Need a little help..

[CPinkney]

We just had a litter of 4.. One of the puppies is white with silver/grey patches, it also has some black spots & a little tan on it's face.. Follow link below to see pics.. I was wondering what this was called? Is it a Piebald? Every Piebald I've seen had black/tan on a white background.. Thanks for any help..
http://home.earthlink.net/~pinkneyss/hotwheels.htm

[Krista]

That is a Black and Tan Double Dapple puppy. Double Dapples can only occur in dapple to dapple breeding.

Double Dapples are more prone to eye and ear problems of varying degrees (as in they may be blind and/or deaf to some degree, some are even born with small eyes or no eyes at all). They are also more prone to being sunsensitive from what others have told me.

Please have this pups eyes and ears tested and if you plan on selling the pup, make sure the new owners know of the possible defects related to being a double dapple.

It appears that the other pups are 2 red dapples and one black and tan dapple.

[Cindi]

I agree with the color definition given by Krista. Obviously you were not expecting to get a double so I'm hoping that means you weren't aware one of the parents was truly a dapple. You should change the color description on that dog's registration papers...which is allowed by AKC.
For a genetics lesson (which of course you didn't ask for but maybe wanted <g>), you can't just 'get' a piebald show up in a litter just like you can't have a dapple show up without knowing there is a possibility. to know there is a possibility for a dapple, one parent has to be a dapple. Double dapple puppy means both parents are dapple. Piebald puppy means the parents either are piebalds or both carries the piebald gene....which of course means you have to have an extended pedigree available. BUT, both parents have to either carry or exhibit the gene not just one parent exhibiting as in the case of dapples. Dapple gene cannot be carried recessively as the piebald gene.

[CPinkney]

Thanks for the help.. Our dogs are just pets, we aren't breeders. I din't know there were problems breeding 2 Dappels. This is going to be our only litter, we wanted to have one before we had the male fixed.. Thanks again for the help!!

[Cindi]

This is not meant meanly...honest...but I don't know what you have been told the definition is for a breeder BUT you are now breeders. You have 'bred' a litter and that is the basic definition. Anyone who raises a litter, any litter, is a breeder.
http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif Just check the registration papers on these puppies when you get them back....under breeder it will have y'all's names <G>

[dutchman]

I see you mentioned having your male fixed I hope you also plan to spay the female. In case you weren't aware you have already increased her risk of mammary tumors by having having the litter of pups. Many experts say even allowing one heat cycle to occur increases that risk. In any event if you don't have her fixed and are not very careful during all her coming heat cycles you will find yourself with another litter of pups. A female in heat left unattained for even a couple of minutes is the source for many a mystery litter of pups. All the unfixed males loose in the neighborhood will be hanging around your house during each heat cycle.

Again not meaning to be critical but that urge to let them have one litter or to show the kids the cycle of life is the source of many of the dogs that end up in rescue or being put to sleep each year. Almost every dachshund book I've ever read talks about the dangers of a double dapple litter. The important thing is that we all learn from our mistakes and now you will know enough to help advise others of the potential danger of a double dapple breeding and how an early spay neuter is best for the overall health of your companion animals.

Good luck,

Tom