How to Groom a Wire-Haired Dachshund?

 Dachshund stripping knife

How to Groom a Wire-Haired Dachshund

Find our Youtube channel for tips and videos on hand-stripping your dachshund >

Wire-haired dachshunds are full of personality and character, with a unique and pleasant coat that requires maintenance. 😊  

-> If you haven't already, we recommend checking out our "guide to the wire-haired dachshund" on our blog! 

Regular grooming of wire-haired dachshunds is essential to ensure your dog keeps their sleek and smart appearance!

Since they love to play, especially outdoors, it is important to keep your dog clean and well-groomed.

The coat of a wire-haired dachshund is composed of two layers:

• a thick and soft undercoat to keep them warm
• a short, coarse guard coat (protection)

By removing their fur through hand-stripping, you are doing them a favor!

And yes, with the right technique and the right equipment, you remove their dead hair.

Basics of Grooming Your Wire-Haired Dachshund

Most wire-haired dog breeds (e.g., Fox Terrier or German Pointer) need regular brushing and grooming to stay healthy and respond well to hand-stripping.

Indeed, grooming your wire-haired dachshund consists of hand-stripping, bathing, brushing, and taking care of their teeth and claws (and nothing stops you from taking care of their eyes and ears as well).

To do this, you must use equipment adapted to your dog and their beautiful coat:

• Thinning Shears and/or Standard Scissors

• Stripping knife (trimmer)

• Dog Brush

• Grooming glove

This way, your dog will receive the best care for their health. 😇

Also, during this grooming time with your companion, we advise you to check if their coat is hiding any parasites or foreign bodies (ticks, fleas).

The Bath:  

Wire-haired dachshunds should not be washed with shampoo more than three or four times a year.

A dog's skin produces quantities of sebum, which coats the hairs of the undercoat and protects against cold and heat.

Giving them a bath removes most of this sebum, making the dog vulnerable to heat and cold, although it makes the coat softer to the touch.

Use lukewarm water and a professional shampoo designed for your wire-haired dachshund, then rinse very well.

Avoid getting water into the dog's long, floppy ears, which are prone to infections due to their covered ear canal.

Drying: 

You can first let your dog shake themselves off in the shower, and then dry them.

Use a warm, soft towel to pat their coat dry and help them remove excess water.

There is a good chance they will roll on the floor and get all energetic, running everywhere... Our dog Néo does it every time. 😜

 

If the noise does not bother your dog too much, you can help dry them with a special dog hair dryer.

Set the thermostat to its lowest setting so they are not scared, and you can even plug it in a few times during the day or week just to get them used to it.

Brushing Your Wire-Haired Dachshund

To properly groom your wire-haired dachshund, you can brush them several times a week using a soft brush.

Brush in the direction of hair growth, lifting the coat as you go.

Apply light pressure so that the brush reaches the dog's skin.

This removes dead cells from the surface and stimulates the skin's sebum-producing glands, which keeps the coat clean and healthy.

Be careful not to press too hard, as you could damage your pooch's skin, which could lead to an infection.

Follow the brushing with a thorough combing for the final finish.

Hand-Stripping Your Wire-Haired Dachshund

Wire-haired dachshund owners generally hand-strip (see our YouTube video) their dog's coat twice a year, first in the spring, just before the hot summer season, and then in the autumn, before the growth of a new winter coat.

But nothing stops you from stripping them more regularly and lightly every 2 weeks (for Néo, it's every Sunday).

We recommend using a stripping knife for dogs.

You can start with the sides, then behind the ears.

Next comes the back, the thighs, and the tail.

For finishing the legs, ears, and chest, dog scissors are preferable for trimming evenly.

Touch their face very little, and do not touch their whiskers, though they must be brushed with care.

Clipping a Wire-Haired Dachshund?

The answer is NO.

If you want your dog to stay healthy with a sparkling coat that doesn't curl, you must hand-strip (trimmer) them, but do not use an electric clipper.

In any case, a qualified professional dog groomer will be able to guide you, and you can also ask your veterinarian for advice.

Maintenance of Wire-Haired Dachshund Claws

You must use animal nail (claw) clippers.

Your best friend's nails are another important part of their grooming, and you will need to do it if their activity level is not sufficient.

During play or outdoor outings, their nails may file down naturally.

Remember to check between their pads (interstices) when you return home, as foreign objects like stones can get stuck there:

IMPORTANT ⚠️: Before cutting their claws, we recommend asking a qualified groomer or your vet for advice, as you could hurt your dog if you cut them too short.

Finally, you can also trim and even out the hair between the pads with your scissors. 🐾

Conclusion

Grooming your wire-haired dachshund is a gentle and unique time spent with your dog. 😇

We haven't mentioned the ears, but using a cotton swab soaked in dog ear lotion (consult your vet), you can clean them, because since the dachshund is a low-to-the-ground dog, the ground easily introduces dust and dirt.

The same goes for their teeth; you can reduce tartar with a dog toothbrush and dog toothpaste and/or with a dental play ball.

Tell us in the comments how often you groom your magnificent wire-haired dachshund and send us photos (contact@teckelshop.fr), we will post them on our social media!

The Teckelshop team - 💚 Last modified on 03/25/26

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