When 24-year-old Victoria Hoffman walks her dachshund Moo around her Miami, Florida neighborhood, they often get stares from strangers.
“We get stopped on the street a lot so people can take pictures of him or ask about him. He’s truly such a special little pup. He’s our little star,” she said, according to the UK’s Daily Mail.
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Moo is a piebald dachshund with a magnificently unique coat. In fact, many people think he looks part dalmatian – or part cow (hence the name).
The 7-month-old puppy is extra special because his piebald coat only covers his body – his head is black and brown as one would expect from a dachshund.
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“He is a unique piebald because he has heavy ticking, black spots on his white coat, and he also has a pure black and tan head,” explained Hoffman. “So, it looks like his body doesn’t match his head.”
Because of that, the strangers he runs into often think he’s wearing a pair of doggie pajamas! But that’s just his natural coat.
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His mom says that he’s not only adorable but friendly and funny.
“Moo doesn’t just have a special coat, but a special personality as well. He has lots of attitude and is super cuddly and sweet as well.”
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Moo has become quite the Internet sensation as well.
His Instagram page is only 2-and-a-half months old with only 59 posts but already he’s managed to accumulate a whopping 42.4k followers!
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Hoffman and her boyfriend have been really grateful for Moo’s company during quartine.
His personality has certainly livened things up for them and his mom said she never gets bored when he’s around.
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“My boyfriend and I have always wanted a dachshund. I don’t think that we would’ve gotten a dog if it weren’t for COVID because we wouldn’t have been home as much. It’s true that blessings and joy can still come out of hard times. Moo has been just that,” Hoffman said.
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And just like any other pup, he has his cute personality quirks.
“He loves to hoard his toys in one spot, watermelon and almonds are his favorite treats, and he loves to take naps on his back under his bed.”
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Piebald dachshunds aren’t terribly common – especially ones that look like Moo since nearly his whole body has what’s called “ticking,” which are the little colored dots on his coat.
Since the piebald gene is recessive, in order to breed one, both parents need to be piebald as well.
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As far as we know, Moo is a healthy puppy. But many piebald dachshunds do experience deafness. Oddly enough, this is because the same stem cells that control their coat and color also control their hearing.
Some say that piebalds with more white fur on their heads have more problems hearing issues – but that certainly isn’t Moo.
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We can’t help but smile when we see this little dog – and we’re looking forward to following his adventures on Instagram for years to come!
If you want to see Moo in action, be sure to scroll down below. You’ll see just how rambunctious this tiny, adorable puppy really is!
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View this post on InstagramMe running to Miami Beach post-quarantine🐾🌴🌊 Song is Miami by Will Smith
