Double Dapple Article

Crystal's Dachshund Crossing

WHAT IS A DOUBLE DAPPLE?

DOUBLE DAPPLE - Double Dapple is the color of a dog that is a result of breeding
two dapple dachshunds, sometimes referred to as single dapple, or two double
dapple dachshunds or a single dapple and a double dapple breeding. When you breed
two single dapple dachshunds, the color possibilities are solid, single dapple, and
double dapple. When you breed two double dapples, you can only produce double
dapples. When you breed a single dapple to a double dapple, you can produce single
dapples and double dapples. The reason for these possibilities is that the single
dapple is a heterozygous dapple and the double dapple is a homozygous dapple. The
heterozygous dapple can pass a solid gene or a dapple gene for any given puppy.
The homozygous dapple can only pass a dapple gene. Double dapple puppies will
always have white markings, many in the same pattern that you would associate
with a collie type dog (white band around the neck, white on paws, white blaze
down nose and white tip on tail) The white may be more or less extensive. The
double dapple dachshund usually has blue eyes but may have one or both dark eyes.

SO IS IT A DOUBLE DAPPLE OR DAPPLE PIEBALD?
Mistaking double dapples for piebalds is very common... Be careful when
purchasing one. Without getting into the genetics behind a piebald, I will tell you that
a piebald is a normal color Dachshund with varying amounts of white. A Piebald is
normally marked symmetrically...meaning that if one ear is black, the other ear is
black. If one paw is white, the other paw is white. If one side of the face is white,
the other side is equally white. A double dapple is not symmetrical. You will often
see one leg normal colored and the other leg totally white. One side of the face can
be white and the other side dappled. These are the easiest way to tell if a dog is
double dappled or piebald. But when a Dapple that carries Piebald is bred to a
Piebald there is then the possibility of Dapple Piebalds which can be even more
confusing to tell the difference... Please buy from a responsible breeder, and if you
aren't sure if your dog is double dapple or piebald or even a dapple piebald, look at
the pedigree and ask to see the parents pedigrees before you purchase! A double
dapple will always have a dappled dam and a dappled sire. A piebald can come
from any color, but you will normally see piebald in the background. Since piebald
is recessive, it is possible to have two plain black & tans produce a piebald.
However ONLY TWO DAPPLES can produce a double dapple. The ultimate test
of a double dapple is to breed it to a plain colored dog (as long as it is healthy with
no defects, we don't support experiments) and if the puppies are dapple, your dog is
a double dapple!

***WARNING***
DOUBLE DAPPLE DEFECTS- There are lethal genes commonly associated with
double dapple. Not all double dapples have these problems and it is believed by
some to be more of a problem in some lines than in others. The problems
associated with lethal genes in double dapples are as follows; varying degrees of
vision and hearing loss, including reduced or absent eyes. If you decide that you
want a double dapple puppy, be prepared for these possible problems and be aware
that they may not be diagnosed at a young age. Please note; when breeding a blind
or deaf double dapple to a normal dog, the lethal traits are not passed on to the
offspring, however most of the puppies of the double dapple breeding will be dapple.
Remember that single dapple dachshunds do not have the lethal gene problems and
if a single dapple is bred to a solid (non-dapple) there are no problems associated
with single dapple dachshunds.

So, What's Wrong with a Double Dapple?
For reasons unknown, the combination of two dapple genes hitting the same area of
the dog can be lethal. I have seen double dapple puppies born with no eyes, and/or
no ears, and missing limbs. Blindness and/or deafness is also caused by the double
dapple gene. On the other hand, a double dapple can be born with no deformities at
all. There are no facts or figures available (that I have found) that tells us how many
dogs like this dog have been whelped. The double dapple pattern is an acceptable
pattern that is recognized by AKC. In my opinion, if AKC continues to allow this
pattern (which can only be achieved by breeding two dapples together, so
it is totally preventable) to be recognized, then serious studies should be done to look
at the damage being done to the dogs. I, for one, feel that even one dog like this is
not worth the risk of a million healthy dogs.

Crystal Antlsperger
941-474-2767
crysdach@yahoo.com

(Photo Courtesy of Yahoo)

Double Dapple Article