Properly grooming your dachshund will go a long way toward ensuring their lasting happiness and health. Some grooming practices should be performed daily, while others can be more intermittent. Plus, by making grooming a regular habit, your dachshund will gradually grow to be comfortable with the routine.
Whether they’re a shorthaired, wirehaired, or longhaired, below is everything you need to know about grooming your dachshund:
Brushing your dachshund
If you’re concerned with shedding, regular brushing will drastically reduce the amount of pet hair left around your home. Longhaired dachshunds require daily brushing, as mats can easily develop behind their ears and where their hair is longest. When brushing your longhaired dachshund, sectioning the hair with clips can help you locate and manage any knots. Wirehaired and shorthaired dachshunds, meanwhile, need less frequent brushing. Every few days, Wirehaired dachshunds should be brushed with a wire bristle brush, and shorthaired dachshunds with a soft bristle brush.
Bathing your dachshund
Bathing will also help your dachshund maintain a smooth coat. Baths should be regular but not overly-frequent, as the natural oils in your pet’s hair protect its skin from the environment. During a bath, gently clean your dachshund’s ears with a cotton ball or the tip of a moistened towel, taking care to keep soap and water out of its eyes and ears. Remember to exclusively use dog-friendly shampoos and cleaning agents, as products formulated for humans tend to have pH levels unsuitable for dogs. And, while shorthaired and wirehaired dachshunds may be left to air-dry after a bath, longhaired dachshunds should be blow-dried with a hair dryer on a low setting.
Brushing their teeth
Making a habit of brushing your dachshund’s teeth at least twice a week is important, too, as doing so can forestall an expensive and painful dental surgery in the future. Using a clean toothbrush, apply a pea-sized amount of dog-toothpaste to the brush, gently pull back your dog’s lips, and spend one to two minutes brushing the teeth.
Trimming their nails
The final step in grooming your dachshund is nail trimming, which should be done carefully and with prior instruction from your vet or a grooming professional. Without proper attention, you may cut too far and puncture the quick, a blood vessel under the nail. You can avoid this by only trimming the tip of the nail.
For more information regarding dachshund care, or if you’re interested in welcoming a dachshund puppy into your home, visit Patti’s Dachshund Farm.
