Dachshund Genetics 101…let’s talk about the dapple gene. This can be a difficult one, so ask questions if you need clarification!
Dapple is the gene in dachshunds that causes the washed-out spots of lighter coat color. It is the same gene as what other breeds call “merle”. Dapples can come in ANY color and ANY coat type. Dapple can also be visually “hidden” by other genes present in the dachshund genome.
Dapple is a dominant pattern. A dachshund need only have one copy of the dominant gene to show the dapple pattern. One parent must be dapple in order to produce dapple puppies.
Dachshunds produced from two dapple parents can inherit two copies (one from sire, one from dam) of the dominant dapple gene with sometimes disastrous results. “Double dapple” dachshunds can have deafness, impaired sight, blindness, malformed or missing eyes, and a whole host of internal health issues that are not apparent just looking at the puppies.
Think of double dapples like this… A single copy of the dominant dapple gene is like splashing bleach on your favorite pair of blue jeans. Wherever the bleach lands, the color partially washes out of the material. Now, what happens when you splash that same pair of blue jeans with bleach a second time (the second dominant dapple gene)? Some of the bleach will land where the fabric is already partially washed out. These areas that get hit twice are going to turn white. And in the case of double dapple puppies, if this “double splash” happens on a puppy’s ear or eye, this is why deaf or blind or malformed puppies result.
Double dapples can be beautiful and incredibly visually striking with large flashy white patches interspersed with the dapple pattern, but the risks to their health linked with doubling up on the dominant gene are NOT WORTH IT. If there is one thing that I, personally, will not excuse from a dachshund breeder, it is *intentionally* breeding two dapple dachshunds together. It is NOT ethical to *purposefully* breed puppies with health problems just because of their appearance. This said, because dapple can be “hidden”, even ethical breeders could possibly produce double dapple puppies on accident. These “oops” puppies are every bit as deserving of wonderful homes, but families should be prepared for the possibilities of disabilities, of higher veterinary bills, and of shorter lifespans.
The Punnett square shows possible offspring of one dapple parent (Mm) and one solid (non-dapple) parent (mm). You can see each offspring has a 50:50 chance of being dapple vs. non-dapple.