When I brought home Oscar, my smooth-coated dachshund, I thought grooming meant a weekly brush and a bath every few months. Three ear infections and one expensive vet visit later, I realized I had no idea what I was doing.

And if you’re reading this — you’re probably in the same boat. Your dachshund hates baths. You’re terrified of cutting those black nails. Their ears smell funny and you’re not sure what’s normal.

Here’s the thing: dachshunds aren’t like other dogs. Their long backs, short legs, floppy ears, and three coat types make grooming a different game.

But I didn’t know that at first. Took me three years with Oscar and helping friends with longhaired and wirehaired doxies to figure it out. Here’s what works.

The Three Dachshund Coat Types

First thing — what kind of coat does your dachshund have? This matters more than I thought it did.

Smooth (Shorthaired). That’s Oscar. Classic short, glossy coat. Low maintenance on brushing but these guys shed like crazy. You’ll want a grooming glove or rubber curry brush two to three times a week.

Longhaired. My friend Lisa’s dachshund Luna has this coat. Silky, wavy, beautiful — and it mats if you blink. Skip brushing for a week and you’re spending an hour detangling. A pin brush every other day is non-negotiable.

Wirehaired. Wirehaired dachshunds have a dense, rough outer coat with a softer undercoat. They need stripping (pulling dead hair by hand) a few times a year. Still, it’s the most work of the three. But owners love how low-shedding they are.

Not sure which one you have? Look at the texture. Smooth feels like a hunting dog’s coat. Longhaired is silky. Wirehaired is coarse, with eyebrows and a beard.

Brushing & Coat Care

A healthy dachshund coat starts with good nutrition. I noticed Oscar’s coat got shinier after I switched to food with more omega fatty acids — something our dachshund nutrition guide covers.

For brushing, here’s what I use depending on coat type:

Here’s something I learned the hard way: seasonal shedding on a smooth dachshund is real. Oscar blows his coat twice a year and for about three weeks I’m brushing him daily. That grooming glove catches enough fur to build a second dachshund. But it’s worth it — regular brushing means less fur floating around.

Bathing Your Dachshund Safely

Bathing a dachshund isn’t like bathing a Labrador. Their long backs and short legs make standard bathtubs a nightmare.

Oscar’s first bath was a disaster. I put him in the tub, he tried to jump out, and we both ended up wet and stressed.

So here’s what actually works:

Use a non-slip mat or a shallow plastic tub. Dachshunds panic on slippery surfaces. I use a rubber bath mat in a low plastic tub. Oscar can stand with all four paws firmly planted.

Support their back and belly. I keep one hand under his chest at all times. No standing, no reaching, no jumping. If he needs to turn, I guide him carefully. This reduces the risk of back injury.

Water temperature. Lukewarm, not hot. Dachshunds have sensitive skin.

Drying matters more than you think. Floppy ears trap moisture. After the bath, I gently pat Oscar’s ears dry with a towel and let him air-dry before roaming. Wet ears can lead to yeast issues.

How often? Every four to six weeks is plenty for most dachshunds. Over-bathing strips their natural oils. And for more on keeping that long back healthy, our dachshund back health guide covers safe handling in depth.

Nail Trimming

This is the part every dachshund owner dreads. Honestly, I get it — I was scared too.

Dachshunds often have black nails, which means you can’t see the quick. But you can see it with a grinder instead of clippers.

I tried traditional nail clippers first. Oscar hated them. The crunching sound freaked him out, and I was nervous every time.

Then I switched to a Dremel PawControl nail grinder. Honestly, it changed everything.

Dremel PawControl 7760-PET Dog Nail Grinder — I bought mine on Amazon and it’s the safest way to handle black dachshund nails. No crunching sound, no guessing where the quick is.

Instead of snipping, it sands the nail down gradually. You can see exactly where the quick is because it appears as a small dark dot in the center of the nail as you grind. No guessing, no bleeding.

So here’s my routine:

• Let Oscar sniff the grinder while it’s off.
• Turn it on and let him hear the sound before touching his paw.
• Start with one nail per session if he’s nervous. Reward heavily.
• Grind in short bursts — two seconds on, check, two seconds on.

I reviewed the Dremel PawControl in detail here. But the short version: six months of regular use, zero quick hits, and Oscar actually lets me do his nails now. Still doesn’t love it, but he tolerates it.

Now one more thing — dachshunds love digging. That means their paw pads can get dry and cracked. A little paw balm after nail trimming helps a lot.

Ear Cleaning

Dachshund ears flop down. That means air doesn’t circulate well inside the ear canal. Warm, dark, moist — it’s a perfect spot for infections.

I check Oscar’s ears once a week. What’s normal: pale pink inside, faint waxy smell, no discharge. And what’s not: redness, dark discharge, sour smell, head shaking, or scratching.

If you see those signs — see your vet. I learned this the hard way. Oscar’s first ear infection cost me over $200 because I ignored the smell. So weekly checks are worth it.

For routine cleaning, here’s what I do:

Don’t use cotton swabs. They push debris deeper into the ear canal. Use a vet-recommended ear cleaning solution and cotton balls.

How to do it: Fill the ear canal with solution. Gently massage the base for about 30 seconds. Then let Oscar shake his head. Then wipe the visible part with a cotton ball. Never go deeper than what you can see.

Frequency: Weekly for most dachshunds. Every two weeks if their ears stay clean. But increase to twice a week during allergy season or after swimming.

Dental Care

I used to think dental care was optional for dogs. Then my vet pointed to the connection between gum disease and other health issues, and I started taking it seriously.

For dachshunds, brushing is the gold standard — but if yours won’t tolerate a toothbrush (Oscar definitely didn’t), dental chews are a solid backup.

Greenies Teenie Dental Chews are available on Amazon in multi-packs — VOHC-approved and the Teenie size fits a dachshund’s mouth perfectly.

Greenies Teenie dental chews are the ones Oscar gets daily. They’re VOHC-approved, meaning an independent board verified they reduce tartar. Plus they’re small enough for a dachshund’s mouth.

I also keep a dental gel and finger brush for days Oscar tolerates it. And for a complete breakdown of what works for dachshund teeth, check out our complete dachshund dental care guide.

Quick Grooming Schedule

Here’s the cheat sheet I wish I had three years ago:

Bottom Line

Here’s what I wish someone had told me when I brought Oscar home: dachshund grooming isn’t complicated — it’s just different. The long back means you bathe differently. The floppy ears mean you clean weekly. The black nails mean you use a grinder instead of clippers. And the coat type determines your brush.

So start with one thing. Pick ear cleaning this week. Or try the nail grinder next time. You don’t have to get it perfect on day one — I sure didn’t.

And if you’re still nervous, our guides on back health, nutrition, and dental care dive deeper into each piece.