Dachshund Coat

Question
QUESTION: Is there any problem with purchasing a smooth coat dachshund that has two wirehair parents?  Can you tell in the puppies that they will be smooth coat or could it change as they grow if the parents are wirehair?  Is AKC registration in jeopardy?  I do not want to breed but do want to know what I am getting.

ANSWER: Glad to hear you want a pet and not a breeding dog!  All newborns are born with short coats and will get the wire coat as they get older.  It depends on their age.  Breeding two wires should give you a wire unless there is some other coats in their background.  Also remember to get your new family member spayed or neutered for their well being - they can be done around 5 months - earlier if needed but most vets like to do it around then.  They should be registerable, that is not an issue that I am aware of.  Good luck! Are the parents true wires or soft coated wires?  That will make a difference in what the babies coats will be too.

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QUESTION: The puppies are six weeks old and the breeder tells me that this one has a smooth coat.  Can she tell at that age?  She says she has been breeding for 20 years.  She shows dogs and seems to know what she is doing.  Her dogs are normally priced at $650 but she is giving a limited registration with a spay/neuter contract for $500.  The sire is a champion wirehair.  Anyway, I want to trust her judgement but don't know what to do!  When I asked she said it was common to breed a smooth coat in the background to keep from getting "fuzzy" coats.  I would probably just tell her I don't want the puppy but I have already sent her a $150 deposit.  (She did say she would return it to me if I decided I didn't want the puppy).

Answer
If you want the puppy for a pet does it really matter or do you not care for wires?  If she is mixing coats, then I would not be able to tell you, but she should know what she is talking about if she is the breeder because she would have seen the results of the pairing from previous litters.  Does this pup look different the others - that is a sure way to tell if there are some smooths and wires in the litter.  I have 8 of my own, 1 wire and 1 long hair and the rest smooths.  The wire and long hair does take more time with the coats, but their personalities are super and I would not give them up.  It is entirely up to you but if you picked one and want it, then do not doubt yourself unless coat really matters to you.