –  Occasionally when black and tan Dachshunds with indistinct markings are bred over many
generations, they can produce a Dachshund that appears to be solid black.  Genetically there is no solid black
dog, however, there can be a puppy that appears to have no tan markings.  These black Dachshunds are
recognized by AKC and are highly regarded and desired by pet owners and breeders.

BLUE/TAN – Blue and Tan Dachshunds are dilutes of the Black and Tan Dachshund colors.  The Dachshund’s
main body color is a battleship grey or steel grey along with muted tan markings as a result of diluting factors.  
The eyes are usually  a grayish blue color and the nose pad and nails are a pale grey.

CHOCOLATE/CREAM – Chocolate & Cream Dachshunds are similar to Black and Cream Dachshunds –
their main body color is a rich dark chocolate to a light milky chocolate and their points are a lovely cream color.
Chocolate and Cream Dachshunds often have brown or hazel eyes and a liver-colored, self colored or deep dark
brown nose pad, nails and tan markings.  

CHOCOLATE/TAN – Chocolate & Tan Dachshunds are similar to Black and Tan Dachshunds but their main
body color is a rich dark chocolate to a light milky chocolate.  Chocolate and Tan Dachshunds often have brown
or hazel eyes and a liver-colored, self colored or deep dark brown nose pad, nails and tan markings.  

CHOCOLATE – Occasionally when Chocolate and Tan Dachshunds with indistinct markings are bred over
many generations, they can produce a Dachshund that appears to be solid chocolate.  A solid chocolate would
appear to have no tan markings.  These chocolate Dachshunds are recognized by AKC and are highly regarded
and desired by pet owners and breeders.

CREAM – Cream colored Dachshunds do not have any red or tones of red in their coat color. They often appear
almost off white to greyish white at birth.  They are a natural buff color with dark brown eyes, and a black nose
and nail color or self colored.  They may also have some black hairs in their coats – around the eyes, ears and
along the back.  This black often diminishes as the puppy gets older. True Creams trace their lineage to
England.

AMERICAN CREAM – American Cream colored Dachshunds often appear white to pale blond at birth and
can come in smooth or long hair.  As they get older, they often appear to be a strawberry blond or beige tone.  
They normally have dark brown eyes and a black nose and nail color.  However, just as you can have a red dilute
resulting in a liver colored nose, you can have a diluted American Cream with a pale nose. This is the result of
breeding an American Cream to a chocolate and tan or other dilute color.

ISABELLA & TAN – Isabella and Tan Dachshunds, often described as Fawn colored with tan markings are
another form of dilute color.  Isabella and Tan is a dilution of Chocolate and Tan.  The main body is a silvery fawn
(greyhound) colored and the markings are a muted tan.  The eyes are usually a light greyish green and the nose
pad and nail colors are pale liver colored.  

WILDBOAR – Wildboar Dachshunds have a light brown base coat and a black overlay.  The Wildboar color is
noted by its light color base showing through the nose area, around the eyes and also the underside of the body.
 Wildboar is most common in wire haired Dachshunds but can appear in smooths as well.

Miniature Dachshunds Patterns

BRINDLE – The Brindle pattern in Dachshunds appears like a series of stripes (like a zebra) along the base
color.  One parent must be a Brindle in order to have the pattern appear.  

DAPPLE – Dapples Dachshunds show patches or spots of lighter color mixed in with patches of the self color.  
They sometimes have white on the chest.  If the dapple pattern appears across the face, one or both eyes may
have blue speckles or may be entirely blue.  In order for Dappling to occur ina puppy, one of the parents must
show the dapple gene.

DOUBLE DAPPLE –  Double Dapples usually have larger areas of white on their bodies in addition to their
base color and patches / spots.  Eyes may be completly blue and they may have white on their heads, white nail
tips, white on their feet, white on their underside and their sides.  Breeding double dapples can be dangerous
as deafness, reduced eye size and blindness may occur.    Double Dapples are produced when two single
dapple parents are bred together.  

PIEBALD – Piebald Dachshunds show a white spotting pattern over the base color.  Piebalds should never
have blue eyes.  If they do, then they should be registered as Dapples.  They should also have no shading within
the white areas or body spots.  The amount of white varies, ranging from a white collar, white chest, underside,
tail and feet to almost pure white.

WILDBOAR – Wildboar Dachshunds have a light brown base coat and a black overlay.  The Wildboar color is
noted by its light color base showing through the nose area, around the eyes and also the underside of the body.
 Wildboar is most common in wire haired Dachshunds but can appear in smooths as well.

SABLE – True Sable Dachshunds are very difficult to describe.  Sable is seen in long haired dogs only.  The red
is so dark as to appear black.  The whole body except for the face and feet are seen with the base color of the
dog with black tips at the ends.  The face and feet are usually the base color.  Therefor a Red Sable will have red
at the base of the hair with black tips – the face and feet will be red.  One parent must show the Sable pattern to
produce a Sable Dachshund.