As its name suggests, the English Cream Dachshund is a cream-colored member of the breed.
They also sometimes come with golden brown coats.
This coloration can be attributed to a recessive gene called the chinchilla gene, otherwise known as the blonde gene.
This recessive gene can usually be found among dachshunds with black or red coats.
Other than this difference in color, however, the English Cream Dachshund is every bit the same as any other dog in their breed.
If you come across a dark-colored puppy, don’t be surprised–they are always born dark-colored, and then eventually lose the pigmentation as they grow out their cream fur.
The older the English Cream gets, the blonder they become.
General Information
Dachshunds are hound dogs developed in the United Kingdom, and grow anywhere from 10 to 22 inches in height, at about 30 to 60 pounds in weight.
They are known to be calm in temperament but also can be very playful.
They are courageous and devoted, but with a streak of stubbornness as well.
The average lifespan of a Dachshund is at 12 to 16 years, although there have been rare documented cases of some living up to 25 years old.
Appearance
Because of their stylish appearance, the English Cream Dachshund is considered to be one of the most graceful dog varieties.
Upon closer inspection, you can see that while the top layer of their coat is cream-colored, they can also sometimes have a black overlay, otherwise known as shading.
The coat itself can vary in length, either short or long, while its texture can be very smooth and straight, or wiry.
Most people who have touched this dog would say that their coat is actually very soft and fluffy, almost like a bunny rabbit’s.
Shedding also depends largely on the dog’s overall health condition, that’s why English Cream Dachshunds can either shed low or high volumes of coat.
Another interesting feature that they have is their eyes, which may either turn out brown or hazel in color.
As for their nose, it grows to medium length in black or brown.
Grooming
Their hair is their crowning glory, most definitely.
That’s why it needs to be taken care of as carefully and as religiously as possible.
It is highly recommended to give them a good brush daily to keep their coat from being tangled.
Use a slicker brush for best results; make sure to start brushing their coat, starting all the way from the roots to the tip.
You might need to do this in sections, especially because their coat can get thick.
Check the undercoat as well, and give it as much care as the top layers.
While they look best with their hair grown out, there will be parts that would have to be trimmed to maintain their hygiene.
Keep their tiny paws cute and tidy by regularly trimming around and between them.
The area surrounding the ears could also use some trimming, so it doesn’t feel itchy or uncomfortable for them.
If the hair growth is left uncontrolled, the dog might scratch it, resulting in injury, which could lead to irritation.
Also, it’s good to check their ear ‘s health every week by inspecting for any redness or bad odor, both of which are indicative of an infection.
As for their eyes, they should be bright, clear, and without discharge.
Make sure that the shampoo you use for their baths is gentle enough on their eyes, so they don’t get irritated.
Speaking of baths, the good news is that they can actually maintain their clean look for a pretty long period of time, such that they don’t really need to be washed too often.
Some would even say that once a month would suffice, although this is actually dependent on how much active play your dog gets, and where.
In fact, over-bathing them could cause more problems, particularly their coat.
Still, giving them a bath is a great opportunity to thoroughly inspect their body for any signs of injuries, skin infections, redness, and other signs of illness.
Trimming their nails is actually recommended to be done once a month too, so you might as well do this after their bath as well.
If your dog is pretty active, and wears them down pretty well on their own, you could even skip this until the nails grow long enough for a good trimming.
For you and your family’s safety, however–and also for the sake of your wooden floors and furniture–you might want to keep those nails in check.
At least file them regularly, especially because these Dachshunds do love to scratch and dig, thanks to their long-held genealogical trait of burrowing.
Temperament
English Creams are popular because of their sweet and calm demeanor, especially when compared to other varieties.
However, keep in mind that the only big difference between them and other dachshunds is their hair color, but otherwise, they have the same disposition.
Which means that English Creams are just as fond of barking and digging as their other fellow Dachshunds are.
Also, their breed is inherently meant to be used to hunt, essentially pointing out to their persistent trait of never giving up until they get what they want.
If you would remember, Dachshunds were originally bred to hunt down rabbits and badgers inside burrows.
They can be pretty single-minded once they are in pursuit, but since modern-day English Creams are no longer used to hunt down prey, they now take on more playfulness than serious hunting business.
They’re still considerably pack leaders too, though, albeit in a much more laid back kind of way.
This actually makes them perfect companions at home, especially for families with younger children.
Even with their calm nature, however, you can still rely on them to be fiercely protective and loyal of their owners.
If you do have children at home, and would like them to grow up with an English Cream as their constant companion, just keep in mind that it’s best to always keep them supervised.
Otherwise, their size and temperament makes them absolutely child-friendly.
Training
English Creams are not only loyal, playful, and calm; they are also quite intelligent.
This makes them very good students for training.
Couple that with their strong desire to always please their owners and you have a dog that’s basically willing to do just about anything to win their human’s approval.
They respond to, and retain very well, commands with both voice and actions.
This also comes into play with their playful nature.
Getting approval is their main goal, but if it comes with a treat as well, then they’re not going to say no to that.
Health & Exercise
When it comes to exercise, it is recommended to have them do physical activity at least 30 minutes a day.
English Creams can be voracious eaters, and as mentioned above, they do like those snacks.
So if they don’t go out and about, they can gain weight pretty fast, which can lead to a lot of health problems for them later on.
At the same time, however, you don’t want to overexert them, because this could also lead to issues, particularly with their tissues and joints.
An ideal exercise routine for English Creams could involve 20 minutes of walking and 10 minutes of playtime, for example.
Dogs can have predispositions to certain illnesses.
In the case of English Cream Dachshunds, they are commonly prone to having back problems, or intervertebral disc disease, which involves paralysis or inability to raise the hind legs.
Canine Diabetes Mellitus is also common among their breed, as well as Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA).
Owners of English Cream Dachshunds would benefit from knowing these health predispositions of this type of dog, so they can know what to be on the lookout for.
The potential to contract these conditions may be there, but these can also be avoided with proper care and prevention.
That is why checking in with a trusted veterinarian is important for their health and well-being.
And as long as they are well taken care of, your English Creams will make sure to be the best pet dog you can ever have.