How to Groom a Miniature Dachshund

Originally bred to exterminate badgers underground, the miniature dachshund now resembles a lapdog more than a hunter. This comically proportioned, clever little dog comes in three varieties of coat: wirehaired, long-haired and smooth. The varieties share character traits such as bravery, tenacity and confidence, along with identical physiological structures. However, each type of coat requires a different level of grooming.

Things You'll Need

  • Stiff-bristled brush
  • Electric canine razor
  • Guillotine clippers
  • Thinning sheers
  • Scissors
  • Spray conditioner
  • Dog shampoo
  • Dog conditioner
  • Towel
  • Blow dryer
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Instructions

  1. Wirehaired Dachshund

    • 1

      Cut off any major tangles from its coat with scissors. Spritz its entire coat with spray conditioner, fluffing the hair as you spray for even distribution.

    • 2

      Brush its entire body, including legs and rear, by moving the stiff-bristled brush in the direction of hair growth. Brushing removes any loose, shedding hairs and small knots. Brushing before detailed trimming reveals which areas need the most attention.

    • 3

      Shave any hair sticking up or away from its body except on its face or head. To avoid shaving your wirehaired completely bare, apply only gentle, minimal pressure with the electric razor or use scissors if you don't feel comfortable with the razor.

    • 4

      Trim its eyebrows so they measure 1 inch off its face. Wirehaired dachshunds sport adorably bushy eyebrows, but you don't want them obscuring their vision.

    • 5

      Trim the hair directly above and below its jaw to 2 inches in length. This intentionally longer hair gives the wirehaired dachshund its iconic beard.

    • 6

      Bathe your wirehaired dachshund with shampoo formulated for dogs, using a washcloth to scrub its feet. Towel off and blow dry the dachshund.

    Long-haired Dachshund

    • 7

      Cut out major debris, mats or knots without shortening the hair any more than necessary. The flowing, fine texture of a long-haired coat mats easily and attracts debris such as twigs and leaves due to the dog's proximity to the ground. In many cases, giving it an overall, blunt cut is a necessary first step.

    • 8

      Spray its entire body with conditioner. Brush it firmly with a bristled brush to remove shedding hair and minor tangles.

    • 9

      Soften and even out the scissor-cut patches of hair with thinning sheers. Face the thinning sheers away from its body and give its hair an angled, layered look with short, controlled strokes.

    • 10

      Repeat Step 3 around the entire body perimeter so that so the hair on its legs, chest, belly and tail all flow at a similar length.

    • 11

      Shave the hair on its head and chin to less than 1 inch in length. Trim the hair on its ears with thinning sheers so it hangs in successive 2-inch layers.

    • 12

      Shampoo and condition the dog as normal before blowing dry its hair completely with a bristled brush. Leaving a long-haired dachshund with damp hair invites tangles.

    Smooth Dachshund

    • 13

      Brush the dog's entire coat with the stiff-bristled brush to remove any shedding hair or grit.

    • 14

      Shampoo and scrub the dog in the bathtub. The short hair of its smooth coat never tangles, so applying conditioner is optional.

    • 15

      Remove your dachshund from the bath and wrap it in a towel to prevent chilling. Blow drying is optional, but a smooth-haired dachshund chills easily when wet.