A double dapple dachshund has a unique appearance that differs from any other dachshund variety. The distinguished markings on its coat give the double dapple dachshund the “one of a kind” look. It does, undoubtfully, make the double dapple stand out from the rest of the dachshund family.
However, there is a controversy about the health afflictions that are common in this breed variety.
This article discusses in detail the physical appearance of the breed, as well as the genetics behind the double dapple coat pattern.
It also looks at the life expectancy and possible health problems associated with the double dapple dachshund breed.
What Is a Double Dapple Dachshund?
A double dapple dachshund is the offspring of two dapple dachshunds that have been mated together. Some people mistakenly believe the double dapple refers to the specific coat colour. In fact, it is a general name for a coat pattern that is caused by the merle gene.
The look of the double dapple markings is considered as one of the most attractive patterns in dachshunds. Therefore, the breeding of puppies with these markings still goes on. I am saying “still goes on” because the breeding of double dapple puppies is not acceptable by Kennel clubs almost anywhere in the world.
This objection comes from the fact that double dapple dachshund is prone to a range of hereditary health issues. If these dogs are mated in the future, these issues will be passed down the line with subsequent litters.
Furthermore, there is a problem with the so-called “hidden” double dapples. Some double dapples don’t present the obvious double dappling in their appearance. As a result, often some owners are unaware that their dachshund is, in fact, a double dapple. Therefore a litter of double dapple dachshund puppies may be produced unknowingly.
Genetics of dappling in dachshunds
The specific genes account for a dappling pattern in dogs. The dapple pattern is caused by the gene commonly known as merle. When two dachshunds are breed, they both add to each offspring’s gene pool.
The dapple (merle) gene is dominant over a non-dapple recessive gene. If both parents of a puppy are dappled, they both have a chance to give their dominant dapple gene to the offspring.
However, it is also possible for both parents to pass over their non-dapple genes, which results in a non-dapple puppy. You might be wondering,- how is it possible to pass over the recessive non-dapple gene instead of the dominant merle gene? The trick is that when the recessive gene from one parent meets up with the recessive gene from another parent, they win over the in the genetic pool.
In the situation when just one dachshund parent is a dapple, he may pass the dapple gene onto the offsprings, and some puppies in the liter will become single dapples.
Finally, when both dachshunds are dappled, they can both pass on the dapple gene to their offsprings. As a result, some puppies in a litter receive two copies of the dapple gene. On average, a quarter of the puppies in the litter will be double dapples.
The double dapple pattern can vary significantly in appearance, even between the puppies of the same litter.
The dapple pattern looks like a splash of colour over the base coat, which is easily recognizable. It can be more prominent or more diluted. Either way, it is usually easy to spot in a dachshund.
What Do Double Dapple Dachshunds Look Like?
Double dapple dachshunds will always have white markings, resembling a Collie type of coat. Most commonly, white colour will be present on their paws, nose and tail tip, or as a band around their neck.
Some double dapples will have blue eyes, but many will have either one or both dark eyes. If the white markings are present on the face, one or both eyes will be blue. This is because the same gene is responsible for the absence of pigment of the coat (white), and the lack of pigment of the eyes (blue).
The coat pattern type will vary significantly with the individual dog. However, it tends to take the shape of multi-colored patterning or spotting over the white patches. The double dapple pattern is more intricate than one of the single dapples, creating a kaleidoscope of colors. The double dappling will usually visually resemble two single dapple patterns overlapping on the dachshund coat.
Identifying a double dapple
Some double dapples are not easy to identify, even for breed experts. It gets even more confusing when few patterns are present at the same time, – you can have a dapple brindle piebald dachshund! It is important to remember that even one spot on a dachshund’s coat makes it a dapple.
Identifying a double dapple dachshund can also be a hard task when it comes to specific coat colors. The main concern is that cream, and red coloring can sometimes hide dappling. It means you may not be able to fully identify if your dachshund is a double dapple until red or cream color fades as they grow into an adolescent. Yet, once they do mature, it will soon become apparent.
As can be seen on the picture, red dachshund has a litter of dapple and double dapple puppies. In fact, the mother has a dapple gene, but the dappling pattern is usually hard to see on red and cream dachshunds.
You may also find double dapples that have a minimal dapple pattern, alongside some ambiguous dappling. It also gets more confusing if you discover that your dachshund has ticking, as some piebald dachshunds do. In rare cases, dachshunds can also have an auto-immune disorder such as vitiligo, which can be confused with a double dapple pattern.
