Dachshunds are a great companion dog. Just like most other dogs, they do have the tendency to shed their fur. They are considered to shed moderately, but there is variation throughout the breed depending on the type of coat they have.
There are three types of coat varieties in the Dachshund breed. They can be either smooth-haired, wire-haired, or long-haired. The longer the coat is, the more they are likely to shed. With longer fur, the Dachshund will need to be groomed to prevent shedding.
How Much Do Dachshunds Shed?
When compared to other dog breeds, Dachshunds are only considered to be moderate shedders. It is not likely that you will find massive amounts of hair on your floor, bed, and couch. If you regularly groom them, it is possible that you won’t find much loose hair at all.
The shedding of the Dachshund will depend on what type of coat they have. As mentioned above, there are three types of coat varieties found in Dachshunds. They can have a smooth coat, longhaired coat, or wirehaired coat.
Smooth Coat
Dachshunds with a smooth coat are most popular in the United States. Those with smooth coats have short, shiny fur. They have less of an undercoat than the other types of Dachshunds, so they shed the least out of all three.
To take care of a short coat Dachshund, they only need to be brushed once a week. You can even use a grooming mitt to remove the shedding hair from the pup’s body. This is usually more enjoyable for the short hair because it won’t irritate their skin.
Longhaired
Longhaired Dachshunds are the ones that have sleek, wavy outercoats and a fleecy undercoat. The fleecy undercoat serves the purpose of keeping the dogs warm during the winter months. The undercoat is also what causes them to shed more often than smooth coat Dachshunds.
Dachshunds with long hair need to be brushed daily to keep their coat managed. They are typically brushed with a bristle brush to prevent tangles in their fur and remove any loose fur from the under- and outer coats. If they do have tangles in their fur from hair that gets stuck during shedding, use a wire-pinned brush to get them out.
Wirehaired
Similar to the longhaired Dachshunds, wirehaired also have a thick undercoat that makes them shed more. However, their shedding isn’t the main reason they need to be groomed more often than the other two breeds. Their outercoats are bristly, and they have bushy eyebrows and beards.
This coat will also require daily brushing to prevent tangles and remove any loose hair that is shedding. In addition to their daily maintenance, wirehaired Dachshunds also require plucking and stripping twice a year. This requires a stripping knife and pulls out the majority of the undercoat and other loose fur.
How to Reduce Shedding
You can’t completely stop your Dachshund from shedding because it is a natural process. They shed old fur to grow new fur. It is possible to reduce the amount of shedding that occurs. To do this, you need to help the pup maintain a healthy coat in every way possible. A healthier coat will be stronger and won’t fall out as easily.
Proper Nourishment
One of the most important factors of a Dachshund’s coat is the nourishment they get. It is essential to feed your Dachshund a balanced diet. For the healthiest coat, it might even be worth considering a raw food diet. It will also be beneficial to add flaxseeds, coconut oil, or salmon oil to their food.
These additions help nourish the dog’s skin, promotes a healthier and shinier coat, and reduces shedding.
Grooming
Dachshunds are in need of proper grooming to get rid of any loose fur. The smooth coat dachshund only needs grooming once a week, while the other two require grooming once a day. The wirehaired Dachshund requires even more shedding than the other two, as they need to be plucked and stripped twice a year.
My Dachshund is Shedding Excessively
If you notice that your dachshund is shedding a lot more than normal, and it’s not time for them to shed their undercoat, it is a good idea to consult your vet. Excessive shedding can be a sign of some underlying health issues and should be taken seriously.
Some dachshunds can even develop color dilution alopecia. With this, the follicle of the fur becomes weak and falls out but doesn’t grow back. When this happens, it leaves the dog’s skin exposed and at higher risk of developing skin conditions, infections, or even cancer. Take them to the vet immediately.
Is Dachshund Fur Hypoallergenic?
If you are allergic to dogs that shed, you might be lucky with a dachshund. While they are not considered to be hypoallergenic, people with dog allergies usually don’t get any symptoms from dachshund fur because they don’t shed as much as other dog breeds.
Since dog allergies aren’t normally caused by the fur of the dog, but the dander that is attached to the hair, wirehaired dachshunds are the most recommended for those who have dog allergies. This is because they don’t release very much dander when they shed.
When you are thinking about bringing a dachshund home, but you have dog allergies, you can try to spend some more time with the pup before they come to live with you forever. This will give you an idea of how you will react to the dog.
Recap
Shedding is a huge concern for just about everyone when bringing a new dog into the family. When it comes to dachshunds, they are considered to be moderate shedders. The amount of fur shed depends on the type of coat the dachshund has.
There are three different coat types: smooth, longhaired, and wirehaired. Smooth will be the easiest to groom and sheds the least. Longhaired and wirehaired dachshunds will shed the most and require daily grooming, with wirehaired also required stripping and plucking twice a year.
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