Dapple Daschund Question

[jen5680]

Someone told me that you can't bread a dapple to a dapple. Does anyone no if this is true or not???
I have a female that i want to breed and some lady that has one told me whenever she breed hers to another dapple
that the puppies always die???? why would the color matter and make the puppies die? If this is true.
Thanks!!

 

[rodriguezpoultry]

From what I understand, it's similar to the merle gene.

http://www.one-dachshund.com/healthissues.html

You don't breed two dapples (merles) together because a "double dose" of the merle gene can cause blindness, deafness, malformations of the embryos, etc.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

It's true. The gene they carry that makes the dapple color is deadly to the offspring if both parents have it.

 

[Bunnylady]

I hadn't heard that it was a lethal gene, I heard that it caused blindness and/or deafness. There was a rather pathetic double dapple puppy that one of the local rescues was trying to rehome a while back, that was both blind and deaf. Obviously, he wasn't dead, so it wasn't lethal in his case.

 

[savingdogs]

I believe that dapple doxies do carry the merle gene. If you breed a merle to a merle you can get blind, deaf or dead (or normal) puppies. But it happens more often than normal. With any merle breed, they usually outcross with another color within that breed so that you don't breed merle/merle.
Perhaps someone has a more expert explanation but that is how I understand it.

 

[Riocotesei]

Like everyone else has said, dapple is in effect like the merle gene. If you breed 2 dapples together, you are taking serious risks for the puppies. They could be blind, deaf or both.
I don't know if dapple is the same as merle in having a phantom merle. That is when they have the merle gene, but it isn't present in their coloration- they may have a blue eye or one place that shows merle but it can other wise go unnoticed. In that case, its important that you be very carful on who you breed them with to make sure you aren't breeding them to another merle. You can do a genetic test to find out if they have the gene or not- just to be safe.
Many reputable and good breeders do not practice merle to merle (or dapple to dapple) breeding's. Though some will stand firm in saying it doesn't do anything. I say, why take the chance? They aren't doing it for the welfare of the breed or individual dog. It's either for gain to make more money on a "rare" color or to experiment in their own way. Neither I agree with.

 

[Cindiloohoo]

Quote:
Oh..I was told it was lethal...might as well be if they all come out blind and deaf though. Either way it isn't a good idea to breed them that way. Those poor pups

 

[jen5680]

Well I sure wont' be taking the chance and breeding a dapple to dapple.
Thanks for all the info!!!

 

[RiverOtter]

Quote:
It's not lethal in every case, but it can be lethal. It's a matter of degree. Some aren't affected as badly, and can hear or see just a little, most are deaf with bad eyes to total blindness and some are dead, stillborn, die after a few days, etc. Sometimes they die in the womb and then you can lose the whole litter or even the mother.

It's just not worth taking the chance.

 

[Redyre Rotties]

Dapple Dachshunds are Merle. Merle to merle is a no no. Add to that the fact that merle can be well hidden in some dogs, and you have complicated breeding issues.

If a person has to ask these sorts of questions, they are not prepared to be breeding dogs, in particular a breed that has issues so complex as Merle.