The Different Colors of the Dachshund!

 Dachshund bags >

Dachshund Colors: everything you need to know!

Are you planning to welcome a sausage dog into your home, but are a bit confused about dachshund colors? In order to find the dog that suits you, you must first know all the specifics related to the colors of this very particular and affectionate breed.

Also known as a "Doxie", the dachshund is a pet much appreciated for its tender and endearing character, but also for its unique physical appearance. 🥰

This hunting dog comes in three distinct sizes: Kaninchen, miniature, and standard.

The coat of this little ball of fur can be smooth, long, or wire-haired.

While dachshund colors feature a significant number of variations, some are not compatible with each other or with different hair types.

To avoid getting mixed up for your future adoption, we detail here the nuances between each coat.

Long-haired or smooth-haired dachshund coats

Initially, dachshunds were long-haired. Long-haired and short-haired dogs are genetically very close, unlike wire-haired dachshunds.

These dogs are therefore either single-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/red color comes from crosses with dogs of the Bavarian Mountain Hound or Hanoverian Scent Hound type.

Dachshund colors are numerous and varied. For long-haired and smooth-haired dachshunds, there are two basic coats:

- Long-haired Red (Fawn):

- Smooth-haired Black and Tan:

The red (fawn) coat can encompass different shades, and even different tints. Due to loose terminology, the term "brown" is sometimes used, even though it is not a characteristic color for this species. To identify a red dachshund, be sure to observe the color of its nose and claws. They will be black in a true dachshund. If that is not the case, it is called a "diluted red."

👉 A staple of the dachshund, this black and tan coat is directly associated with the breed. The tan markings are present on the paws, chest, muzzle, and sometimes on the eyebrows. If the dachshund appears completely black to you, it is actually a black and tan that has lost its coloration. Indeed, an entirely black color does not exist in these little four-legged animals.

Other variations are possible, such as chocolate and tan, chocolate and cream, blue and tan (here, the dachshund is blue-grey, 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 some lighter markings on different parts of the body.

Just remember that the color refers to the main tint of the coat.

There will always be only one main solid color, even if a marking can be superimposed on it. These spots can give the impression that the dog has two, three, or even more colors, which allows for a multitude of possible variants. The hair type has no direct relationship with the color or marking.

Wire-haired dachshund colors

Unlike the long-haired and smooth-haired varieties, a third dominant color (wild boar) exists in wire-haired dachshunds.

- Wire-haired Red (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, which unfold in a gradient of grey, red, and black.

Particularly sought after in wire-haired dachshunds, the wild boar coat is the result of a delicate balance between black, grey, and brown.

The wire-haired wild boar can have different shades, from very dark (which can look like black/tan) to very light wild boar, where the black color is almost absent.

Below, a light grey wire-haired wild boar dachshund:

It also happens that the dog has a red mask, especially in very light wild boar coats.

The three modifier genes in the dachshund

To the three basic dachshund coats, we must add modifier genes. These genes can be combined with all the basic colors of the dachshund.

Chocolate Dachshund

The chocolate gene is a recessive gene, which will transform black pigment into brown pigment. It is not a color in its own right, but only the effect of the modifier gene. It can combine with any base color and therefore be part of the offspring's genetic makeup.

The "fawn" coat type 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, which will reduce pigment on certain areas of the coat. It is characterized by variegated spots, more or less extensive or splashed.

In the dachshund, the dapple coat refers to greying areas scattered throughout a black or brown coat. These spots have an original and distinctive appearance, which greatly contributes to their popularity. It is also possible that the spots will fade with age. As soon as a single spot appears, it is considered dapple.

Beware, it is strictly forbidden to breed two dapple dachshunds! This crossbreeding causes many cases of blindness and deafness in puppies. They also have an increased risk of developing serious cancers. Their coat and their look have melted many hearts, but some unscrupulous breeders, out of greed, do not hesitate to hide these pairings (this is known as "double dapple"). So, be careful during your visits.

Brindle Dachshund

The brindle gene is also a dominant gene, which produces black stripes on a red base coat. Grey or beige spots of irregular shape may also appear. Just like the chocolate gene, it can combine with any other color.

The brindle coat has the same origins as the red coat, through crosses with hunting dogs. Whether it is brindle or variegated dapple, the dachshund's base coat always comes from a dark, black, red, or grey tint. Brindling does not appear on a black marking and can only be visible on tan areas.

Dachshund colors not recognized by the Federation

In France, some dachshund colors are not admitted or eligible for confirmation. This has been the case since 2010 for the smooth-haired wild boar and the chocolate wild boar, both from wire-haired parents.

Cream coats (photo below), regardless of their length, are currently not accepted during confirmations. Their eyes are systematically dark brown, rimmed with black, accompanied by a black nose.

If the nose is brown, then it must be a diluted red dachshund, not a true cream-colored dog.

The piebald dachshund (photo below), increasingly common, has white patches that spread 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 sport three colors, it is not considered tricolor. It is indeed bi-colored, with piebald marking, which is currently not recognized.

Solid black and chocolate coats, speckles, or blue or blue roan dilutions are not recognized by the standards of the Centrale Canine either.

Final thought

As you will have understood: the mixtures of coats and markings are numerous, and it is difficult to make a choice among the array of colors and variations available in this little dog.

Listen to your heart, but remain vigilant during your discussions 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 full article on all the essential things to know before getting a dachshund and feel free to share your favorite colors with us in the comments. 🤗

The Teckelshop Team 💚 - last updated on 07/13/26

Want to get to know your dachshund better?
Receive our free practical guide to better understand and protect your dachshund.

Receive the guide