Dachshund breed standards compared
Each column is one club's published standard. An empty cell means the club says nothing on that point in our records.
Clubs compared: FCI, AKC, UKC, KC.
Size
| Measure | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weight | No ruling | 7.3–14.5 kg | 5–11.3 kg | 9–12 kg |
| Height to length | 0.6–0.6 | No ruling | No ruling | 0.5 |
Conformation
| Form | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| StopSlight | Standard (“Stop: Slightly marked”) | Standard (“slopes gradually with little perceptible stop”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| BiteScissors bite | Standard (“Scissor bite, even and closing tightly”) | Standard (“teeth fit closely together in a scissors bite”) | Standard (“strong, white teeth meet in a scissors bite”) | Standard (“perfect, regular and complete scissor bite”) |
| BiteLevel bite | No ruling | Fault (“An even bite is a minor fault”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| BiteUndershot | Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot mouth, wry mouth”) | Fault (“Any other deviation is a serious fault”) | Disqualifying (“Overshot or undershot jaw”) | No ruling |
| BiteOvershot | Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot mouth, wry mouth”) | Fault (“Any other deviation is a serious fault”) | Disqualifying (“Overshot or undershot jaw”) | No ruling |
| BiteWry mouth | Disqualifying (“Undershot or overshot mouth, wry mouth”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| DentitionFull dentition | Standard (“Ideally, complete set of 42 teeth”) | No ruling | Standard (“A full complement of strong, white teeth”) | Standard (“Complete dentition important”) |
| Eye shapeAlmond | Standard (“Medium size, almond shape, set well apart”) | Standard (“medium size, almond-shaped and dark-rimmed”) | No ruling | Standard (“Medium size, almond-shaped, set obliquely”) |
| Eye shapeOval | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“Medium size, oval in shape”) | No ruling |
| Ear setHigh | Standard (“Set on high, not too forward”) | Standard (“set near the top of the head, not too far forward”) | Standard (“Set near the top of the head”) | Standard (“Set high, and not too far forward”) |
| Ear carriageDrop (pendant) | Standard (“Mobile with front edge lying close to cheek”) | Standard (“forward edge just touching the cheek”) | Standard (“The forward edge should just touch the cheek”) | Standard (“Forward edge touching cheek”) |
| Neck lengthLong | No ruling | Standard (“Neck: Long, muscular, clean-cut, without dewlap”) | No ruling | Standard (“Long, muscular, clean with no dewlap”) |
| DewlapNone (clean throat) | No ruling | Standard (“without dewlap”) | Standard (“not showing any dewlap on the throat”) | Standard (“clean with no dewlap”) |
| ToplineLevel | No ruling | Standard (“the back lies in the straightest possible line”) | Standard (“straightest possible line between the withers and loin”) | Standard (“back reasonably level”) |
| ToplineRoach (arched) | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Sunken back, roached back”) | No ruling |
| ToplineSwayback | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Sunken back, roached back”) | No ruling |
| FeetSplayed | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Splayed paws”) | No ruling |
| HocksCow-hocked | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“Cowhocks”) | No ruling |
Markings
| Marking | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tan points | Standard (“Tan markings (the darker, the better and as clean as possible)”) | Standard (“tan or cream markings over the eyes, on the sides of the jaw”) | Standard (“rust-brown or yellow marks over the eyes, on the sides of the jaw”) | Standard (“each with tan markings (as clear as possible) over eyes, on sides of muzzle”) |
| Chest patch | No ruling | Alternate (“A small amount of white on the chest is acceptable, but not desirable”) | No ruling | Alternate (“save for a small patch on chest which is permitted but not desirable”) |
| Star | Alternate (“small white spot (up to 3 cm diameter) is only permissible on the chest”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| White markings | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“white is not desirable, but a solitary small spot is not a disqualification”) | No ruling |
Cropping, docking and other procedures
| Procedure | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dewclaw removal | No ruling | Alternate (“Front dewclaws may be removed”) | Alternate (“Dewclaws may be removed”) | No ruling |
The law on these procedures differs by country. A listing here says nothing about whether one is legal where you live.
