How to Cut a Wire-Haired Miniature Dachshund

The Dachshund, notable for its short legs and long body, has three different hair varieties: smooth, wire-haired and long-haired. The wire-haired dachshund has a coarse coat of fur that never sheds. While this may seem like a beneficial characteristic for your carpeting and furniture, it also means that wired-hair dachshund owners have to take extra steps to ensure hair cutting is properly done. You must clean your miniature wire-haired dachshund for the best results, and remove all dead hair after cutting, to ensure a clean appearance.

Things You'll Need

  • Dog shampoo
  • Dog conditioner
  • Towel
  • Electric clippers with wired-hair attachment
  • Serrated scissors
  • Grooming brush
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Instructions

    • 1

      Wash your miniature dachshund with dog shampoo to remove dead skin and, most importantly, dead hair. The abundance of dead hair caused by the dachshund's inability to shed makes the hair cutting process difficult, if not removed prior to cutting.

    • 2

      Add dog hair conditioner to your dachshund's coat and allow the conditioner to set for 3 minutes. The coarse nature of the wired-hair dachshund's coat can create a difficult cutting experience. The conditioner softens the hair, which aids the cutting process. Wash your dog off with a towel when finished.

    • 3

      Connect the wired-hair attachment to a set of dog grooming clippers and turn on. Each attachment indicates the appropriate type of hair to cut (wired-hair, short hair). According to The Daily Puppy, do not use clipper without knowing this essential piece of information. Look at the instructions or box for the information. Begin clipping the dachshunds shoulders, back and sides. Do not use the clippers on the legs, face or stomach.

    • 4

      Cut the hair around the feet, legs and stomach with a pair of serrated-grooming scissors. These scissors cut hair and also pull out remaining dead hair on the coat. The wired-hair miniature dachshund has a classic feathered hair appearance on the legs, feet and stomach. As such, do not cut the hair too short. Leave most of the hair, but cut evenly and so the dog cannot step on paw or stomach fur.

    • 5

      Cut the eyebrow fur just short enough to allow your dachshund to see unimpeded. Cut the beard slightly, ensuring your dachshund still shows the distinctive wired-hair beard for which this breed is renowned.

    • 6

      Comb the entire coat with a grooming brush to remove the last of any remaining dead hair. This ensures the entire coat appears clean, even and healthy.