Grooming

Dachshunds are a relatively easy breed to keep groomed and maintained. They do not need much more than a simple brushing and a bath every once and a while/as needed. However, it is generally a good practice to brush them gently once or twice a week to keep them clean and their coats looking shiny. Daschunds have thin, sensitive skin, so if they are short-coated, you will want to use a soft brush. Harsh wire brushes may cut their skin. Some owners may decide to bring their dachshund to a groomer once or twice a month. Some groomers may shave the chest or paws of your dachshund to keep their coat looking to the breed’s standard. It is up to you to decide what you want your dachshund’s coat to look like and how frequently you groom them, and how you groom them. 

Long-coated dachshunds may need some extra maintenance compared to smooth-coated dachshunds. I recommend simply brushing them out once a week and bathing as needed. If you so choose, you can trim them with trimmers or scissors to keep their hair from getting too long or tangled.

Thicker-haired long coated dachshunds will often get matts behind their ears, under their tails, on their chest, or in the creases between their body and their legs. Sometimes, these matts can just be cut out. If you wish to preserve their hair, then cut the matt a few times up and down (instead of cutting it off at the base), with the tip of the scissors almost touching your dog’s skin. Make sure to not cut your dog’s skin. Now, after cutting through the matt once or twice depending on size, you can use a wire brush to brush it out. If need be, you can cut through it again and then brush again. Your dog may still lose a bit of hair, but should keep most of their fringe using this method.

You should keep your dog’s nails trimmed. Long nails may cause your dog to walk improperly and cause them pain and potential joint issues. Being a small breed, it should be easy to pick up your dachshund to trim or bevel their nails. It is best to pick them up off of the ground entirely whenever you trim their nails. Not having something to push against with their feet, such as a floor or table, will encourage them to stay still during the process. If they behave well, give them a treat and praise afterwards to encourage that behaviour. Give them lots of praise beforehand as well to associate trimming nails with a positive experience. Some dogs who do not like having their nails trimmed may try to bite when you do so. If this is the case, then it may be a good idea to invest in a muzzle. Dachshunds are a small breed, and if they become mouthy while trimming their nails, you may be able to simply hold their mouth shut during the process. Do not reward the dog for bad behaviour. Do not cut your dog’s nails past the kwik, which is usually darker than the rest of the nail. Doing so may cause their nails to bleed. 

Keeping your dachshund groomed regularly will help to keep them clean, happy, and healthy!