Black and tan Dachshunds are quite common and the average Dachshund is often black and tan. These dogs have the same personality and temperament as other Dachshunds—the color difference does not distinguish their temperament. Therefore, choosing this coloration is mostly based on your aesthetic choices and not underlying temperament differences.

Breed Overview

There is a huge variation in coloration in Dachshunds. Genetics are quite complicated due to the large variety, and different genes involved. While the color of puppies can be predicted somewhat, this isn’t a sure thing. Dachshunds do have six basic coat colors, and one of these is black and tan.

However, black and tan are recessive. Therefore, if two parents are black and tan, the puppies will likely be as well.

Dachshund Characteristics

The Earliest Records of Black and Tan Dachshunds in History

The Dachshund is a purposefully created breed that isn’t all that old. The breed was created in Germany by mixing together many different European dogs. These dogs were originally referred to as “Dachs Kriecher,” which means badger crawler. They appeared around the 18^th century, though badger dogs existed before this period.

These original dogs were pretty large, though, and they don’t look exactly like the modern breed we have today. They were up to 40 pounds, for instance. Furthermore, there were originally “straight-legged” and “crook-legged” versions. The modern Dachshund is descended from the latter variety.

While these dogs were called “badger dogs,” they were not always used for badger dogs. Instead, they were used for rabbit and fox hunting for the most part. They may have also been used for locating wounded animals, like deer. They may even have hunted larger game like wild boar in packs.

When these dogs were bred varies—the American Kennel Club lists that they were bred in the 15^th century for hunting badgers, while the Dachshund Club of America lists that they were bred in the 18^th and 19^th centuries.

How the Black and Tan Dachshund Gained Popularity

The black and tan Dachshund was likely around from the beginning. However, different colorations did appear as the breed became more popular. For instance, the “double-dappled” Dachshunds were bred sometime in the late 1800s. However, this color is associated with blindness and hearing issues. Therefore, it never became quite as popular as the black and tan Dachshund.

Around this time, the Dachshund began to take the shape of the animal we commonly see today. For instance, the floppy ears and curved tails were purposefully bred into the breed. There are some practical concerns about these traits. For instance, the ears help keep grass and dirt out of the ear canal, which helps prevent infections, and the curved tails can be seen more easily while the dog is tracking, making them easier to follow. Occasionally, it may have also been used to help haul the dog out of a burrow if it got stuck.

Other dog breeds may have been added in at this time. Different types of Dachshunds may have had different breeds. For instance, the long-haired Dachshund probably had different breeds added to it, allowing the breed to grow longer hair. The smooth-coated Dachshund is the oldest type and likely always comes in the black and tan pattern.

We don’t know exactly what breeds were used to create this one. However, the smooth-coated options led to the others.

Formal Recognition of the Black and Tan Dachshund

The Black and Tan Dachshund was recognized early in the breed’s history. Because this breed was purposefully bred, it didn’t take long for kennel clubs around the work to recognize it. It was officially recognized by the American Kennel Club in 1895.

Unlike other breeds, the Dachshund did not have a long road to recognition.

Top 4 Unique Facts About the Black and Tan Dachshund

1. It’s one of the most common color patterns for the Dachshund.

The black and tan coloration is one of the most popular colors of the Dachshund. However, this color pattern is a recessive trait. It will get “covered up” by red if a black and tan canine is bred with a red one. Therefore, the pattern should be theoretically rarer.

However, this pattern became popular early in the breed’s history. Therefore, many breeders worked to produce puppies with this pattern, leading to an increase in its availability.

2. There are three coat options available.

The most common and recognizable coat type is “smooth,” which is likely the Dachshund you’re used to seeing. However, long-haired and wire-haired Dachshunds exist, too. These come in the same colorations, including black and tan.

3. The Dachshund’s name was temporarily changed.

In the post-WWII era, there was a push to avoid any association with Germany. Therefore, Dachshund’s name was changed the “badger dog” for many years. However, this name didn’t stick and was changed back some years later.

4. They’re hunting dogs.

Despite often being thought of as lap dogs, these canines are hunting dogs. They were originally bred for hunting purposes and are still used for hunting today. Therefore, when adopting one, consider that they still have hunting and tracking instincts.

Therefore, they can be a bit more “hyper” than your average lap dog.

Does the Black and Tan Dachshund Make a Good Pet?

The black and tan Dachshund acts just like any other type of Dachshund. This breed was originally bred for hunting and tracking purposes, so they do not act like your typical lap dog. They do like to cuddle, but they have a pretty high energy need and can be a bit stubborn.

These canines are loyal to their family and make very good watchdogs. They’re generally pretty healthy (besides the occasional back problem), meaning they live a long time. They tend to be very curious and entertaining to watch. Plus, they come in many different sizes and coat types.

With that said, these dogs aren’t the easiest to train. They were bred to hunt independently from training and so trainability wasn’t considered when the breed was being developed. They also tend to be very noisy, and their smaller size makes them difficult to housetrain. They have innate hunting instincts, so they will chase small pets.

Conclusion

The black and tan Dachshund is pretty much just like any other Dachshund. This color pattern is extremely common despite technically being a recessive trait. Therefore, they aren’t hard to find and usually don’t cost more.

While these dogs are small, they are not toy dogs. Instead, they were bred for hunting and tracking. Therefore, they act like hounds, including the stubbornness and barking tendencies that come with it.

It is important to understand what you’re getting when adopting one of these canines.

• See also: Does the Full Moon Affect Your Pets?

Featured Image Credit: JeannieR, Shutterstock