How to Grooming Long Haired Dachshunds

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Medium
5 - 60 Minutes
1 Week

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Introduction

Long-haired Doxies are known for their fiery spirit, larger-than-life ego, and fearlessness. Unfortunately, these characteristics don't always equal good grooming manners. Grooming a feisty fur-baby is particularly challenging if they haven't been exposed to different cutting and styling techniques growing up. With this tutorial, some treats, and a lot of praise, Fido can be a grooming "pawfessional" in no time.

Dog's Perspective

Imagine if someone 10 times bigger than you snatched you from your comfy bed and — with no explanation — started running a loud, buzzing razor all over your sensitive bits. Sounds pretty scary, right? Well, that's probably how most pooches feel during their first haircut. The most successful tactics for getting a dog used to being groomed are positive reinforcement and conditioning — no, not the hair stuff, but you'll need that too.

The Show Dog Cut Method

Effective
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Slicker Brush
Scissors
Pin Brush
Step
1
Starting out
Start with a clean and dry pooch, preferably sitting on a raised, level surface so that your eyes are level with theirs.
Step
2
Trim the face
Gently but tautly hold back the ear flaps. Use clippers (or straight scissors) to clean up the hair within the ear canal. Using your thinning shears angled upward, follow the dog's jaw line using a gentle snipping motion. This technique will highlight the face and blend any uneven hair around the neck and by their ears. While thinning, periodically stop to brush the area you're working on to ensure the hair is around the same length.
Step
3
Stripping stone
Once you're finished with the neck and ear area, use a stripping stone to "pluck" the dull, frizzy undercoat. Gently hold your dog's muzzle then use the stone in a brushing motion along the neck and the top of the head.
Step
4
Snip and brush
Next, you'll take your thinning shears and start trimming and blending the hair from the neck to the shoulder and into the chest. Angle the shears under the topcoat and cut with an upward snipping motion. Only make one snip per area, then brush in the direction the hair grows to see if you need to take more off. The idea is to clean up and accentuate the coat's natural appearance.
Step
5
Shoulders and back
Work backward with the thinning shears from the shoulder ridge, down the back, and through the hind. Make sure you're alternating between the thinning shears and the slicker brush. This technique takes patience, but the result is worth it.
Step
6
Thin out the undercoat
Using your stripping knife, pull your pooch's skin taut and move the knife in short raking motions, moving with the natural direction of the hair. Do not use a backcombing motion. The purpose of the stripping knife is to thin the undercoat, not to strip the hair entirely.
Step
7
Paws
Lift and hold your dog's front paw gently but securely with your non-dominant hand. Using your dominant hand, pull the hair up between the toes, then snip the excess with your straight scissors. Clip the hair around the edges of your dog's foot using care not to accidentally cut their nails. Most dogs don't like their paws touched, so you might need to keep some treats handy during this step.

The Utility Cut Method

Effective
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Spray
Slicker Brush
Scissors
Pin Brush
Nail Clipper
Comb
Clipper
Step
1
Starting out
Begin by brushing your Doxie in the direction the hair grows. Tangles in the fur can cause the clippers to work incorrectly and pull your pup's hair. It's best to have your dog stand on a raised surface for this technique.
Step
2
Clipping
With a ¾-inch guard, start clipping from the back of the neck down the shoulders, chest, and back. Use slow, even motions in the direction of hair growth. Cut in short sections no longer than 4 to 5 inches at a time; this will ensure the coat looks natural and blends evenly. Use this same technique on all four legs.
Step
3
Abdomen
For the abdomen, use the same clipping technique as step 2, except cut against the grain of the hair.
Step
4
Ears
If you want to leave your pup's ears longer, start by misting them with some water until damp. While holding the ear away from the face, gently comb the ear hair. Then take your straight scissors and snip to the desired length. For a more layered look, use the thinning shears at the tips of the ears. Then use your straight scissors to tip-cut and blend the ends.
Step
5
Tail
Dampen the tail with your water bottle and brush it out with the pin brush followed by the slicker brush. Using your thinning shears, work your way from the top of the tail down, using small snipping motions, under the topcoat, to thin the hair underneath. The idea isn't to take length off the tail but to sharpen the look by cutting the undercoat.
Step
6
Nails
Finish up with a nail clip, and you're done!

Caution & Considerations

Your Dachshund's long spine is very delicate. Always support their spine when holding and maneuvering this breed. Keeping a Dachshund's nails short is crucial since overgrowth can cause them to develop an unusual posture, which can put extra strain on their long, fragile spine.

Typically this breed doesn't need more than 2 or 3 baths a month since they have very little body odor (thank goodness). Bathing too often can strip the coat of its natural oils and dry the skin underneath. Brush your long-haired Dachshund every day to distribute the oils in their fur, decrease shedding, and prevent mats.

A grooming table makes grooming short-statured dogs like Doxies easier and lessens the strain on the groomers back. Although somewhat pricey, a good grooming table will last a lifetime.

Selecting the correct brushes is crucial when dealing with a fine-haired dog like the long-haired Doxie. You may need a few different types, but the main two are a good slicker brush and a pin bristle brush. Using the wrong brushes can be painful and damage the hair.

Conclusion

Grooming a stressed dog is nerve-wracking for everyone. Creating positive associations with the grooming experience will result in a calmer and more cooperative dog and make your job easier. Tasty treats, lots of pets, and some patience will help your dog learn to enjoy their spa days.

Success Stories and Grooming Questions

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