The English Cream Dachshund is one of the most elegant and sought-after varieties of the breed. True English Creams have a solid cream coat with rich black pigment on their noses, eyelids, and paw pads, giving them their signature refined appearance. However, a troubling pattern has emerged in the breeding world: breeders falsely advertising “clear cream” Dachshunds that are actually chocolate-based or hyper piebald.
This deceptive practice is not just misleading—it can have long-term consequences for the breed’s integrity, health, and future breeding programs. Let’s break down why this is happening, how to identify these misrepresented dogs, and why it’s crucial for buyers to be informed.
- The Deception: Chocolate-Based & Hyper Piebald Dogs Marketed as Clear Creams
Some breeders are selling chocolate-based creams and hyper piebalds as “clear cream” Dachshunds, taking advantage of unsuspecting buyers who may not know how to spot the difference. Here’s what’s happening:
• Chocolate-Based Creams: These dogs may appear visually similar to a true English Cream at first glance, but they lack black pigment. Their noses, paw pads, and eyelids are brown rather than black, and they often have lighter eye colors (green, amber, or hazel instead of dark brown).
• Hyper Piebald Creams: Piebald is a white spotting gene that, when expressed heavily, can create a dog that looks mostly cream or white. However, hyper piebalds often have pink noses or missing pigment around the eyes, which is not a trait found in true English Creams.
Both of these types of Dachshunds lack the traditional English Cream genetics yet are still being falsely marketed as high-quality cream puppies.
- Why Are Breeders Doing This?
There are several reasons why breeders might mislabel these dogs:
• Higher Prices for Creams: English Cream Dachshunds often sell for a premium due to their rarity and carefully maintained bloodlines. Some breeders exploit this demand by falsely advertising non-standard cream-colored dogs.
• Lack of Knowledge or Ethics: Some breeders may genuinely not understand the genetics behind true English Creams, while others may deliberately mislead buyers to make a sale.
• Demand for Unique Colors: Buyers unfamiliar with breed standards might be drawn to the lighter coat colors of chocolate-based or piebald creams, not realizing they are not true English Creams.
This pattern is not only dishonest but also harmful to the breed’s preservation and future generations.
- How to Spot a True English Cream vs. a Misrepresented Dog
If you’re looking for a true English Cream Dachshund, here are some key things to check before purchasing:
✔️ True English Cream Dachshund
✅ Coat Color: Cream, ranging from pale ivory to shaded cream with light black-tipped fur as a puppy (which fades with age).
✅ Pigmentation: Black nose, paw pads, and eyelids. This is the most critical indicator of a true English Cream.
✅ Eye Color: Dark brown.
✅ Pedigree: Must trace back to true UK English Cream lines, with no evidence of chocolate or excessive white spotting in ancestry.
❌ Signs of a Misrepresented “Clear Cream”
🚫 Chocolate-Based Cream: Brown nose, brown or pink paw pads, lighter eye color (green, amber, or hazel).
🚫 Hyper Piebald Cream: Pink nose or incomplete eye rim pigment, excessive white on the coat.
🚫 Breeder Avoids Pedigree Questions: If a breeder refuses to provide DNA testing, a pedigree, or insists that “black pigment isn’t important,” this is a red flag.
- Why This Matters for the Breed’s Future
Allowing chocolate-based and hyper piebald dogs to be mislabeled as “clear creams” is more than just a marketing issue—it threatens the integrity of English Cream bloodlines and introduces unwanted genes into breeding programs.
• Loss of Traditional Pigmentation: If more chocolate genes enter English Cream lines, we will see fewer dogs with the classic black-pigmented look.
• Increased Health Risks: Piebald dogs, especially hyper piebalds, can have higher risks of deafness and pigment-related health issues.
• Damage to the Breed Standard: Buyers who don’t realize they’ve purchased a misrepresented dog may unknowingly breed them, further diluting true English Cream genetics.
Ethical breeders work hard to maintain the purity and health of English Cream lines—misleading breeding practices undo generations of careful work.
- How to Avoid Being Scammed
If you’re looking for a true English Cream Dachshund, do your research before making a purchase:
✔️ Ask for DNA Testing – Make sure the puppy does not carry the chocolate gene (Bb or bb) if being sold as an English Cream.
✔️ Request Pedigree Documentation – Verify that the lineage traces back to UK-based English Cream bloodlines.
✔️ Examine the Pigment – Look for black noses, paw pads, and eyelids.
✔️ Buy from Ethical Breeders – Reputable breeders will be transparent about their dogs’ genetics and will never misrepresent their puppies.
Conclusion: Awareness Is Key
The trend of breeders mislabeling chocolate-based and hyper piebald Dachshunds as “clear creams” is a serious issue that can mislead buyers and harm the breed’s future. True English Cream Dachshunds are defined by their distinct genetics, rich black pigmentation, and careful lineage preservation—not just by having a light-colored coat.
As buyers, being informed and asking the right questions is the best way to combat this issue and ensure that the true English Cream standard is preserved for generations to come.
If you’re considering adding an English Cream Dachshund to your family, take your time, research breeders, and always prioritize genetics over color trends. A true English Cream is worth the wait!
