Yesterday I purchased myself a mini daschund. She is only 2 months 2 weeks and 2 days to date. She is quite beautiful in coloring. The pet store that I bought her from said she is dapple. I was wondering what health problems would come with a dapple? Also what would classify her as a double dapple? She is mainly black and silver, silver more that anything. The only brown she has on her is on all four paws eyebrows and lining her mouth and two brown spots on the front part of her shoulders and her chest is white. Her nails are mainly black but on her back paws there is a little white on her nails as well. She has one blue eye with a little brown in it. The reason is ask is because she walks somewhat sideways and has a tendency to run into things, like she does not see them. Could is be her young age and getting used to walking and running? Also she cries when I am not in her sight and sometimes I am right next to her. I have to physically touch her for her to stop crying. Is there any way she could be partially blind or just like the comfort of being touched? She will be going to the vet within the next 5 days but in there anything I should look out for until then? Any information you can give me on raising this little puppy would be helpful as well since she is my first baby I have raised on my own. Please and thank you.

Here is a website that I found that might help answer some of your questions. If you read the entire page you will see some info on Double dapple pups and the possible health risks associated with that breed. Good luck, I hope this helps.

Dachshund Health Issues

It sounds like you could very well have a double dapple puppy. And one of the downsides to a double dapple is eye problems (ranging from missing eyes to underformed eyes to blindness). I strongly suggest you get the pup to a vet (a good thing to do shortly after acquiring any new pet) so that you can learn what health issues you are going to be dealing with and how to take care of them.

The Double Dapple - DORG - The Dachshund Magazine On-Line!

Maybe she cries when she is right next to you is because she probably wants your hand on her, not because she can't see you. Exuberence in young dogs is normal. They are just learning the ropes same as our young ones. If you get her attention and move your finger in front of her face and if she follows the finger, then you have no worries her sight is impaired. Even so, dogs with impaired vision learn to cope well and from what I have read can still play normally.

You must be extra careful and observant of her to make sure she grows up with no hitches as you have bought her from a pet store and dogs from pet stores usually come from puppy mills, and I am sure you have read about them. She sounds like a lovely little dog and they are such a smart little breed and very popular. My friend couldn't just have one, she had to have two!

Google 'puppy mills' if you want to learn about them and Google your breed and find some interesting stats and tips on raising them.