If you’re new to looking after dogs, understanding how you should be caring for their coat to keep them healthy and looking their best can be a challenge. If you’ve got a pup that is longhaired, such as the long haired dachshund, it can be confusing to know where to even begin. Keeping coats shiny and healthy looking means brushing, bathing, and grooming are all about to become part of your routine. Fortunately, we’ve got the only step-by-step guide you need.
Originating from Germany in the 16th century through crossbreeding, it’s not hard to see why the long haired dachshund has become a popular breed. Gentle, intelligent, and lively means it’s become a family favourite pet around the world. It’s long, slightly wavy hair, which should be soft to the touch, means it’s beauty matches its temperament. With visible fringes forming on its coat, it’s a cute pooch that when groomed properly will look stunning.
Typically, this small dog breed stands at around 12 to 14 inches tall and their medium length coats come in a variety of colours, from cream to black. While long haired dachshunds can shed a lot, brushing can help control it and as grooming goes they’re a relatively low maintenance breed – perfect for dog lovers that are just getting used to the grooming routine.
When and how often should you groom a long haired dachshund?
If you’ve just adopted a long haired dachshund, you should start getting them into the routine of grooming right away. If you start from when they’re still a puppy, they’ll quickly get used to sitting still while you bathe, trim, and brush them. Many dogs don’t like having their paws touched initially and some can be weary of grooming until they’ve come to trust you. By building it into your routine straight away, it’ll be a comfortable experience that they expect.
If you’ve adopted an older long haired dachshund that doesn’t like being groomed, start slowly and take small grooming steps every day until they become at ease with the process.
As a long-haired breed, your dog’s fur is likely to become tangled and matted throughout the day. It’s advisable to give them a quick brush at least once daily, it’ll help to minimise shedding getting on your furniture too. Long haired dachshunds don’t need to be bathed very often, once every three months or so, or more if they get dirty, should be more than enough.
How to care for the coat of long haired dachshunds
Looking after the coat of a long haired dachshund can be split into three tasks – brushing, bathing and trimming. All three jobs are simple processes that you can do DIY at home. Once you’ve gotten used to grooming, you’ll find they’re quick too.
- Brushing
- Bathing
- Trimming
Long haired dachshund costs need frequent brushing; wherever possible you should try to give their fur a quick brush at least once a day to prevent matting.
To get started with brushing, place your pup in a comfortable spot where you can easily reach them or on your grooming table if you have one. As this breed can shed a lot, you might want to put down a sheet too, catching any hair that falls. You’ll also want to remove any accessories they’re wearing, such as their collar.
To ensure that the pup’s top and undercoat or both tangle free, using sectioning clips can help you. Simply clip up sections of the fur, allowing you to effectively brush each area thoroughly to remove mats that may be building up. Start by combing each section first, which will untangle knots and make the process gentler for your dog.
Every section of your long-haired dachshund should be brushed, from their ears right down to their legs, moving in the same direction as the hair grows naturally.
Dachshund coats don’t need to be bathed frequently but it’s still an important part of the grooming routine. Around every three to four months fill up you tub with warm water, taking care to ensure that it isn’t hot, to just under the belly of your dog – placing a non-slip mat in the tub can help here too. Make sure you use shampoo and conditioner that has been formulated for dogs and ideally it should be fragrance free, ensuring unnecessary chemicals that could cause irritation are limited.
Once your pup is wet, you should gently massage the shampoo into their body, avoiding the face before rinsing off and repeating with conditioner if using. Use a soft washcloth to gently wipe their face and ears with a small amount of shampoo. They’re then ready to get out and dry off.
Long haired dachshunds have fur that should be trimmed frequently, particularly where it grows in fringes, such as around their feet and ears. Trimming can help reduce the number of tangles that your dog’s fur is accumulating, reducing the amount of time you need to spend on brushing. All you need for this are some simple grooming scissors and a bit of patience at first. If you’re worried, go slowly and trim small amounts at a time.
Don’t forget that it’s not just the coat of your long haired dachshund that needs looking after during the grooming process. Their nails, paws, eyes, teeth, and ears should be regularly checked and groomed too, keeping them in great health and ensuring you pup is happy.
Can you shave a long-haired Dachshund?
Although you may feel that shaving your long-haired friend will help them to stay cool, this isn’t necessarily the case. The long-haired coat of a Dachshund actually acts as a form of protection from the sun. Long-haired Dachshunds will naturally shed some of their fur in the warmer months, but they still require a coat to prevent overheating and sunburn, and for their natural cooling system to function.
When do long-haired dachshunds get their full coat?
On average, it can take long-haired Dachshunds 18 months to 2 years before they gain their full coat. This does, of course, depend on genetics and bloodlines. In many cases, by looking at their parent’s coats, you can make a rough estimate of how long your dog’s hair may grow.
4 grooming tips for your long haired dachshund
Grooming doesn’t have to be complicated and with these four tips that are perfect for the long-haired dachshund breed helping you on along the way you’ll be an expert in no time.
- Persevere with grooming and start early – Some dogs simply don’t like to be groomed or brushed but it’s an important step for longhaired dachshunds as their fur can mat. Even if they struggle, it’s important to gently persist to get them used to it. The younger you start the process, the quicker they’ll relax whenever you get the brush out or decide it’s time for a bath.
- Brush in the direction hair grows – Make brushing as comfortable as possible for your long haired dachshund by watching the direction you’re brushing in. Start at the head and work your way down to the tail, going in one direction, to untangle both the top and under coat.
- Pick out the right brush – Not all brushes are right for every coat. For your long haired dachshund, it’s often best to use a slicker brush to gently remove tangles and mats and then finish with a bristle brush to get a smooth, shiny finish. If you like the fluffy look, a gentle pin brush can be used to tease the hair against its natural direction.
- Invest in a dog grooming table – Long haired dachshunds require regular grooming so it might be worth investing in a table designed to help you. There are lots of small portable dog grooming tables on the market that’ll make the whole task easier. They’ll come with a restraint to help keep your pup still while you get to work. Some small grooming tables also rotate, so neither of you need to move to reach the other side.
If you share our love for all pets and are considering enrolling in our dog grooming school, visit us or download our brochure for more information. If you've already set up your own business, see how Groomarts can assist your business.