Dachshund colors and patterns
What each club's breed standard says about every Dachshund color and pattern. Point at a ruling to see the club's own wording.
Breed standards describe the Dachshund in Black, White, Blue, Chocolate, Tan, Red, Yellow, Cream, Fawn, Wheaten, and Isabella. Standard patterns: Solid, Brindle, Merle, Piebald, Sable, Agouti, Tan point, and Reverse brindle.
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“black”) |
| White | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald is a pattern (as opposed to a color) with clearly defined areas and/or patches of white”) | Standard (“white (base colour of a two-coloured dog)”) | Not recognized (“white”) | Not recognized |
| Blue | Disqualifying | Standard (“Blue & Tan”) | Standard (“gray”) | Not recognized (“Blue & Tan”) | Not recognized (“blue”) |
| Chocolate | Standard (“brown”) | Standard (“Chocolate & Tan”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) |
| Tan | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“rust-brown or yellow marks”) | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“tan markings”) |
| Red | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“red (often called tan)”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Yellow | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Standard (“red-yellow and yellow”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Cream | Disqualifying | Standard (“Cream”) | No ruling | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature smooth-haired and miniature long-haired)”) | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature smooth-haired and miniature long-haired)”) |
| Fawn | Disqualifying | Alternate (“Fawn”) | No ruling | Standard (“Fawn (miniature smooth-haired)”) | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature smooth-haired and miniature long-haired)”) |
| Wheaten | Disqualifying | Standard (“Wheaten”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Isabella | Disqualifying | Standard (“Fawn (Isabella) & Tan”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“Isabella & Tan”) | Not recognized (“Isabella”) |
| Patterns | |||||
| Solid | Standard (“one-coloured”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Standard (“brindle (smooth-haired, miniature smooth-haired, miniature long-haired)”) | Standard (“brindle (smooth-haired, miniature smooth-haired, miniature long-haired)”) |
| Merle | Standard (“dapple (merle)”) | Standard (“Dapple”) | Standard (“dappled”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) |
| Piebald | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“piebald”) | Not recognized (“piebald”) |
| Sable | Standard (“interspersed black hairs permissible”) | Standard (“Sable”) | Standard (“with or without a shading of interspersed black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – which may be interspersed with black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – may be interspersed with black hairs”) |
| Agouti | Standard (“wild boar, brown wild boar (wire-haired)”) | Standard (“Wild Boar”) | No ruling | Standard (“wild boar of any shade (wire-haired)”) | Standard (“wild boar of any shade (wire-haired)”) |
| Tan point | Standard (“two-coloured”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) |
| Reverse brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Standard (“brindle (smooth-haired, miniature smooth-haired, miniature long-haired)”) | Standard (“brindle (smooth-haired, miniature smooth-haired, miniature long-haired)”) |
| Tricolor | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognized (“tricolour”) | Not recognized (“tricolour”) |
| Double merle | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Blue | Fault (“wall-, fish- or pearl eyes in dapple dogs are not desired but shall be tolerated”) | Standard (“partial or wholly blue (wall) eyes are as acceptable as dark eyes (dapples)”) | Fault (“glass eyes”) | Standard (“in dapples one or both 'wall' eyes permissible”) | Standard (“in dapples one or both 'wall' eyes permissible”) |
| Dark brown | Standard (“bright dark reddish-brown to blackish brown”) | Standard (“very dark”) | Standard (“dark reddish-brown to brownish-black”) | Standard (“dark”) | Standard (“dark”) |
| Light brown | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“insufficiently dark eyes”) | Standard (“except in chocolates, where they can be lighter”) | Standard (“except in chocolates, where they can be lighter”) |
| Patterns | |||||
| Odd-eyed | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“in dapples one or both 'wall' eyes permissible”) | Standard (“in dapples one or both 'wall' eyes permissible”) |
| Sectoral | No ruling | Standard (“partial or wholly blue (wall) eyes are as acceptable as dark eyes (dapples)”) | No ruling | No ruling | No ruling |
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“Nose, nails and pads black”) | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“black”) |
| Slate | No ruling | No ruling | Standard (“gray or flesh for Gray dogs”) | No ruling | No ruling |
| Liver | Standard (“brown, in dogs with brown base colour”) | Standard (“dark brown”) | Standard (“brown or black for chocolate dogs”) | Standard (“brown (chocolate/tan and chocolate dapple)”) | Standard (“brown (chocolate/tan and chocolate dapple)”) |