You may, however, be able to instantly spot double dapple dachshund by one distinct feature, the specific look of the eyes. Sadly, quite a few of the double dapples will have problems with their eyes. Many of these issues are easy to spot.
Usually, these dogs will have malformed eyes, eyes pointing in different directions (wall eyes), or lack of skin pigment around the eye area. Likewise, one eye may look healthy, while the other will look defective. We will discuss double dachshunds eye issues in more detail further in the article.
Double Dapple Dachshund Life Expectancy
Double dapple dachshunds don’t necessarily have a shorter life span than the other dogs of dachshund family.
However, if they suffer from the genetic health problems mentioned above, it can significantly affect their lifespan. Although the complete or partial blindness or deafness isn’t itself life-threatening, it can potentially become a cause of the serious injury.
Double dapples that are generally healthy will have a life expectancy of around anything from 12 to 15 years. In rare cases, the double dapples, just as other dachshund varieties, can live as long as to 16-17 years.
The best way to help your dachshund live longer?
Watch our video to find out!
Double Dapple Dachshund Health Problems
For unclear reasons, the combination of two dapple genes in dachshunds can be lethal. Consequently, double dapple dachshund can suffer from a possible array of health problems.
You may well find that these health conditions are widely discussed among the breed specialists. This is because double dappling, as it’s often referred to, can lead to an increased risk of conformation issues, as well as various other health problems.
Conformation refers to the dachshund overall structure and appearance. In a double dapple breed, some conformations can cause missing eyes, malformed eyes or abnormally small eyes. Other conformation-relate problems comprise missing ears or deformed ears.
More significant health issues include complete blindness and deafness or partial blindness and deafness. There is also a higher risk of congenital eye defects.
It is important to say that not every double dapple dachshund will be afflicted with such problems. The rate of genetically related health issues in double dapples is 25%. Nevertheless, experts believe that the high rate of their occurrence suggest two dappled dachshunds should not be crossed with one another.
This is because the genes of such a combination are primarily responsible for so many of these afflictions. Therefore, great care can be and should be taken to avoid such health issues beforehand.
Apart from genetic problems, it’s worth highlighting the general health conditions that affect dachshund breed. They include IVDD, hypothyroidism, obesity, urinary tract infections, and cancer. If you would like to find out more, read our detailed article on Dachshund Health.
However, it’s also essential to highlight the fact that a double dapple dachshund can be born with no deformities at all.
In fact, many double dapple dachshunds have happy lives without having any genetically related health issues.
Is Breeding of Double Dapples an Acceptable Practice?
Most of the Kennel clubs in Europe do not accept double dapple dachshund as a breed standard because of the genetic health problems, associated with this variety.
However, the American Kennel Club does permit the breeding of the double dapples, referring to them as just dapples. It also states that: “Partial or wholly blue (wall) eyes are as acceptable as dark eyes. A large area of white on the chest of a dapple is permissible.”
In case you are seeking for advice on the mater of double dapple dachshunds, it’s best to get it from breed experts such as veterinarians, kennel clubs and breeders.
Most breed experts advise against anyone breeding two dapple dogs together; they also encourage potential buyers not to seek out the double dapple puppies. The ethical breeders and kennel clubs try to reduce demand for the double dapple dachshund in general, raising awareness about the potential genetic problems in double dapples.
In fact, the double dapple pattern in a dachshund is not considered acceptable by the British Kennel Club or the Dachshund Breed council. Double dapple dachshunds cannot be registered as pedigree dachshunds with the British Kennel Club as a result.
What is your query about?
What does double dapple dachshund look like?
A double dapple dachshund is built like any dachshund; the difference in appearance comes from their coat pattern. Double dapple dachshunds have white markings along with the darker splashes of colour. Double dapples will also often have blue eyes, sometimes malformed as a result of the genetic health problems. Usually, the colour pattern is similar to what you would see in a beagle or border collie.
Is a double dapple dachshund rare?
Yes, the double dapple coat pattern is considered rare. However, it is not encouraged for breeding due to double dachshunds’ hereditary health issues.
What is a double dapple dachshund life expectancy?
The average life expectancy of a double dapple dachshund is 12-16 years. Sadly, double dapples often have health issues caused by genetic factors. These issues are not usually life-threatening, but can severely reduce the quality of life.
