Long haired Dachshund dogs are loyal, protective little dogs with long wavy coats. And they have less health problems than their short haired cousins! They need daily grooming, monthly bathing and a great diet to stay silky smooth and tangle free. But that’s a small price to pay for such a pretty puppy.
Contents
- Long haired Dachshund personality
- Are long haired Dachshunds healthier?
- Bathing and grooming
- Long haired Dachshund haircuts
These short hounds were bred to hunt and as watchdogs yet make popular apartment pets and lapdogs. Affectionate with their owners, they have a stubborn, independent, bold streak and big urge to chase the wildlife. But long haired Dachshund puppies are easy to train with positive methods, despite having strong chasing, digging, barking and prey drives. Today we’ll look at how to adopt and raise a healthy, friendly long haired Dachshund dog.
What is a Long Haired Dachshund?
Dachshunds are toy sized dogs with hound personalities. They have long bodies, short legs and a narrow muzzle. The long-haired Dachshund has an elegant, flowing coat. In fact, it is one of three Dachshund coat varieties, which can all be found in either the standard or miniature breed.
The other coat varieties are smooth-haired and wire-haired. Grooming needs and care requirements are the main differences between these three coat types. Although, there are some indications that health and temperaments differ too.
Long Haired Dachshund Temperament
Your Dachshund is intelligent, independent and highly courageous! They will have a strong prey drive and a sensitive disposition. This mean they may require a great deal of rewards-based, positive training. Dachshunds were originally bred to focus fully on a single task (i.e. chasing and digging out a badger). So, don’t be surprised if they don’t come immediately every time you call, especially if they are engrossed in something else.
A study published in 2014 suggested that miniature Dachshund’s are among the most aggressive breeds towards other dogs, when compared with 16 other breeds. Dachshunds may not always be great with children either. So, it’s worth vetting their behavior before bringing them into a home with kids or other animals.
Interestingly, there are temperament differences between the coat varieties based on differences in the origins and crossbreeding involved in creating them.
The long haired variety is said to be the sweetest and most obedient of the three thanks to their spaniel heritage! The smooth haired on the other hand is said to be the most willful. And finally, the wire haired is known for wanting to be the center of attention.
Long Haired Dachshund Health
Dachshunds are prone to intervertebral disc disease (IVDD) because of their long backs. In fact, they are at 10-12 times higher risk of IVDD than other breeds. IVDD is a degenerative process. It causes the discs in the spine to become hardened and lead to pain, stiffness and lameness. This sometimes requires surgery.
A recent study showed that Dachshunds that have over an hour of exercise per day have a lower risk of developing IVDD. Interestingly, dogs that were allowed to jump on furniture also had a lower risk of IVDD than those who weren’t allowed. However, these results do not imply causation. We therefore recommend you ask your vet for advice on how best to exercise your dog.
Long haired Dachshunds seem to have a slightly lower incidence of IVDD than the other coat varieties, which is good news for your pooch. It’s still important to take care when you lift them however. Pick up both ends at once so you don’t injure their backs.
Dachshunds in general can also be prone to obesity, meaning you have to keep an eye on how much they eat. They’ve been known to go to great lengths to find food scraps, so you’ll definitely need to be vigilant!
Grooming your Long Haired Dachshund
Dachshunds are fairly clean dogs and are moderate shedders. The smooth-haired types are pretty low maintenance. The luscious locks of your long haired variety, in contrast, will certainly require more brushing and care.
Brushing every day will help you get rid of, and prevent, tangles. Frequent brushing also helps keep loose hairs from being shed around your home.
Long-haired Dachshunds are particularly prone to knots behind their ears and in their tail. If left unattended these tangles can tighten and become matts, which often have to be cut or shaved out with clippers.
- To groom them thoroughly you’ll need a few basic tools: a standard dog brush (bristle/pin), a slicker brush and a metal comb.
- Start with the standard brush all over the body, beginning at the head and always working in the direction of the hair growth. This gets rid of surface debris.
- Then use the slicker brush in the same way to penetrate their double coat and get rid of tangles.
- Finally, use the comb to take down remaining and difficult tangles. Depending on the length/thickness of the coat, you may want to section the fur using clips, to ensure you get through to the undercoat.
The tail and ear hairs are very fine, so it’s a good idea to take extra care when grooming these areas so as not to tear the hair and/or hurt your little pooch.
Dachshund Grooming Video
Dachshund Grooming Tools
If you want to really do up your long haired Dachshund check out our ultimate home grooming tool recommendations below.
- For your basic brushing, we recommend a sturdy double sided brush. The pin side is perfect for your pooch’s long fur and the bristle side is great at removing debris and leaving the fur shining. This double sided brush is suitable for any type of dog fur, so it’s a bonus if you have more than one pet.
- To really get into the Dachsie’s double coat and remove stubborn matts and tangles. You may also want a slicker brush
- Finally, if you’re hoping to clip and comb at home in something of a ‘show style’ why not try a kit. Choose one with clippers, shears and a comb.
Grooming Sensitive Dogs
Not all dogs will enjoy being groomed, so it pays to be gentle and sensitive to their needs.For example, limit grooming to no more than 20 minutes at a time. Also, make sure to reward reluctant groomees who manage to stay still for you.
If your pooch is new to your family, it may take some time to build up the trust needed for daily grooming sessions. It’s important to start early and reward your dog for his/her patience with you. In time however, grooming your dog can become a unique bonding experience and one which you will both look forward to!
Bathing Your Long Haired Dachshund
In terms of bathing, even long haired Dachshunds don’t require frequent baths, unless they get into something dirty.
A bath every couple of months should be fine. No more than once a month is necessary, as this may dry out the skin and cause sensitivities, or other problems.
As with any breed, you’ll also need to clip their nails regularly. Once a month should do the trick for your Dachsie.
Long Haired Dachshund Haircuts
Your long haired Dachshund will require some fur clipping, particularly around the feet and ears. Long foot hair can become tangled with debris and make walking on some surfaces such as hard wood or tile, extremely difficult.
If left unclipped, these hairs can tangle in things that will eventually damage the pads of your dogs’ feet. Trimming them is something you can do at home, or something you can get done at a grooming parlor.
Visiting a grooming parlor can be stressful for some dogs. Depending on your dog’s personality, it may make sense to tackle this task at home. If you do decide to take this on, you’ll find it’s not a big deal at all.
Haircuts – Step by Step
First, make sure your dog is comfortable with you touching his/her paws. This can be tricky for some, but patience usually pays off.
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When you’re ready, get comfortable with your dog, either on the floor or up on a table covered with a towel/cloth to collect the trimmed fur.
Pick up and hold one of the paws firmly while gently back brushing the fur (against the hair growth) with a slicker brush. This exposes and pushes up the long fur between the toes.
Then, with some shears/scissors snip off the extra hair, making sure to keep the scissors flat against the paw and never pointing them towards the paw. You don’t want to clip too much, just enough to neaten up the paw and prevent the hair flopping over the end of it.
When you’re done with the top of the paw, turn it over and trim the hair on the pads as well. You can use the scissors/shears for this too, but you can also use a small electric clipper, gently trimming over and between the pads. This tends to tickle so be prepared for some wriggling!
Either way it’s worth showing your dog the clipper ahead of time and letting him/her sniff it and hear its’ noise so they can get used to it.
Finally, repeat the above steps with your dog’s other paws, and step back and admire your work! Here’s a video that demonstrates how to trim the paws of any long haired dog.