| Pink | No ruling | No ruling | Fault (“flesh is not desirable”) | No ruling | No ruling |
Longhaired
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“black”) |
| White | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald is a pattern (as opposed to a color) with clearly defined areas and/or patches of white”) | Standard (“white (base colour of a two-coloured dog)”) | Not recognized (“white”) | Not recognized |
| Blue | Disqualifying | Standard (“Blue & Tan”) | Standard (“gray”) | Not recognized (“Blue & Tan”) | Not recognized (“blue”) |
| Chocolate | Standard (“brown”) | Standard (“Chocolate & Tan”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) |
| Tan | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“rust-brown or yellow marks”) | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“tan markings”) |
| Red | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“red (often called tan)”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Yellow | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Standard (“red-yellow and yellow”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Cream | Disqualifying | Standard (“Cream”) | No ruling | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature long-haired)”) | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature long-haired)”) |
| Fawn | Disqualifying | Alternate (“Fawn”) | No ruling | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature long-haired)”) | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature long-haired)”) |
| Wheaten | Disqualifying | Standard (“Wheaten”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Isabella | Disqualifying | Standard (“Fawn (Isabella) & Tan”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“Isabella & Tan”) | Not recognized (“Isabella”) |
| Patterns | |||||
| Solid | Standard (“one-coloured”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Standard (“brindle (miniature long-haired)”) | Standard (“brindle (miniature long-haired)”) |
| Merle | Standard (“dapple (merle)”) | Standard (“Dapple”) | Standard (“dappled”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) |
| Piebald | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“piebald”) | Not recognized (“piebald”) |
| Sable | Standard (“interspersed black hairs permissible”) | Standard (“Sable”) | Standard (“with or without a shading of interspersed black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – which may be interspersed with black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – may be interspersed with black hairs”) |
| Agouti | Disqualifying | Standard (“Wild Boar”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Tan point | Standard (“two-coloured”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) |
| Reverse brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Standard (“brindle (miniature long-haired)”) | Standard (“brindle (miniature long-haired)”) |
| Tricolor | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognized (“tricolour”) | Not recognized (“tricolour”) |
| Double merle | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
Smooth
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“black”) |
| White | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald is a pattern (as opposed to a color) with clearly defined areas and/or patches of white”) | Standard (“white (base colour of a two-coloured dog)”) | Not recognized (“white”) | Not recognized |
| Blue | Disqualifying | Standard (“Blue & Tan”) | Standard (“gray”) | Not recognized (“Blue & Tan”) | Not recognized (“blue”) |
| Chocolate | Standard (“brown”) | Standard (“Chocolate & Tan”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) |
| Tan | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“rust-brown or yellow marks”) | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“tan markings”) |
| Red | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“red (often called tan)”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Yellow | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Standard (“red-yellow and yellow”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Cream | Disqualifying | Standard (“Cream”) | No ruling | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature smooth-haired)”) | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature smooth-haired)”) |
| Fawn | Disqualifying | Alternate (“Fawn”) | No ruling | Standard (“Fawn (miniature smooth-haired)”) | Standard (“cream (fawn) (miniature smooth-haired)”) |
| Wheaten | Disqualifying | Standard (“Wheaten”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Isabella | Disqualifying | Standard (“Fawn (Isabella) & Tan”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“Isabella & Tan”) | Not recognized (“Isabella”) |
| Patterns | |||||
| Solid | Standard (“one-coloured”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Standard (“brindle”) | Standard (“brindle”) |
| Merle | Standard (“dapple (merle)”) | Standard (“Dapple”) | Standard (“dappled”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) |
| Piebald | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“piebald”) | Not recognized (“piebald”) |
