Hi karla. This is not necessarily true. A white Dahchsund with rounded sploteches of color is a piebald. Double dapples also have a lot of white on them but the colored patches are more jagged without rounded edges. If the pattern on the head when looking from the front is not symetrical, that is also a likely indicator of a double dapple. Double dapples often have one or two blue eyes that look strange or misshapen too. There are no health issues with piebalds though and it’s an accepted pattern listed in the AKC breed standard.

A white dachshund is a double dapple.

Hi Linda. It sounds like you took excellent care of Dubbie and I’m glad to hear he lived a long, good life. The cost of Dacshund puppies has definitely increased since the pandemic here in the US. I’ve heard that it’s similar in other countries too. I will say that finding a purebred Dachshund at a rescue is a challenge but it can be done. Also, it’s easier if you’re ok with a mix like a chiweenie (Chihuahua-Dachshund). Besides lower cost, an advantage of getting an older dog from a rescue or shelter is that you know what size they will ultimately grow too. You didn’t say if you live in the US but here a “rabbit” Dachshund does not formally exist. It’s not a weight/size classification recognized in the US. A Dachshund is either a mini (11 lbs or under full grown) or a standard. Furthermore, there is no way for a breeder to guaruntee what size a puppy will be full grown since minis can product standards and visa versa. If you want a smaller Dachshund puppy from a breeder, your best chance is to contact sevearl breeders of miniature Dachshunds and try to find one that says their Dachshund parents, and puppies, are on the smaller side. Good luck!

We had 4 miniature dachshunds over the years. 3 were rescues. All lived to 15-16 yrs.

Thanks for reading. I’m glad my article cleared things up for you.

Your never too old to get a new dog, there are so many options when you adopt a shelter dog and besides caring for a dog keeps you young and motivated to move, go for walks and cuddling is therapeutic. Your never too old to love again.

Hi Collene. I’m not sure what you mean by “designer Doxies”. Do you mean specific Dachshund mixes like the Chiweenie? I run a large Dachshund club and we allow Dachshund mixes to join. I can see your concern though as seeing pictures of them may encourage others to seek them out as pets. Ultimately, the choice is up to you.

I’ve had two miniture dachshund’s The first lived to 16 1/2 years. My last one had to be put down at 17 years old. Both were excellent pets. At 68 years old myself I too may be too old for another…but…I am so tempted to take on another.

Hi Vinnie. There is no such thing as a toy Dachshund. As my article states, if the dog was under 11 lbs it was a miniature. If you had been in Europe, or the owners were from Europe, and the dog was under approximately 6 lbs, it might have been called a Rabbit Dachshund… not a “toy”.

I have seen a toy dachshund in N.Carolina. It was black and was named Gertrude. It was many years ago, and perhaps they stopped breeding them for whatever reason, but I haven’t seen another one. I have had three red ones and they are my favorite breed.

Hi Sarah,
Sorry about.you dog
I feel devasted myself. My beloved she_Dash pased away this Sunday
.She was 16 and a half y/o.
She was sweet, strong charming and lovely. Miss her so much
Wishing you the best.
Sara

Hi Becky. I’m very sorry for the loss of Charlie and the way it happened. Unfortunately, many breeders who are unethical or just uneducated, call a double dapple, a “piebald dapple”. They look as you describe – a lot of colors but also a lot of white. They can have many, many health issues. However, most of them are to do with the eyes and hearing. Perhaps your Charlie was not a double dapple and was just born with an underlying issue that took a while to surface. Either way, I’m sure that losing him was devastating. Again, I’m sorry.

No you’re not how about going to a rescue and adopting a senior dachshund, you would be doing 2 wonderful things. 1. Going to a rescue 2. Adopting a Senior, they have a harder time getting adopted!

Sorry if I misunderstood your comment.

I’m a but surprised that your vet still has him on prednisone. When Gretel had an IVDD-related back injury, she was prescribed strict crate rest for a minimum of 6 weeks (it ended up being 10), pain pills, and prednisone but she was only to take the prednisone for 1 week and the pain medicine only as long as needed (it was about 2 weeks). If I remember right, there can be quite a few side effects from prednisone. I would discuss with your vet why they want him to still be on it and if you can wean him off.

As far as supplements that can help, I give Gretel CBD after strenuous exercise or if she is acting stiff and sore. I also give her supplements to help support her muscles and joints. You can read about all of the supplements I give her here: https://youdidwhatwithyourweiner.com/supplements-active-senior-dogs-and-dogs-recovering-from-ivdd/

Yes he qualifys as a rabbit. I’m more concerned about his back legs. He was paralyzed for 2 weeks in December , we have him taking prednisone every other day right now ( I can’t keephim on this forever) what kind of supplements would help him .

Hi Jennifer. Besides the fact that a chiweenie is not a recognized breed by the AKC, and would not be classified along with a full-breed Dachshund, the AKC in the US only recognizes two Dachshund classifications – the standard and mini. I’m assuming you live in the US so your pup would be a “mini” size.

If you live in another country, the rabbit Dachshund may be a recognized class. The definition of one is under 8 lbs at 1.5 years old AND “has a chest circumference less than 12 inches”. You would have to measure your pup to see if he qualifies as a rabbit Dachshund.

Hi Twyla. Do you breed Dachshunds that are on the smaller size?

i have champion dachshunds,i show and compete in conformation and earth dog. I breed on a small scale for dogs for myself to keep ,show and love.i do place my pet quality puppies within good homes.

I agree and am a bit envious of you. I would love to get a Dachshund from a breeder in Germany, or nearby, someday. I’m sure there are bad breeders around the world but Europeans do seem to take the breed standard more seriously. I follow a lot of Dachshunds on Instagram and it’s interesting to see the differences. I can usually spot a dog that is from outside the US right away.

Hi Mikayla. I’m not sure I totally get the point you are trying to make. While I agree that over breeding, and “targeting” a specific look that is actually bad for their health, leads to unhealthy dogs, your reference to “that’s” is throwing me off. Did I capture your intention or were you speaking more about breeding dogs in general?

Thanks for the wise words Charlene. In my experience, everything you said is accurate. A dog with a while face and blue eye is most likely a double dapple and those are the most likely to be deaf and blind. Unfortunately, unscrupulous breeders sometimes mate two dapples, despite the risks, because the litter is sure to have the desired dapple pattern (IF they even survive though and they are also very likely to be deaf and/or blind. It’s sad.).

Blue eyes may also be a sign that the dog is blind. Any dog with a pure white face and blue eyes should be tested. Lack of pigment on the face or ears, near the brain, can produce deaf and blind. I have had Dachshunds for 40 years and met a woman who paid $1000 for a white Doxy with blue eyes “very rare”. Yes, very rare to pay that for a deaf and blind dog. Very sad! Red, black and tan and cream in long hair are the safest colors. Do your homework and remember that you can pay a reputable AKC Breeder or pay a vet.

Hi Cheryl. I’m sorry to hear that happened. Piebalds can be more prone to deafness but, generally, a piebald breeding IF bred to a standard color (black and tan or red/chocolate) or another piebald, is not known for having a lot of issues. Where trouble can occur, from what I understand, is when a piebald is bred to a dapple. There is an increase of issues there and two dapples bred together almost always results in problems. So the main issue is that some people are unable to tell the difference between a dapple or a piebald (even some breeders with little or no experience) and may accidentally breed them together.