How to tell it is a double dapple dachshund?
Double dapple dachshunds will always have white markings. If the puppy you are looking at doesn’t have white markings, it is not double dapple. As well as that, they will have multi-coloured spots on their coat. Double dapple will also often have one or both blue eyes. It might also have malformed eyes or ears as a result of hereditary health issues.
How to spot a double dapple dachshund?
Double dapple dachshunds are easy to spot thanks to their white markings and unusual blue eye colour.
Comments
Hello, I have a 4yr old male double dapple. He has one blue eye & the other half blue. Left side of face & left top of ear are white. Sight and hearing are great and no health issues. I am getting his wife in couple weeks, she is solid cream. Her mother is brown & father is cream. I would like to breed them if genetic test come back favorable. If the female doesn’t carry the M gene, is it correct to assume their litter will be healthy? Also, what color combinations are possible? Additional advice welcomed. I can email pictures if it helps.
Thank you.
Hi Kimberly, please do the test to identify, if the cream dachshund does not have a dapple gene, as in reds and creams it can sometimes hide ( not be visible). Your male doxie is by description most likely a double dapple ( they don’t necessarily all have health issues). You can breed him with a non-dapple dachshund, and receive a mixed litter of solids and single dapples.
Could u tell me if this is a pied or a double dapple please
Hello Maria, I have a friend that gave me a beautiful (sausage puppy LOL) dachshund, for my 47th birthday. (Kochi) short for Precocious, she will be 8yrs old March 2023. She is a bouble dapple, piebald, long hair, miniature dachshund with blue eyes, was born with one eye and ear smaller than the other. And she is so smart and very loving, sorry for bragging. My concern is around the 1st of December I noticed her little eye (left) was changing, went from blue to dark brown, she has always been visually impaired but not blind, I had her fixed because of her issues when she was around 5mo. Old. My friends that gave her to me are not happy with me over it! I thought it was best not to pass the genes on? Back to my question about her eye changing color? I have been doing so much research on this my eyes are about to bleed! Your article/advice column? Had a lot of convincing information on the breed, can you please help me with this?
Dear John,
I wouldn’t worry too much about an eye colour change – some puppies wit blue eyes change to their real colour, mostly brown, when they are a bit older. (around 14-16 weeks old)
It’s always a good idea to fix the dog if you have no plans to breed them. ( it even reduces the risks of certain types of cancer)
Genetically, both dogs should contribute a dapple gene to have double dapple puppies. The risk comes when breeding two dogs with a dapple gene together.
I just found out my new dapple dachshunds mother was a double dapple. It was not disclosed before I bought him. His father is a black and tan without dapple. Is it possible for him to be a double dapple as well? Can he have health problems as well because his mother was a double dapple? Also is it safe to breed him if he only carries 1 dapple gene with a non dapple? Thank you so much!
Hi Dawn, you do usually get double dapple puppies when you breed a dapple with a dapple, so every parent gives a copy of this gene.
So your dachshund got one copy of this gene from his mother and is a dapple. You can breed him with any solid (non-patterned) coloured dachshund.
I have two white only ears ate spotted one yr apart same parents. They have one blue eye one has two blue eyes. One of them had a bad eye at birth the mother would feed them got one at a week old. The oldest one has lost one eye it just grew up ,all there teeth are gone the are 16 and 17 the one 17 is very sick but can’t put her down she blind and can’t here
Hi there…. I never knew double dapple was a thing. I came across a breeder on AKC marketplace with a beautiful mini dachshund puppy. I questioned the breeder to where I felt comfortable to place a deposit. I never knew blue eyes could be a major defect in dachshunds, I was naive. The puppy’s face has tan eyebrows, grayish black colors with a small strip of white behind her nose, and a strip of white on top of her head. The ears are grayish black with hints of white in it. She has one blue eye(left) and one brown eye(right). Body has large patches of the gray/back color on top of a white coat with intermixed colors of what looks like tan colors and the gray intermixed with the white coat. Her nose is black. The sire is a dapple similar to her coloring, the dam is a black and tan. Her littermates are all Black and tan, with tiny white patches and some dapple spots.
I was not knowledgeable about dachshund double dapples due to only owning one dachshund previously who was a solid red. Now I am panicking that this puppy may be a double dapple. This puppy will be ready in two weeks and I am looking for advice. Thank you.
