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Dachshund Colors: Everything You Need to Know!
Are you planning to welcome a sausage dog into your home, but feeling a bit lost regarding Dachshund colors? To find the perfect dog for you, you first need to understand all the specifics related to the colors of this unique and affectionate breed.
Also known as a “Doxie,” the Dachshund is a beloved companion known for its tender and endearing personality, as well as its distinctive physical appearance. 🥰
This hunting dog comes in three distinct sizes: Kaninchen, miniature, and standard.
The coat of this furry friend can be smooth, long, or wire-haired.
While Dachshund colors offer a wide range of variations, some are not compatible with each other or with different coat types.
To ensure you don’t get confused during your future adoption, we detail the nuances of each coat here.
Coats of long-haired or smooth-haired Dachshunds
Initially, Dachshunds were long-haired. Long-haired and smooth-haired dogs are genetically very close, unlike wire-haired Dachshunds.
These dogs are either solid-colored (red: from darkest to lightest) or bi-colored (black and tan, brown and tan). The black and tan Dachshund coat is the original color of the breed. The fawn color comes from crosses with Bavarian Mountain Scent Hounds or Hanoverian Scent Hounds, as seen on Bavarian Mountain Scent Hound or Hanoverian Scent Hound.
Dachshund colors are numerous and varied. For long-haired and smooth-haired Dachshunds, there are two base coats:
– Long-haired Fawn:
– Smooth-haired Black and Tan:
The fawn coat can include different shades and even different tints. Colloquially, the term “brown” is sometimes used, even though it is not a characteristic color for this species. To identify a fawn Dachshund, be sure to observe the color of its nose and claws. They will be black on a true Dachshund. If they are not, it is referred to as “diluted fawn.”
👉 A staple of the breed, we directly associate this black and tan coat with the Dachshund. The tan markings are present on the paws, chest, muzzle, and sometimes on the eyebrows. If the Dachshund looks completely black, it is actually a black and tan that has lost its coloration. In fact, a solid black color does not exist in these four-legged friends.
Other variations are possible, such as chocolate and tan, chocolate and cream, or blue and tan (here, the Dachshund is blue-gray, without any spots; the tan is also diluted). There are also black and cream coats. In this case, it is a variation of the black and tan shade, with lighter markings on different parts of the body.
Simply remember that the color refers to the main shade of the coat.
There will always be only one solid main color, even if a marking is superimposed on it. These spots can make it seem like the dog has two, three, or more colors, resulting in a multitude of possible variants. The coat type has no direct relationship with the color or marking.
Colors of wire-haired Dachshunds
Unlike long-haired and smooth-haired, a third dominant color (wild boar) exists in wire-haired dogs.
– Wire-haired Fawn:
– Wire-haired Black and Tan:
– Wire-haired Wild Boar:
The coat of wire-haired Dachshunds is traditionally “wild boar” colored. In this case, each hair has several colors, creating a gradient of gray, fawn, and black.
Particularly sought after in wire-haired Dachshunds, the wild boar coat is the result of a clever balance between black, gray, and brown.
The wire-haired wild boar can present different nuances, from very dark (which can resemble black/tan) to very light wild boar, where the black color is almost absent.
Below, a light gray wire-haired wild boar Dachshund:
It also happens that the dog has a fawn mask, especially in very light wild boars.
The three modifying genes in the Dachshund
In addition to the three base coats of the Dachshund, there are modifying genes. These genes can combine with all base colors of the dachshund.
Chocolate Dachshund
The chocolate gene is a recessive gene that transforms black pigment into brown pigment. It is not a color in its own right, but only the effect of the modifying gene. It can combine with any base color and thus be part of the genetic heritage of the offspring.
The “fawn” type coat is a dilution of chocolate. The Dachshund will then have a very light chocolate appearance, while its paws, nose, and chest will be cream-colored.
Dapple or Merle Dachshund
These puppies come from a solid-colored Dachshund mated with a bi-colored Dachshund. The dapple (or merle; “tiger” in German) gene is a dominant gene that reduces pigment in certain color areas. It is characterized by variegated spots, more or less extended or splashed.
In the Dachshund, the dapple coat refers to gray areas scattered throughout a black or brown coat. These spots have an original and distinctive look, which contributes greatly to their popularity. It is also possible for the spots to fade with age. As soon as a single spot appears, it is considered dapple.
Warning: it is strictly forbidden to breed two dapple Dachshunds! This cross causes numerous cases of blindness and deafness in puppies. They also have an increased risk of developing serious cancers. Their coat and eyes have melted many hearts, but some unscrupulous breeders, driven by greed, do not hesitate to hide these matings (this is called “double dapple”). Be cautious during your visits.
Brindle Dachshund
The brindle gene is also a dominant gene that produces black stripes on a fawn background. Irregular gray or beige spots can also appear. Just like the chocolate gene, it can combine with any other color.
The brindle coat has the same origins as the fawn coat, due to crosses with hunting dogs. Whether it is brindle or dapple, the background of the Dachshund’s coat always comes from a dark, black, red, or gray shade. The stripes do not appear on black markings and can only be visible on the tan areas.
Dachshund colors not recognized by the Federation
In France, some Dachshund colors are not accepted or eligible for confirmation. This has been the case since 2010 for the smooth-haired wild boar and chocolate wild boar, both coming from wire-haired parents.
Cream-colored coats (photo below), regardless of their length, are not currently accepted during confirmations. Their eyes are systematically dark brown, rimmed with black, accompanied by a black nose.
If the nose is brown, it must be a diluted fawn Dachshund, not a true cream-colored dog.
The piebald Dachshund (photo below), which is becoming increasingly common, has white patches that extend over the dog, in addition to its base color.
Unlike dapple dogs, piebald spots have no possible color variation. They are and will remain white. Even if the animal seems to have three colors, it is not considered tricolor. It is bi-colored, with piebald marking, which is currently not recognized.
Solid black and chocolate coats, speckles, or blue or blue roan dilution coats are also not recognized by the standards of the Centrale Canine.
Final Thoughts
As you can see: the mixtures of coats and markings are numerous, and it is difficult to make a choice among the array of colors and variations available for this little dog.
Follow your heart, but remain vigilant during your interactions with professional breeders. It is always essential to verify the authenticity, sincerity, and professionalism of the kennels you visit.
Before making your choice and committing, don’t forget to check out our complete article on all the essential things to know before a Dachshund arrives, and feel free to share your favorite colors in the comments. 🤗
The DoxieLife team
💚 – last modified 07/13/26
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