Grooming
Most dogs don’t really like being groomed at first, so get him into a grooming routine when he’s a puppy. Get him used to you touching him all over his body, including his paws and mouth. Be really calm but firm and try not make a big deal out of being groomed.
Whatever type of dachshund you have, you’ll need:
A grooming table or suitable surface
You’ll want somewhere secure to pop your dachshund so you can stand up as you work, and easily move around him. If you’ve got him at a height, never leave him unsupervised, as he might try and jump down and could seriously hurt his back. It is possible to do this on the floor, but some people find it easier to groom at height.
Doggy shampoo and conditioner
Human soaps and shampoos are far too harsh for doggy skin.
A non-slip matt or towel for the bath/sink
If your dachshund fidgets, you don’t want him to slip.
A towel to dry your dachshund with
Or a hairdryer if your dachshund is used to it and doesn’t mind!
A selection of brushes
Depending on the type of fur your dachshund has, you might want to use a slicker brush, pin brush, bristle brush, comb or grooming mitt (or a combination of these).
Grooming for Smooth Haireds
Smooth-haired dachshunds require the least amount of grooming because their fur is so short. They just need a brush with a grooming mitt every few days to remove any loose hairs, and a bath about once a month.
The great thing about short, smooth fur is that it doesn’t pick up much debris or get tangled. A few times a week, grab a rubber grooming mitt and gently run it over your dachshund’s body to loosen and remove any dead fur. Other than that, he’ll just need a bath possibly about once a month or sooner if he gets muddy or rolls in something smelly!
Grooming for Long Haireds
Long-haired dachshunds need daily brushing, regular trimming and a bath probably about once a month. Their coat is long and wavy, so can pick up dirt and get knotted and matted quickly, especially around the ears and feet.
Brush once a week
To help keep tangles under control, you’ll want to give your dachshund’s hair a quick brush once a day. And brush it properly about once a week. The best tool for detangling is a slicker brush, as it’s gentle but effective.
Separate hair with sectioning clips
When you give him a proper brush, you’ll want to separate his fur with sectioning clips so you can move through one section at a time. You don’t miss any tangles or matted bits.
Detangle the hair
Start at his head, brushing from root to end. Work along his body to his tail and down each of his legs. If you spot any matted balls of fur you can’t detangle, you may need to snip these out using grooming scissors. Just be careful not to get too near his skin. When the hair is matted, it can be hard to see where the hair ends and the skin begins. If in doubt, visit a professional dog groomer.
Use a bristle or pin brush
Once you’ve detangled him, you can switch to a bristle brush to make his coat nice and shiny. Or you can use a pin brush (make sure the pins are rounded) and brush his fur backwards to fluff him up.
Trim around the feet
He’ll need trimming regularly around his feet where the hair grows longer over his pads and between his toes. You can use regular grooming scissors to snip carefully until the fur looks neat and tidy. If in doubt, take him to a professional dog groomer. DO NOT let a groomer shave your Long Haired Dachshunds coat as once shaved, it never grows back quite the same.
Grooming for Wire Haireds
Wire-haired dachshunds are different to other dachshunds because they have thick undercoats that need stripping three or four times a year (unless they have a ‘pin wire’ coat that doesn’t need stripping at all). They need regular brushing and bathing about once a month.
You’ve probably noticed your wire-haired dachshund doesn’t shed very much. Well, unfortunately, this doesn’t mean he doesn’t need grooming. While his short, coarse fur is fairly low-maintenance and only needs brushing a few times a week, he also has a soft undercoat that sheds during the year, usually in spring and autumn. As the undercoat dies, you’ll need to get it stripped (or do it yourself). You’ll know it’s time because his coat will look lacklustre and dry.
Wire-haired dachshund coats vary from fluffy to coarse. The wires with fluffier coats probably need the most grooming of all the coat varieties. But, the wires with shorter, coarser, ‘pin wire’ coats don’t actually need stripping at all. They just need baths and brushing and, because they don’t moult much, they could be a better choice for allergy sufferers.
To groom your wire-haired dachshund, you can either take him to a professional groomer or, if you feel confident, you could groom him yourself.
This is what you need to do:
Slicker brush
Grab the slicker brush and gently brush your dachshund’s fur in both directions to loosen up and catch the dead hair from his undercoat.
Stripping knife
Then, switch to a stripping knife. Gather a section of hair and hold it at the roots, between the knife and your thumb. Slowly pull the fur towards you, using the knife and your thumb to grip it. The aim is to pull the fur out, not cut it. If your dachshund hates this, just take it slowly and don’t make a big fuss. He’ll soon get used to it and realise it doesn’t hurt. You can easily pick out any remaining hairs with your fingers or a pair of tweezers.
NOTE: This does not apply to wire-haired dachshunds with ‘pin wire‘ coats as they don’t need stripping at all.
Other than that, wire-haired dachshunds need the same amount of grooming as other dachshunds. Give him a brush a few times a week and pop him in the bath about once a month or whenever he needs it.
What is a pin wire dachshund?
A wire-haired dachshund with a pin wire coat has shorter, coarser hair that generally doesn’t need stripping. The beard, eyebrows and legs are still hairy but, compared to a fluffier wire, there’s not as much hair overall. The hair on the ears is silky smooth.
Can you shave your dachshund?
No, it is not advisable to shave your dachshund because the hair may not grow back. Wire-hired dachshunds have undercoats and topcoats and, if you shave them, you may just end up with a dog that resembles a smooth dachshund and not a wire. If you’re struggling with grooming, go to a professional.
Do dachshunds need professional grooming?
Not necessarily, you can groom your dachshund yourself. For long-haired or wire-haired dachshunds, a lot of people handle most of it themselves and then use a professional dog groomer once or twice a year.