A common misconception about smaller dog breeds is that they do not shed, but the reality is that the majority do. But what about those cute weiner dogs, do dachshunds shed a lot? The short answer is yes, dachshunds, aka ‘sausage’ or ‘wiener’ dogs shed just like any other small dog breed. If you are considering bringing a dachshund into your home, here is all you need to know about their shedding habits.
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Ultimately, dachshunds are a low-shedding breed, but they do still shed. To understand why and how dachshunds lose hair as they do, we first need to take a deeper look into the origins of this dog breed.
The commonly named wiener dog was first bred in Germany, some 6 centuries ago. The purpose of the breed was to hunt badgers.
As you may be able to imagine, those long, slinky bodies, coupled with short, stubby legs, made this dog the perfect option for infiltrating underground badger networks. These days, of course, the dachshund is no longer required to hunt badgers, but its natural instincts remain.
This doesn’t mean that your sausage dog will seek and attack badgers, but rather its natural shedding instincts. Given the amount of time spent outdoors, the dachshund needs a coat that will keep it cool in summer and warm in winter.
There is some variation in the breed that changes how much the dogs shed. Generally, the breed is split into the long-haired dachshund, wire-haired dachshund, and short-haired dachshunds. There isn’t a great deal of difference beyond appearance, but they may have different shedding behaviors.
Long-haired dachshunds shed a moderate amount, given the composition of its coat. A long-haired dachshund’s coat has two layers to it.
The lower layer is closest to the dog’s skin and has coarse hairs that form a dense undercoat, this offers great temperature management properties. The top layer is thinner, with long hairs that protect the dog’s body from dirt and bacteria.
These two layers are both relatively thick, hence the increased amount of shedding when compared to a short or wire-haired dachshund.
Within the world of sausage dogs, there is an abundance of miniature dachshunds, and with good reason. As these dogs were used more and more in the hunting of rabbits, huntsmen would continuously pick the smallest dogs in the litter, to burrow into small holes.
The result of this unnatural selection was that the dog breed’s average size was reduced time and time again. This is why we have a lot of miniature dachshunds.
In terms of whether or not miniature dachshunds shed, they certainly do, albeit not very much. Given that the larger dachshund doesn’t shed very much, it stands to reason that the mini dachshund will shed even less.
Wire-haired dachshunds shed more than any other dachshund on this list, and when it does, owners can expect quite a bit of cleaning up. As you may expect based on the name, wire-haired dachshunds have short and thick coats, with wiry little hairs.
Wire-haired dachshunds, much like their long-haired cousin, has both an undercoat and an outer coat. It is the undercoat that sheds mostly, leaving behind very fine hairs for you to clean up.
It is thought that wire-haired dachshunds are probably the result of cross-breeding the dachshund with other wire-haired dogs like the German pinscher or terriers.
The smooth-haired dachshund, or smooth-coated dachshund, is the easiest to care for out of those we have mentioned because it sheds so little. Many dachshund owners attest that their dogs do not shed, but this is not strictly true.
The reality is that owners think this because the amount of hair loss is so negligible. Dog fur around the home is not an issue for owners of this dog breed, because the coat is just one, single layer.
The smooth dachshund does not need to blow its coat, as the one it has suits it for all weather conditions. With the smooth-haired dachshund, shedding is mostly done as they run around outside, and even when they lose hair at home, it is almost one hair at a time. This is why owners don’t find too much dog hair around the place.
These dogs shed a moderate amount, but far more than so many people realize. Much of the confusion is because dachshund hair is hard to spot as it is so small. These dogs can molt quite a bit.
To begin with, very few people realize that the dachshund has a double coat. Just like other double-coated dogs, they must blow out their coats at least twice a year.
You will find that wire-haired and long-haired dachshunds shed the most during the fall and spring months. During the fall you can expect to see your dachshund shedding excessively to get rid of its summer coat and grow a thick undercoat for the winter.
Conversely during the spring, it will blow out its winter coat and grow a thinner undercoat for summer. This is the shedding routine of a dachshund with a healthy coat, but you may see these dogs shed throughout the year too.