Hi Catie, I cannot say for sure without the photos, but if the sire is dapple and the dam is solid black and tan, I am confident that the puppies in the litter are either solid black and tan, either (single) dapple.
Hi,
We have just put a deposit on a double dapple, and have since been reading all the negative articles about them. We too had never heard of this type of dachshund- only dapple.
Can I ask if you went ahead and if so how is she doing?
Ours are white with dapple ears they have not been healthy at all get you money back and hunt else where
Hi thank you for reading….I have reserved a beautiful import dog ( to the uk ) from a very renowned European show kennels… she is silver tan dapple . She has one blue eye and a tiny white toe and her blue eye appears large in some pictures … parents daddy is chocolate tan dapple and mummy chocolate tan … parents are said to carry black .. she has a very black nose .. is this possible? Thank you in advance
Hi Dawn, I cannot say for sure without pictures. I believe it’s just a dapple, dapples also have sometimes blue eyes.
If the Dam is solid chocolate and tan, then it’s a dapple dachshund.
Double dapples usually have large areas of white over the body.
Hello, I’m looking to buy a teckel puppy, she has blue eyes and half her face is white. She also has white paws and white tip of the tail. Is this a double dapple? The breeder says the mother is merle and the father is black tan. They both have brown eyes. Is it possible for them to get puppies like this, with a lot of white marks and blue eyes?
Hi Emmy, have you actually seen the parents of the puppy? It is quite a strange combination considering one of the parents is a solid black&tan dachshund. The puppy definitely has mixed patterns present; either he is a double dapple or dapple piebald.
Hi Maria,
I have put a deposit on a black and tan long haired dachshund pup whose parents are a black and tan long haired piebald female and a black and tan AKC registered dapple male. After doing my research, I am now anxious about wether or not this puppy will have more health issues. He may not only have the two genes from the parents but also be a double dapple as well. Your advise would be appreciated. Thank you
Hi Anita, if the pup has a black&tan coat colour, and brown eyes, you have nothing to worry about.
Hello I am getting a puppy in 3 weeks and the mum is a brown dapple and the dad is a blue dapple with grey eyes. The puppy is blue dapple with no white markings but has blue eyes is she a double dapple there is a few of the litter that have white on but she and 1 other in the litter hasn’t. Should the blue eyes worry me or just passed from the dad they look nice wide and fully developed.
Thank for any advice
Hello. I’m adopting a puppy I fell in love with when I visited. Upon further research, I’m starting to think he’s a double dapple. I had no idea about this before the research. He’s a very light colors of tan, brown, grays. He white on the neck, chest, front legs, between the eyes, and a pink nose. The mom is a dapple. The dad is a “dapple piebald” labeled on the cite, but the breeder told me he was a piebald.
She said the combination of his pattern was from the piebald and dapple.
I haven’t seen another pup like him after hours of searching…
What do you think??
Hi Savannah, can be a dapple piebald, or can be double dapple (if the dad is a dapple piebald), in theory both combinations are possible here. Pink nose might be a sign of a double dapple ( the area affected by the merle gene twice and as a result the absence of a pigment). My advice would be to take a few photos of the puppy (eyes and ears area are important), and show them to the K/C or breed council of your residence.
Can you have a litter where a couple of the puppies are double dapple and the others are just dapple? There is one that we are considering buying but it has two siblings (6 total pups) that are “double” the breeder was completely shocked and said that there must have been some gene way back in the bloodline of the father that was dapple. This was a first and she advised us not to consider the doubles and that she was going to make sure they were okay before selling. She said the others should be fine. But I don’t have the first clue about this and was curious. I’ve searched the internet and cannot find any answers.
Hi, Shirin, the answer is, yes, – when this accidental breeding happens, only some of the puppies will be double dapples. On average, around a quarter of the litter will be double dapples, although it all depends on what genes will be passed on, in some litters you might not notice any double dapples at all, in some – more than a quarter. I explain more about genetics of dappling in dachshunds in my article about double dapple dachshunds
Thank you so much! You’ve helped put my mind at ease. I will definitely read your article!
Thank you for your kind feedback!
I have been reading on dapple. My male is dapple…. my female is cream ….both her parents are cream. Her grand parents are cream . BUT 1 GREAT grand parent is a cream dapple. Is it safe to mate them. Do I need to find another male.
