What Is A Double Dapple Dachshund? Important Breeding Facts

There are various dog breeds in the world, some of which are natural, evolution changed and affected the way they are. Moreover, others are a result of human activities, crossbreeding dogs of different breeds to get a better breed with the qualities and features of both parent breeds. Before purchasing a crossbred, you need to understand some facts about them.

A Double Dapple Dachshund is a breed of dog; the term double dapple refers to the unique color of a Dachshund breed, resulting from two Dapple Dachshunds mating. Some of the risks that come with breeding a Double Dapple Dachshund are vision loss, hearing loss, or both.

Double Dapple Dachshunds are one of the weakest cross breeds ever; this is one of the few dogs with life-altering risks when crossbreeding them, so you need to be careful and knowledgeable.

What Is A Double Dapple Dachshund?

A Double Dapple Dachshund is one of the varieties of dachshund breeds and is popular for its unique coat markings. The Double Dapple Dachshund is produced when two Dapple Dachshunds are mated; the puppies born have two copies of the gene responsible for creating the dapple pattern.

As a result of the two copies of the gene (the merle), the Double Dapple Dachshunds have unique coat markings different from the single Dapple Dachshunds and every other variant of the Dachshund breed. Despite being a pup from two Dapple Dachshunds, the Double Dapple Dachshund is different from the parents.

Before breeding a Double Dapple Dachshund, there are some things to look out for when choosing the dogs to mate together. First, you should not choose a Dachshund puppy for its unique coloring only; you should also make sure you do research when selecting a Dachshund breeder.

How Long Do Double Dapple Dachshunds Live?

Different factors affect the lifespan of the Double Dapple Dachshunds, including the health status, the merle genes complications, the nutrition, and the care it receives. If a Double Dapple Dachshund is well taken care of and healthy, it can live for as long as 14 to 16 years.

However, if the dog is plagued with various health issues, its lifespan is reduced to about 7 to 10 years. These health issues can be life-threatening and often affect the Double Dapple Dachshunds and other Dachshund variants. The most common health issues are shunts, heart disease, and obesity.

Obesity is one of the most dangerous health issues a Double Dapple Dachshund can have because you may not be aware of it, and it is killing the dog slowly. Most pet owners assume their Double Dapple is healthy and fat; unknown to them, the dog is obese, and there are underlying issues like hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac diseases.

Also, sometimes Double Dapple Dachshunds can have cancer. However, it is a disease of old age and occurs in dogs above seven years. So, if you have a Double Dapple Dachshund, it is imperative to take it to the vet for a regular checkup.

How Much Is A Double Dapple Dachshund?

Double Dapple Dachshunds are among the rarest dog breeds in the world, majorly because there are many risks associated with the crossbreed. So, if you plan to purchase a Double Dapple Dachshund, you must be prepared to spend a lot on not only purchasing them but their maintenance, feeding, and health status.

The price of a Double Dapple Dachshund ranges from $3000 to about $5000. This is the price you will get from a breeder. It is best to purchase these breeds from reputable breeding companies because they are prone to health problems, and there can be complications during crossbreeding.

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Are Double Dapple Dachshunds Rare?

Yes, Double Dapple Dachshunds are rare; they are a rare and gorgeous Dachshund breed with white fur markings and a coat pattern that mimics a Collie. Dapple refers to large splashes of intricate patterns on a Dachshund’s coat, but it can also refer to a single white patch on the dog’s body.

Although the Double Dapple Dachshund breed is rare, it is not encouraged for breeding. Most Kennel Clubs in Europe reject the Double Dapple Dachshund as a breed standard due to the genetic health disorder associated with this breed. However, the American Kennel Club accepts the breeding of Double Dapple Dachshunds.

How Can You Tell If A Dachshund Is A Double Dapple?

It can be difficult to tell a Double Dapple Dachshund apart from other similar Dachshunds, especially the Piebald Dachshund with almost similar features and qualities as the Double Dapple. If you want to know if a Dachshund is a Double Dapple, you should look out for some features.

You will find some white markings on the coat of a Double Dapple Dachshund, some have blue eyeballs, while others have dark eyes (could one or both eyes). The patterns on a Double Dapple Dachshund can be like a white mark on the nose, paws, and tail tip, as well as a band around the neck.

Health Problems Common With Double Dapple Dachshunds

The major reason Double Dapple Dachshunds are very expensive and rare is that a lot of the double dapples born after crossbreeding developed serious health conditions and the normal health issues associated with the breed. So Double Dapple Dachshund puppies have to deal with two health challenges. We will look at the health challenges these pups face from birth to adulthood.

Health Issues As A Result Of the Merle Gene

These are the issues that arise when two Dapple Dachshunds are crossbred. It is unethical and discouraged to crossbreed two Dapple Dachshunds because of these health issues.

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Ear Problems

During the crossbreeding of 2 Dapple Dachshunds, the offspring possess two portions of the merle gene from each parent. The overload of these genes disrupts the pigmentation processes involved in developing the auditory system. So, the offspring might have congenital deafness and also suffer ear lobes abnormalities, including odd sizes, shapes, or even no ear lobes.

Sight Problems

There are different sight problems Double Dapple Dachshunds are at risk of during birth, including malformed eyes, no eyes, glaucoma, congenital blindness, and as time goes on, development of cataracts. These sight problems are more likely to occur in Double Dapple Dachshunds with blue eyes.

Normal Health Issues

These are normal health issues all Dapple Dachshunds are likely to have. These occur naturally or as a result of the negligence of the owner.

Obesity

Double Dapple Dachshunds have a high appetite, so the owner might feed it till it becomes obese. Obesity is associated with joint and back issues, in addition to weight issues. Other complications like heart diseases and diabetes begin to kick in with time.

Intervertebral Disk Disease

These dog breeds are prone to experience spinal cord issues like prolapse and compression, which are painful and can affect the dog’s mobility. It is important to deal with this as soon as possible, or the dog could end up paralyzed and unable to move.

Cancer

All Dapple Dachshunds are at risk of having cancer, including hemangiosarcoma, skin cancers, and reproductive system tumors. Although this is more likely to occur in adult Dapple Dachshunds, it is a serious health issue and is the leading cause of death among this breed.

Final Thought

Double Dapple Dachshunds are great dogs to have around, but if you are not well-informed about this breed, you could end up heartbroken due to the health issues associated with them.

It is advised to purchase a Double Dapple Dachshund from a reputable breeder and also try to avoid pups with blue eyes; they are prone to serious health issues than the other variant.

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