Double Dapple

[Stacey]

Can anyone explain to me the term Double Dapple in the simplest manner??    My daughter, who is going on 10, is bringing our two babies to school tomorrow and has to explain their differences (one is smooth and one is long haired, one is black & tan and one is double dappled and etc.).  She kinda understands what it means but wants to explain it to her class. I have read up on it but am afraid I don't know enough about it to actually explain it in simple terms to a 10 year old to repeat. 
If there is anyone out there that can help I would appreciate it.....

[April]

Well, I can try.  Dapple refers to a coat pattern where you have the "normal" colors with "dappled" spots of a single different color.  Double dapple is when you have the "normal" colors only have dapples with TWO colors.  One of those colors is white while the other depends on the "normal" coat color.  I think with reds the dapples are a paler shade of red, black/tans have silver as a dapple, etc. 
Pretty much double dapple means they have dapples in TWO colors insted of just one.  Did that help any?

[Jeri]

Dapples and double dapples have inherited the merle gene. 

Dapples inherit the gene from one parent.  When the merle gene is present from only one parent, it dilutes the coat color (example would be black spots against a grayish background coat color).  A dapple may or may not have one blue eye.

Douple dapples inherit the merle gene from both parents.  When dogs have a double dose of the merle gene, instead of diluting the coat color, the merle gene wipes it out, creating large white areas in the dog's coat.  Double dapples often have blue eyes.  Double dapples are often born blind and/or deaf.  For this reason, most reputable breeders will not breed dapples to dapples in hopes of creating a double dapple.

[BridgetLouise]

Thanks for asking that, Stacey, I had no idea what a double dapple was and I felt like a nincompoop. 

[April]

Jeri gave a more in depth definition of it.  I wasn't sure how detailed an answer was wanted.  I'm sure your daughter and classmates could understand that!  :)

[Krista]

Jeri pretty much had it down.

Dappling is caused by a gene that is inheirited from the parents.  Dapple is a dominant trait, so if the dachshund has the gene for dappling, then it is a dapple.

A solid dog (with no dapples) has two solid genes.

A dapple dog has one dapple gene and one solid gene.  It received one gene from each parent.  It has lighter splashes of color over it's base coat color.

A double dapple has TWO dapple genes.  That means that both of the parents were dapples and each gave the puppy a dapple gene.  It will typically have large areas of white in addition to the base coat color with lighter dapples.  Double dapples are prone to hearing impairments, visual impairments, and physical eye and ear defects as well.

Dapples and Double Dapples may or may not have blue eyes or partially blue eyes.  The blue in the eye occurs when a dapple falls over the eye.  My [single] dapple Gwen has no blue in her eyes.  Her sister Sassie (also a [single] dapple) has a splotch of blue in one eye.  Whether they have no blue eyes, a partially blue eye, one blue eye, or two blue eyes, they can be a Dapple or a Double Dapple.  Blue eyes in dachshunds do mean they have the dapple gene though.

[Stacey]

Thanks so much for all the answers....  I really appreciate it....  I will show them all to her and see which one she feels more comfortable with...  You guys are the bestest, most intelligent people I know ('specially when it comes to doxies)!!!! 

[Tona5959]

Here's a questoin for you guys...

Are dappled dogs more likely to have issues with their eyes?  I've heard so many things about dappled dogs in the past, that I don't know what to believe anymore.  Neither one of my dogs are dappled...but I'm just curious to know  :thinik:

[Krista]

Generally speaking, [single] dapples are not considered to be more prone to hearing or visual defects.  It is the DOUBLE dapples that are at much higher risk for these problems. 

As said above, Double Dapples have 2 dapple genes and no solid genes.  They received one dapple gene from each parent (which means both had to be either a dapple or a double dapple).  This doubling of the dapple effect is what can be problematic.

Double Dapples can be born with smaller than normal eyes, or even no eyes at all in extreme cases.  They can also have visual or hearing impairment to varying degrees.  Of course they could also be "normal" as well - the risk is just higher for these problems.

[Tona5959]

 :thumb: Thanks for clarifying! 

Those dapple doxies are so darn cute though!