Any dachshund fan is always bound to be curious about the various kinds of dachshunds, what the differences are, and how they are bred in particular ways. If you’re an enthusiast, you may have come across the term Isabella dachshund and started to wonder what these dogs are like.
You’re probably going to be wowed by this totally beautiful little dog, which has a fawn-colored coat and can also be referred to as fawn or lilac. They are very pretty dogs, but it should be noted that the kind of breeding required to get Isabella puppies can cause health problems.
Isabella dachshunds are not popular in the UK because of their health issues and the problems with breeding them. In the US, they are considered more acceptable, and they are an unusual dog that turns heads – but you will have to decide for yourself whether you feel comfortable owning one.
What Does An Isabella Dachshund Look Like?
An Isabella dachshund is a beautiful fawn color, which is achieved by diluting the chocolate gene. Isabella dachshunds have gray or brown noses, paw pads, and nails, but their main coat is light, sleek, and often referred to as lilac in other dog breeds.
They can be found as wirehaired, smooth, or longhaired varieties, and they can come in three different color variations.
These are Isabella/tan, with washed-out chocolate and tan colors running throughout the coat, inherited from the dog’s parents; Isabella/cream, with a dilution of cream and chocolate colors; or solid Isabellas, which have a full coat of fawn or washed out chocolate over the whole body, without any points.
Markings can appear almost anywhere on the dog’s body, including on the face, tail, breast, ears, etc.
Note that Isabella dachshunds are not the same as blue dachshunds. The recessive gene in Isabellas is chocolate, while in blue dachshunds, it’s black. The results can be quite similar, but the dogs have different genes and are not identical.
How Are They Bred?
The fawn color that is pronounced in an Isabella dachshunds coat is the result of a recessive gene. In order for this gene to show, both parents need to be carriers of the gene, which is partly why Isabella dachshunds are rare.
The recessive gene will then dilute the main chocolate color of the coat, changing it to fawn and washing out the strength of the color. This may be combined with variations such as tan or cream, or it may result in a solid color.
Should I Get An Isabella Dachshund?
This depends on your view on dog breeding and the comfort of the dog. More and more people are moving away from highly bred dogs, and there is no doubt that the Isabella dachshund is a highly bred specimen.
Many dachshunds suffer from health problems as a result of the way they have been bred, but Isabellas can have considerably more issues than a normal dachshund, so you should be aware of that and prepared to handle it before you take one on.
Isabella dachshunds are generally sweet, loyal creatures and they do make good family dogs, but apart from their coat color, they don’t have anything to recommend them over other kinds of dachshunds, so you may feel that the extra health issues are not worth the aesthetic benefit, even though they are admittedly beautiful dogs.
The American Kennel Club does accept the Isabella dachshund as long as it is two-colored, but they are frowned upon by the UK Kennel Club, and they are categorized as “highly undesirable” due to the breeding and health problems that can arise.
This, unfortunately, leads to problems with more people wanting them because they are rare dogs, and unfortunately, many pups are sold for a lot of money, despite having health issues.
What Health Problems Do They Have?
You are probably already aware of some of the health problems that dachshunds suffer from overall, but the Isabella dachshund sadly adds to these problems with quite a few skin problems. We’ll discuss these below.
If you plan to take on an Isabella dachshund, it’s important to be aware of and prepared for these problems and to have funds set aside for a vet in case that becomes necessary.
1. Alopecia
You may have heard of Alopecia as a condition that humans can also suffer from. In dachshunds, it means that they start to lose their fur, and this is because the hair is brittle and thin, and drops out easily.
The fur loss can start from as young as six months old and can be enormously troubling to the dog. Alopecia causes itchiness, soreness, and irritation, and it can make your dog more vulnerable to skin infections too.
Dermatitis and flakiness are major problems associated with this condition, and it is unfortunately common for Isabella dachshunds to experience it.
2. Cancer
A further issue with fur loss is that it leaves your dog more vulnerable to skin cancer. They are more prone to sunburn and may find it difficult to venture outdoors often if you live somewhere hot.
This has a sad impact on the dog’s quality of life and can be problematic in terms of keeping them exercised, happy, and healthy weight.
Be aware that not all Isabella dachshunds will suffer from skin conditions, and you may be lucky. However, it is worth researching and understanding the potential drawbacks of these dogs so you can make a responsible and informed choice about the right pet for you and your family.
Conclusion
Isabella dachshunds are undoubtedly beautiful dogs that look very unique and have stunning coloration. They are sought after (and often very expensive) because they are rare and unusual, and if you love the color and you are able to offer a loving home to a dachshund, you may feel these are the right kind for you.
You should take some time to read up about the health issues and make sure you are prepared to handle them, but otherwise, enjoy welcoming a new dog to your family!
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