Coat - When can you tell?

[Jennie]

Hello! My new family members (hopefully) were three weeks old yesterday. I called to check on them, and they seem to be doing well. I did ask to make sure that both are smooth (this is what I really want), and she said they still appear to be, but it's too soon to tell for sure. I had always been told you could tell for sure between 2 and 3 weeks. So, is it really too soon to tell, or can I feel pretty confident that they're both smooth? I want to be sure, but I also am so excited that I'm really anxious to make these pups totally mine in my heart! Please let me know when you can tell for sure that they are smooth.

Also, while I'm writing, I did also find out that both other pups in the litter died within a week of birth. There were four total, and two never put on weight, were smaller at birth, and died within a week. The two that survived are supposedly doing well, thriving, putting on lots of weight, being taken good care of, beginning to walk around, etc. I know that there are often puppies who don't survive, but wanted to make sure that two out of four shouldn't concern me. I'm not terribly concerned given what I've been told, but thought I'd ask if there's anything I should check or ask. Thanks!

Jennie

[Cindi]

Obviously this person is cross coat breeding. Why? What were they trying to improve? Or, was it just because these two dogs happened to be handy to each other? This litter was bred for you? This breeder is selling you both of the puppies and not keeping anything of this litter for themselves?
What coats are being crossed? If it is a long x smooth and the smooth doesn't carry long, they should both be smooth. If it is wire x smooth, it may be a LONG time before you can know if the wirehair coat is extremely coarse as those dogs take forever to get furnishings but the texture of the coat should be evident by 8 weeks. If the coat is going to be plush but wire the breeder would know by 3 -4 weeks.
Although I have only lost 1 puppy after birth in 20+ years of breeding I feel extremely lucky. I can't comment on why the breeder lost 2 puppies or what I feel about that happening.

[Jennie]

Thanks for the comments. Both parents are smooth, but both carry long. The way I understand it, there is a 25% chance of long in this case. The breeder is in our local dachshund club, and shows her dogs, but her health is prohibiting her from keeping any of her current litters (she had a wire litter last fall). She is now breeding for pets, not show dogs and therefore doesn't need to keep any little ones for now (to be future show dogs). I am comfortable with her as a breeder (I've done tons and tons and tons of research), but still want to make sure I continue to ask the right questions.........you know, kinda like a reality check.......

[Cindi]

may be harder to tell but I've always been told that it's pretty obvious on the ears and the body coat pretty early. You are to look for marcel waves in the coat. However, not ever dealing with recessive longs I wouldn't be able to help much.

[K.Middler]

Ok this is how you tell look between the feet at about 4 weeks and like Cindi said the ears can be a sign also.The feet will show a longer hair between the toes.This is why I say WHY do people do cross coat breeding?? Well the need for BOTH coats in a litter when a BYB is selling puppies gives them a better market for sales.That way if they get a call for a Smooth and then one for a Long well they can sell a puppy to both people and not worry about having 2 differant litters at one time. :sarcastic

[Dapple Dandy]

the person I purchased my Cindy from was very upfront about wanting to have a well rounded selection of coats for her customer's convenience. I've learned a lot since then. For example, did you know that in Canada and Europe they don't cross coats? I didn't until I started researching coats and genetics. Only in America do we tamper with genetics.

My Cindy is a beautiful dog, her smooth coat is luxurious and I love her very much, I wouldn't trade her for the world. In hindsight, I wish I had done more outside research before purchasing. I relied heavily on what the "breeder" was telling me and have found since then that most of the information was either wrong or flawed. I wasn't damaged by the incorrect information, I have a wonderful dog, the question in my mind is, did I get lucky?

My best advice, go forward with caution. Maybe consult with a vet prior to purchase or ask the breeder for a pre-purchase inspection by a vet of your choosing. That visit will be at your cost and you'll need to clear it with the vet. Some don't feel comfortable with the added liability it exposes them to.