A little bit of loose hair throughout the year isn’t anything to worry about. If however, you see excessive shedding outside of spring or fall, it may be that there is a health issue.
Wirehaired and longhaired dachshunds shed the most, and there isn’t much that you can do to stop this process completely. What you can do is take steps to prevent the amount of loose hair from falling from your dachshund’s coat.
There are ways in which you can keep your dog healthy, minimize your dog’s shedding and keep your house free from pet dander and dachshund hair. Here are some tips on reducing shedding.
A regular grooming routine is one of the best ways in which you can manage shedding. This is especially true with the wirehaired and longhaired dachshunds, which have those thick undercoats.
When it is not shedding season you should look to groom your dachshund once or twice a week. During shedding season, however, you may need to up that to around once every couple of days.
A proper grooming routine simply involves taking a soft bristle brush from the dog’s head down to its feet. This will help to get rid of all of that excess hair, that the dog is in the process of shedding.
Removing dead hair like this means you’re not only helping the dog but also reducing the amount of hair that falls around the home. It is also worth considering, on occasion, giving your dog a bath and washing its hair with anti-shed dog shampoo.
This will not only prevent hair loss but also boost the health and strength of the hair follicles beneath. Your dachshund’s double coat is very sensitive so be sure to use doggy shampoo and avoid using human bathing products.
If your dog’s coat is wiry or coarse, it may be best to use a pin brush or a slicker brush, as these have a little more pull and precision to them. If you are in any doubt about removing these dead hairs from your dachshund, take them to a professional groomer to get the job done.
It can be expensive to use a professional grooming service all the time, so don’t be afraid to ask them for some tips you can use at home.
No matter what kind of dachshund you have, health and diet are critical factors in managing how much they shed. This is even truer with the miniature dachshund, as they are incredibly sensitive to the diet that they are given.
Your dachshund must eat dog food packed with fatty acids, vitamins A and E, as well as a diet that is low in fat. A poor diet has a direct impact on the amount that your dachshund sheds.
This goes for wirehaired dachshunds as much as it does for short and long-haired dachshunds. To keep its body and coat healthy, dog foods should generally feature 50% meat and 50% vegetables.
This is what the majority of vets will recommend for your dog’s diet. Eating a healthy diet will help to minimize your dog’s hair loss, even during shedding season.
You may be able to prevent excessive shedding and reduce hair loss in your dachshund, but we can never stop it entirely. This is why you should have a good idea as to what tools you can use to keep the home clean from loose dog hair.
If possible, it will make sense to keep your pooch in just one or two areas of the home. This will mean that you have less surface area to clean.
The best option for flooring is to brush the hair from hardwood flooring and vacuum hair from carpets and furniture. A brush and a vacuum will do a decent job, but you’ll need some extra help with furniture and clothing, especially if you have a wire-haired or long-haired breed.
Brushed and hoovers can pick up the odd hair that a short-haired dachshund will lose from that smooth, outer coat. The wiry and stringy hairs of the other breeds, however, need tools.
A pet hair lint roller is a great option here, and you can easily run it over any affected area and just watch as every hair sticks to the adhesive roll. These products are also good grooming tools to be used on the dachshund or other dogs, to whip off any loose hair.
Alternatively, you could use a pet hair removal tool. These appear like metal scrapers that disrupt the hair tied into fabrics and other surfaces. Both of these tools are helpful when you are taking on loose pet hair around the home.
Do dachshunds shed? You bet, twice a year and sometimes more in the case of the long-haired variety. But not very much at all, and this is one of the big plusses of having one of these companions around the home. Dachshund shedding is considered a moderate 5/10, with 10 being the grade given to dogs who display excessive shedding.
If you want a dachshund without the shedding, the best option is to look at smooth dachshunds. These do shed hair but the amount is minimal.
Like all hunting dog breeds, dachshunds do bark a lot. With education and discipline, you can minimize this, but their instinct is to bark.
Because dachshund coats shed, they are not considered hypoallergenic dogs. Even smooth-coat dachshunds do shed some hair, releasing allergens.
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