Bathing time! How to bathe your Dachshund

In nine cases out of ten dachshunds do not like water and are dismayed of bathing. In this article, we will talk about how to make your dachshund bathing experience a pleasant one.

Few breeds are not designed to be good swimmers, and sausage dogs are one of them. It has a lot to do with body structure. With their elongated bodies and short legs, dachshunds are far from being excellent swimmers and are naturally resistant to any water activities.

However, their resistance to water does not mean that you should abandon dachshund bathing procedure altogether.

You only need to follow some simple rules that will help your dog to get accustomed with this essential part of the grooming routine.

The first dachshund bathing experience is the most important; from this bath will depend on how your sausage dog reacts to the subsequent baths, – fervently or with resistance.

How often should you bath your dachshund ?

Bathing routine for your Dachshund will depend on the coat type.

Although the main principles of how to bathe and dry your doxie are the same for all types, many things depend on the nature of the dachshund fur.

If you are a proud owner of a long-haired dachshund, who’s coat quickly becomes tangled and need to be regularly combed, then consider the ideal frequency of bathing for your dog as once a week or biweekly.

Dogs participating in the show, of course, should be bathed more often during the exhibition season. In this case, the best way is to bath your dog entirely, – from the tip of the nose to the tip of the tail.

As regards to the wire-haired dachshunds, – these cuties don’t usually need a bath more than once a month. It is a perfect interval to keep the wire-haired coat nice and clean, but surely you can do it more often if needed.

If you are preparing your dachshund to the show, you have to bath him before. Bathing of a wire-haired dachshund before the exhibition has a few nuances,- the smoother and shorter hair of the body should not get wet; otherwise, it will become frizzy and will not look great for the show.

A mix of wet and dry cleaning will be a perfect grooming routine before the show. We will talk more about “dry cleaning” of your pet further in the article.

Smooth haired dachshunds are the most unpretentious in grooming out of all sausage dogs. Their hair is short, smoothly adjacent to the skin, with a satin sheen. They are shedding very little, so care for them is very simple. The occasional bath once in one or two months will be enough.

But, like all hunting dogs, the dachshunds love to lie in particularly smelly mud, so sometimes you might have to wash them a little bit more often than you would wish to.

Simple tricks to make your dachshund bathing quick and easy

Before you embark on your first doggie wash, please read this simple set of steps that will help to make your Dachshund wash as pleasant and comfortable as possible.

Dachshund bathing steps

• Protect your dachshund’s ears from water. Dogs have sensitive ears; If they get water in their ears during bathing, it can flow down in the ear canal and cause an infection. Use cotton swabs;
• Put the muzzle on your dachshund in case you are afraid of being bitten while washing him ( I would not recommend washing your dachshund at all if he didn’t overcome a fear of water or switch to dry wash)
• Prepare special dog soap ( or shampoo), at least two well absorbent towels and a comb;
• Set the water temperature right; ideally, it should be no more than 40 degrees;
• Gently pour water over your dachshund, avoiding ears and top of the head;
• Wet all the coat thoroughly before applying shampoo;
• Start shampooing your dog; it is always better to dilute shampoo with water to create a foam. Apply shampoo gradually to avoid using it in excess.
• Massage the lather into your dachshund coat and leave for as long as possible without rinsing, ideally for about 5 minutes;
• Pay special attention to the paws; they accumulate a lot of dirt from the street;
• Apply dog conditioner if needed;
• Rinse away all of the lather using your fingers to make sure you work through the coat thoroughly to avoid subsequent hypersensitivity.;
• Comb through the fur with the comb and rinse again;
• Let your dachshund have a few good shakes ( did you know that your dog can shake 70% of the water from his coat in four seconds?);
• Give your sausage dog a good wipe with a soft absorbent towel (microfiber towel is best for absorbency);
• If your dog tolerates the blow dry, you can give him a blow dry with the warm air.

Did you know that your Dachshund can shake 70% of water from his coat himself? Just let him have a few good shakes after the bath!

How to give a dry bath to your dachshund

Most often, your doxie’s hair will be in good condition, and he won’t even need a proper bath. If you want to clean your dachshund and refresh his coat, you can give him a “dry cleaning” or “dry bath”.

This simple procedure requires a small cloth (for example flannel, felt, or wool). It should be soft, without protruding lint, but with a slightly velvety surface, more like a flannel.

A piece of the old wool blanket will do a perfect job. You will also need a brush. I tried different brushes, and I found that the most suitable are the brushes with natural short bristles.

You can buy a brush for shoes; my favourite brush is a brush for suede, layered with copper bristles, it cleanses the dog’s coat immaculately.

To begin with your dachshund “dry bathing”, put him safely ​​on the table. Firstly, have a brush in one hand, and a cloth in the other, then start brushing gently all over the coat.

I usually go through the same spot on the dog’s body several times with each hand alternately: right-left-right-left (brush-cloth-brush-cloth). The brush will massage your dachshund skin and comb out dandruff, hair, dust, and dirt, which is then collected by a cloth.

The cloth will become dirty, and the dog clean and shiny 😉 My dogs love this procedure as much as walking.

Dachshund bathing – Choosing the right shampoo

When it comes to choosing the right shampoo for your dachshund, please use professional products for dogs. They are developed especially for their sensitive skin, and remove dirt and odour without stripping the coat of its essential oils.