Hi
Our puppy is a silver dapple, he has tan on him too. Je has a small patch of white on his chest, his two back paws have a little bit of white on them and the very tip of his tail is white.
His Mom was a black and tan dapple and his Dad was an Isabella.
Is he a double dapple?
Hi Joanne, sounds like just a dapple. Double dapples have this distinguished look with more areas of white on them.
Hi there,
My dachshund is a red and her mum was a dapple. Can I breed her with a chocolate dapple?
Many thanks.
Brett
Hi Brett, the dapple pattern is often hidden in red dachshunds, so it might be a hidden dapple. There are genetic tests to determine if the dapple gene is present in your dog, or, alternatively, you can breed your dachshund with a non-dapple.
I’m looking at buying a pup but their eyes are not open yet! The mom parents are one dapple and one piebald- the baby is dapple but has white paws and white chest and very small white on the tip- does that mean it is a double dapple?
Hi Kelsey, the puppy is most likely Dapple Piebald, which is a mixed pattern. It received one copy of the recessive Sp gene from both parents (Piebald pattern) plus one copy of a dominant merle gene from a dapple parent. Breeding of mixed patterns is not encouraged by kennel clubs because it creates confusion. However, the dapple piebald puppy will not have hereditary health problems associated with the double dapples.
N.B. Make sure the breeder knows well the pedigree of both dogs. Sometimes, the dapple pattern can be hidden, especially in Reds, and Red and White Piebald dachshund can also be a hidden Dapple. The Piebald parent must not be a hidden dapple to have healthy puppies in this case.
I think my sweet baby is a double dapple. Can I breed her as long as I make sure there is no dapple gene in the stud
Hi Megan, a double merle can only be bred from two merles, as it requires an M gene from each parent. So, if the other dog doesn’t have the M gene (and you are sure about it because the merle can be hidden very well, especially in red and sable dachshunds), in theory, there will be no double dapples in the litter. However, I cannot advise you on breeding from a double dapple, as it is not an acceptable standard by AKC and other Kennel Clubs, and therefore might be strongly discouraged for breeding. Please, contact the Kennel Club in your country for a piece of advice regarding breeding standards.
Hello I am getting a puppy in 3 weeks and the mum is a brown dapple and the dad is a blue dapple with grey eyes. The puppy is blue dapple with no white markings but has blue eyes is she a double dapple there is a few of the litter that have white on but she and 1 other in the litter hasn’t. Should the blue eyes worry me or just passed from the dad they look nice wide and fully developed.
Thank for any advice
Hi Claire,
I think I have replied you via e-mail, but I will answer again here for the subscribers who might be interested in the same topic.
It is unfortunate that breeding between two dapples still happens; it is
not an acceptable breeding practice, and the breeder should be aware of
this.
However, not all puppies in such litter will be double dapples; some
puppies will be just dapples (they have different looking colouring from double dapples with no white
spots of colour present).
Even then, the problems with hearing/ vision in double dapples only
occur when white patches of colour cover the ear/eyes areas (the dapple
gene hits the area twice).
Dapples can sometimes have blue eyes, there is no genetic problems with vision/hearing in dapples.
I am a little anxious also. I just bred my dapple to another different colored dapple. I’m very worried about the puppies. I thought it would be ok since I have had a litter from both dapple parents and all the puppies came out fine. I kept one and unfortunately her mother passed away and it was hard on me. I bred to another dapple hoping to get my beloved dog Bug back and keep her lineage.
I wish I could post pictures but any advice as long as well intended will be taken. Or if you would like to email me I could show you pictures and we could discuss the threat……..
Also non of the puppies in my previous dogs litter had blue or strange eyes. Nor did the grandparents. And the dapple I bred to has no pigmentation problems…….
Help me ease my mind?
Hi Zachary, consciously breeding two dapples is not an acceptable practice, as it involves the risk of genetic deformities and some of the puppies being born blind or deaf. Please, do not breed two dapples together again. If you want to have dapple puppies, as a safe practice, you must breed a dapple with a non-dapple dog.
My new baby is dapple with a white chest and one blue eye with just one tiny strip of blue in the other .
I didn’t do my homework just fell in love with his picture .
I’m not breeding him he will be fixed but I am concerned about his health .
Hi Cheryl, only double dapples are affected by the health problems, mentioned in the article, and not all of them. With the single dapples, there is no need to be concerned.