| Sable | Standard (“interspersed black hairs permissible”) | Standard (“Sable”) | Standard (“with or without a shading of interspersed black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – which may be interspersed with black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – may be interspersed with black hairs”) |
| Agouti | Disqualifying | Standard (“Wild Boar”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Tan point | Standard (“two-coloured”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) |
| Reverse brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Standard (“brindle”) | Standard (“brindle”) |
| Tricolor | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognized (“tricolour”) | Not recognized (“tricolour”) |
| Double merle | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
Wirehaired
| Color or pattern | FCI | AKC | UKC | KC | KUSA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“deep black”) | Standard (“black”) | Standard (“black”) |
| White | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald is a pattern (as opposed to a color) with clearly defined areas and/or patches of white”) | Standard (“white (base colour of a two-coloured dog)”) | Not recognized (“white”) | Not recognized |
| Blue | Disqualifying | Standard (“Blue & Tan”) | Standard (“gray”) | Not recognized (“Blue & Tan”) | Not recognized (“blue”) |
| Chocolate | Standard (“brown”) | Standard (“Chocolate & Tan”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) | Standard (“chocolate”) |
| Tan | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“Black & Tan”) | Standard (“rust-brown or yellow marks”) | Standard (“tan markings”) | Standard (“tan markings”) |
| Red | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“Red”) | Standard (“red (often called tan)”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Yellow | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | Standard (“red-yellow and yellow”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Cream | Disqualifying | Standard (“Cream”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Wheaten | Disqualifying | Standard (“Wheaten”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Isabella | Disqualifying | Standard (“Fawn (Isabella) & Tan”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“Isabella & Tan”) | Not recognized (“Isabella”) |
| Fawn | Disqualifying | Alternate (“Fawn”) | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Patterns | |||||
| Solid | Standard (“one-coloured”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“one-colored”) | Standard (“red”) | Standard (“red”) |
| Brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Merle | Standard (“dapple (merle)”) | Standard (“Dapple”) | Standard (“dappled”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) | Standard (“dapple pattern”) |
| Piebald | Disqualifying | Standard (“Piebald”) | No ruling | Not recognized (“piebald”) | Not recognized (“piebald”) |
| Sable | Standard (“interspersed black hairs permissible”) | Standard (“Sable”) | Standard (“with or without a shading of interspersed black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – which may be interspersed with black hairs”) | Standard (“Red – may be interspersed with black hairs”) |
| Agouti | Standard (“wild boar, brown wild boar”) | Standard (“Wild Boar”) | No ruling | Standard (“wild boar of any shade”) | Standard (“wild boar of any shade”) |
| Tan point | Standard (“two-coloured”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“two-colored”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) | Standard (“each with tan markings”) |
| Reverse brindle | Standard (“red with dark brindle”) | Standard (“Brindle”) | Standard (“striped (brindle)”) | Not recognized | Not recognized |
| Tricolor | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognized (“tricolour”) | Not recognized (“tricolour”) |
| Double merle | Disqualifying | Disqualifying | No ruling | Not recognized | Not recognized |
What the rulings mean
- Standard
- Described by the club's breed standard.
- Alternate
- Registrable with the club but not described by its breed standard, such as an AKC alternate color.
- Fault
- Named by the club's breed standard as a fault: the animal can be shown but is penalized.
- Disqualifying
- The club's breed standard disqualifies an animal of this color or pattern.
- Not recognized
- The club does not accept this color or pattern for the breed.
Color changes
How a Dachshund's colors can change over its life.
Blackchanges toRust
Coat · With body condition · can change back
Blackchanges toGray
Coat · Progressive
Blackchanges toBrown
Coat · In the sun · can change back
Whitechanges toRoan
Coat · With age · from 2 weeks
Tan pointchanges toSaddle
Coat · With age · from 6 to 156 weeks
Bluechanges toDark brown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toBrown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toLight brown
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toAmber
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toHazel
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Bluechanges toYellow
Eyes · With age · from 2 weeks
Blackchanges toSnow nose
Nose · With the season · can change back
Blackchanges toPink
Nose · With the season · can change back
Sources
Each ruling comes from the club's published breed standard or color list.