Please avoid using shampoos for humans on your dog, as they dry out the skin and can lead to a subsequent irritation. Some people argue that it is safe to use natural human shampoos for dry and damaged hair (with proteins) on dogs, but you will be doing it at your own risk.

Examine the skin and coat of your dachshund before the bath, does the skin looks normal or dry and flaky? Is there any dandruff or irritations? (Please keep in mind that some skin conditions as presence of skin parasites or dermatitis require immediate vet attention).

Dog shampoo types

Pet shampoos are designed for different dog coat types and skin conditions and are divided into few groups:

• Natural (organic) shampoos
• Hypoallergenic shampoos
• Medicated shampoos
• No-rinse shampoos
• Shampoo and conditioner combined (2 in 1)
• Conditioners

The hypoallergenic shampoo is excellent for dogs who’s skin gets irritated by harsher formulas.
It gently cleans and moisturizes your dachshund’s sensitive skin, relieves any itching, and soothes the skin and coat.

Medicated Shampoo is formulated with the specific active ingredients that provide an anti-bacterial, anti-fungal, deodorizing and deep cleansing action. It is usually safe for frequent use, hypoallergenic and pH balanced. During your dachshund bathing process, you will need to leave it on the coat for five minutes so that active ingredients work at their best.

No rinse shampoo,- is a waterless spray that works to remove dirt, with no rinsing needed. The unique formula is designed to care for dogs when to give a proper bath is not possible. The spray is perfect for use on the go or for a quick clean between washes. The application is simple- you only need to spray it on your dachshund’s coat and comb it through.

If you are not very keen on the multi-step bathing process, you can use shampoo and conditioner combined to wash your sausage dog,- it will also cost less to buy one bottle; however, I would personally recommend using shampoo and conditioner separately.

It is like with human hair; these products have two distinctive purposes,- shampoo cleans dirt and grease from the hair (fur), while conditioner helps to smooth it and preserve its shine. Mixing them into one product won’t give you the same kind of results.

The best way to help your dachshund live longer?
Watch our video to find out!

Dog shampoo ingredients to avoid

Just as in shampoo for humans, dog shampoo can contain a lot of nasties, that are toxic and harmful to your dachshund health. When bathing your dachshund, please choose the shampoo responsibly.

If you see one of these ingredients listed on the bottle, please don’t buy the product or discontinue the use, as they can cause problems to your dog’s health.

• Ammonium Lauryl Sulfate or Sodium Laureth Sulfate (SLES)
• Sodium Lauryl Sulfate (SLS)
• Parabens
• Sodium Chloride
• Formaldehyde
• Polyethylene Glycols (PEG)
• Alcohol

Drying your dachshund after bathing

After the bath, wipe your dachshund with a soft absorbent towel. Then wrap him in a dry cloth and take him away to the place you will give him a blow dry.

Always have more than one towel when washing your doggie, – you will need at least two to get your dachshund dry.

Don’t let your dachshund dry in towels. He might feel cold and uncomfortable, and there is a high chance he can catch a cold.

I always blow dry my dogs on the table, this way it’s easier to get to all parts of your pouch body, including belly and paws. The blow-drying is the essential step after the bath.

Simple tips on how to dry your dachshund

• If your dachshund has never seen the hair dryer before, make sure he is comfortable with the sound and feel of the hair dryer. It’s best to introduce this grooming routine gradually. At first, try to blow the air from a distance, slowly getting closer to your dog. Patience is the key here.
• When blow-drying your dog, try to keep the nozzle of the hairdryer at least a few inches away from your dachshund coat.
• Keep your hair dryer on the low to medium speed and on cool to warm heat setting.
• Never dry your pet with the hot air.
• When blow-drying your dachshund, you should move the hair dryer and distribute the warm air evenly along all sections of the coat. If you keep the hairdryer at one part of the dog’s body, you are risking of burning your pet’s skin.
• Don’t overdo it. When you finish blow-drying, run the fingers through your pooch fur, – it should still feel a little damp. Just make sure you keep your dachshund in the house for another half an hour to allow his coat to dry naturally.

Dachshund bathing – Final Words

Just like humans, dogs like to be clean. So don’t forget about your dachshund bathing when it is necessary!

Try to turn it into a positive experience for your dog; reward him with some treats and give him a lot of reassurance and praise during his first bath, and the power of positive association will turn in your favour.

The bath time will become enjoyable for your pet, resulting in much less effort for you.

I hope we gave you a clear guidance regarding dachshund bathing procedure. If you are interested to find out more about what care your dachshund needs, you will find the separate article here.

FAQs

How often should you bath your dachshund?

Your dachshund grooming routine should depend on its coat type, with occasional bathing from once in two weeks to once in a couple of months.

Do dachshunds like to bathe

With a few exceptions, dachshunds are naturally resistant to any water activities and dislike bathing.

Do dachshunds smell?

Dachshunds do not usually have a strong or unpleasant odor. If your dachshund smells unpleasant for no particular reason, it might a sign of underlying health conditions.

How often should I bathe my short-haired dachshund?

Short-haired dachshunds do not require much grooming and need an occasional bath once or twice a month.

How often should I bathe my long-haired dachshund?

The ideal frequency to bathe your long-haired dachshund is bi-weekly.

How often should I bathe my wire-haired dachshund?

Wire-haired dachshunds have a low-maintenance coat and don’t usually require a bath more than once a month.