Last Updated on March 21, 2022 by Marco
Dachshunds come in many colors and types and we’ll examine a particularly gorgeous one here. So, Irish Cream long haired dachshund – what exactly is this unique type of dog? Is it just the Irish version of the famous English Clean Cream or is this a different coat type altogether? After all, we know that the American Cream dachshund has nothing to do with the English Cream genetically so what’s the case here?
What Is An Irish Cream Long Haired Dachshund?
The Irish Cream long-haired dachshund can be seen as a variation of English Cream dachshunds. Both are long-haired, of course, however, the coloring of the Irish Cream has one tiny difference – a white belly.
Learn more about: Cream, Wheaton, Fawn, And Blonde Long Haired Dachshunds – What’s The Difference?
It’s a very unique look that arguably makes Irish Creams even more fascinating than English Creams. This is a matter of opinion, of course – most breeders and experts hold the English Clean Cream as the gold standard for this type of coat. However, that’s mostly on a “purity” basis – English Creams have a full un-shaded cream color with no additional colors mixed in with it.
Additionally, a lot of people prefer single-color dogs aesthetically. English Creams basically look like a perfect cross between dachshunds and Golden Retrievers.
Still, one has to admire the beauty of the light cream plus white combination of the Irish Cream. Half the time the white belly won’t be noticeable when you look at the dachshund from above. And, when you see it, it tends to perfectly accent the beautiful cream color of the Irish dachshund’s back.
But What Exactly Is A “Cream Dachshund” Anyway?
A Cream dachshund, whether English, Irish, or shaded, is a dachshund that carries a dilute gene that turns the red coat color into cream. So, essentially, these are red dachshunds – one of the most common dachs color types – with a coat dilution gene on top of it that makes it extremely rare instead.
The difference between an English “Clean” cream and a Shaded Cream dachshund is whether the gene is recessive or dominant. Shaded creams have a noticeable darkening on the tips of the hairs, especially on the ears and tail. This gives them a darker cream color that’s beautiful in its own right but many experts view it as “less pure cream”.
How About Silver Dapple Irish Cream Long Haired Dachshunds?
Now, that’s a lot of seemingly unrelated words strung one after the other. How can an Irish cream dachshund be also dapple and silver? Aren’t those three different things?
Yes and no. Dapple dachshunds are dogs with the dapple or merle gene which quite simply results in having white or white-ish speckles or blotches all over the body. Dapple dachshunds are quite pretty but they are avoided as breeding two dapples leads to the infamous double dapple dachshund which has an increased risk of blindness and deafness.
That’s not a problem for silver dapple Irish cream dachshunds, however. These dogs are not double dapples. Instead, they carry both the dapple/merle and the cream gene, resulting in a cream dachshund with a white belly and the dapple spots all over its body. Additionally, because of the cream dilution gene, the dapple spots are silvery or grey instead of white, resulting in an even more unique look.
Are Irish Cream long haired Dachshund Dogs Expensive and Should You Get One?
This fascinating dachshund coat type is indeed very rare and sought after. This puts it well above the standard $400 to $1,100 price range of standard dachshunds. However, it’s still not quite as highly valued as the English Clean Cream dachshund which is sometimes priced for as much as $5,000 or more. Instead, the Irish Cream long-haired dachshund can usually be found for about $2,000 to $2,500.
Getting such a dog is fantastic, particularly as Cream dachshunds don’t have any extra health problems compared to standard dachshunds. So, as long as you can afford the hefty price tag and you’ve found a reputable breeder who offers health certificates, getting an Irish Cream long-haired dachshund is a great choice.
Read more about: Long Haired Multi-Colored Dachshund Dogs And Their Unique Beauty
FAQs
How much does a long haired cream Dachshund cost?
Standard dachshunds typically cost somewhere between $400 and $1,100, depending on the reputability of the breeder and the exact type of dachshund. Cream dachshunds are especially rare and highly valued, however, so their prices tend to be much steeper. Clean cream dachshunds, in particular, regularly come with price tags north of $2,000 or $2,500. In fact, you can even find cream dachshunds going for as much as $5,000.
Some cream dachs variants such as shaded cream or Irish cream can cost a bit less than the Clean English Cream but they too are usually priced at more than $2,000. Plus, as these dogs are rare and sought-after, finding them in shelters isn’t easy either.
Are cream dachshunds born black?
Not really. Shaded Cream dachshunds are born with a darker coat that gets lighter with age but they are never really black. And Clean Cream dachshunds are the opposite of that - they are even lighter when they are born and they get slightly darker with age.
So, no, cream dachshunds are not born black. However, newborn Shaded Cream dachshunds are pretty dark so you’d be forgiven to call them “black”.
How long do cream dachshunds live?
Cream dachshunds – whether Clean Cream, Shaded Cream, Irish Cream, or any other variation – don’t really suffer from any extra health problems compared to other dachshund coat types. So, their average life expectancy is about the same as that of any other standard dachshund – 12 to 16 years.
Of course, this is just an average. If you’ve got a puppy that’s in poor health due to bad luck or being bred in a puppy mill, then their lifespan can be lower. And, vice versa, a puppy that has no significant hereditary health problems can live well beyond the 16-year average if you give it good care, quality food, proper exercise, and routine vet visits. So, as with all other things in life, this comes down to a combination of effort and luck.
That being said, it’s smart to minimize the luck factor by being extra careful when choosing your puppy. Never ever buy dogs from puppy mills and always ask for a health certificate for your pup. Similarly, when adopting, it’s smart to ash for the health details of the pup before bringing it home.
Jordan is an animal–lover who specializes in dachshunds. He has owned and cared for dachshunds since he was a child, and his passion for these unique dogs has only grown with time. Jordan is an avid researcher and learner, and spends a large portion of his free time studying the history, behaviour, and health of dachshunds. He has a knack for training and socializing his own dogs, and loves introducing them to new experiences. When not caring for his own pets, Jordan likes to volunteer at local animal rescue shelters, helping to find homes for abandoned dachshunds. He is a true animal advocate, and dedicates his time to ensure that all animals receive the love, respect, and care they deserve.
