Dachshund Genetics 101…Let’s talk about blue and isabella dachshunds!

I’ve been getting lots and lots of questions and inquiries lately about blue dachshunds. Blue seems to be the “new” fad in dachshund ownership. So, let’s look at what genetically makes a dachshund blue.

How it works…

Because dilute is recessive, a dachshund must inherit a recessive copy of the dilute gene from each of its parents in order to be dilute. Blue is the dilute of black and isabella is the dilute of chocolate. The dilute genes modify the black or chocolate coat color but have no affect on the tan points. So genetically, a black & tan dachshund with two copies of the recessive dilute genes (dd) will be blue & tan and a chocolate & tan dachshund with two copies of the recessive dilute genes (dd) will be isabella & tan.

There is, however, a downside to the dilute colors in dachshunds. Color Dilution Alopecia (CDA) is a skin condition that is genetically linked to the recessive dilute genes in dachshunds. There is no test that can tell you if a dachshund has CDA before the symptoms appear and many times the effects of the disease do not appear until a dachshund is 2 years old or older. This means that a breeder has NO reliable way to guarantee that any dilute puppy they produce won’t be affected.

The affects of CDA can range from thinning hair, to sensitive skin, to extreme susceptibility to secondary skin infection, to almost complete hair loss. Affects can be mild or severe. There is NO CURE for CDA and treatment is mostly a managing of symptoms instead of an improvement in the condition.

*Not my image* Photo only to show examples of the isabella & tan (left) and blue & tan (right) coat colors in dachshunds.