Dachshunds come in a lot of varieties in terms of size, coat, color, and more. They have a few rarer genetic variations too such as the dapple dachshund. This is a rather notorious type of Doxie which often brings up the question of are dapple dachshunds rare and why?
These white-spotted Doxies have a mixed reputation in terms of health and the morality of their breeding. But is this mixed reputation warranted? Should you want such a pet? Let’s discuss.
Are Dapple Dachshunds Rare?
Yes, but not that rare. If you want to get a dapple dachshund you can, you just might have to look a bit more to find one. Additionally, when you find a dapple dachshund you should make sure that it’s an actual dapple and not a piebald or a double dapple dachshund.
But what exactly are all these types of dachshunds and what’s the difference between them?
What Is A Dapple Dachshund?
A dapple dachshund is a Doxie with white spots on its coat. This coat variation is caused by the dominant “M” dapple gene also known as the merle gene. This gene variation is relatively harmless on its own and doesn’t cause the dog any health problems. It can lead to one problem, however, and that’s the breeding of double dapple dachshunds – Doxies with two dapple dachshund parents.
What Is A Double Dapple Dachshund?
We’ve talked about double dapple dachshunds before but the gist of it is that you should avoid adopting, buying, or purchasing double dapple Doxies. These dogs with two dapple parents have even more white spots on their coats – up to and above 80%. More importantly, unlike their single dapple parents, double dapples can have some very nasty health problems such as congenital deafness and blindness.
Are Double Dapple Dachshunds Rare?
Because of their health problems, double dapples are significantly rarer than single dapple dachshunds or many other Doxie varieties. Breeding double dapples are strongly frowned upon, whether intentionally or accidentally.
Still, because the dapple gene is dominant and accidental breeding happens, double dapple dachshunds still exist. Furthermore, the breeding of single dapple dachshunds isn’t that frowned upon as they themselves don’t have any extra health problems.
Are Double Dapples Why Single Dapples Are Rare?
Pretty much. The dapple gene itself is dominant which means that – if breeding is left unsupervised – dapple dachshunds will become a dominant dachshund sub-breed. However, because breeders and kennel clubs are wary of the accidental breeding of two dapple dachshunds into a double dapple, many are hesitant to breed single dapples.
So, dapple dachshunds are somewhat rare. Still, they are not impossible to find, you’ll just need a bit more time and patience. You can find breeders that breed them intentionally which is fine as long as they make sure not to breed two dapples together. You can find breeders who’ve accidentally gotten a dapple dachshund and look to sell it as they don’t want to breed it. Or, you can occasionally find dapples in shelters and rescues too.
Wherever you decide to look for a dapple dachshund, just make sure to test it to make sure that you know if it’s a double dachshund. We’re not saying that you shouldn’t adopt such a dog – pets with health problems deserve homes too. But, you do need to know what you’re getting.
What Are The Standard Dapple Dachshund Colors and How To Distinguish These Dogs From Other Dachshunds?
A dapple dachshund will have the standard colors typical for dachshunds – black, brown, tan, red, cream, chocolate, blue, or a combination of most of those. However, as a dapple, such a dachshund will also have white spots over parts of its body. These spots won’t cover quite as large parts of the body as with double dapple dachshunds (potentially over 80%) but they will vary between a couple of spots and up to ~50% of the dog’s coat.
As for distinguishing between a dapple and a piebald dachshund, the latter will have smaller and more numerous white spots while the white of dapple Doxies is more solid and consistent. Besides, piebald dachshunds are healthy too so getting one certainly isn’t a bad thing.
How Much Do Dapple Dachshunds Cost?
A healthy and purebred single dapple dachshund bought from a reputable breeder in the US will cost anywhere between $400 and $1,500. Prices at pet stores and puppy mills will be significantly lower but we’d strongly discourage you from shopping at such places if you want a healthy dog.
Especially with the risk of being given a double dapple dachshund, you should definitely make sure you’re working with adequate breeders. Puppy mills are one of the big reasons double dapple dachshunds and other dogs with hereditary health problems continue to exist.
Are There Long Hair Dapple Dachshund Dogs?
There certainly are, dapple dachshunds can come in all coat variations. You’ll more often see them as smooth/short-coated Doxies simple because those dachshunds are more common in general.
Do Dapple Dachshunds Have Any Major Health Risks Compared To Non-dapple Dachshunds?
A full-grown dapple dachshund shouldn’t have any extra health risks compared to a “normal” dachshund. They will still have all the standard Doxie health risks such as Intervertebral Disc Disease (IVDD), Hypothyroidism, Eye disorders, and others, but nothing extra. If a dachshund is indeed a single dapple and not a double dapple, they should have no increased risks of congenital deafness or blindness.
So, Are Dapple Dachshunds Rare and Should You Want One For Yourself?
All in all, there’s nothing intrinsically wrong in owning or wanting to own or even breed a dapple dachshund. These dogs are a bit rarer than other types of dachshunds but they are not impossible to find.
The only reason they are rarer is that people are afraid of the accidental breeding of double dapple dachshunds from two dapples. Aside from that, dapple dachshunds are perfectly fine dogs who are as healthy as “normal” dachshunds. If you do decide to get such a Doxie just test it to make sure it’s not a double dapple dachshund. If not, there should be nothing stopping you from adopting/buying the dog. The only other consideration is to not breed your dapple with another dapple – either neuter/spay your dog or make sure to test all future mates.
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