Buying a pet is always a hard decision. Getting a wirehaired dachshund should make you think twice and make sure you know what you should expect.
While this is doubtfully a beautiful and kind dog, the new member of the family deserves plenty of attention. If you’ve never owned a dog before and contemplating about buying a dachshund, you definitely need to learn a few interesting things about this dog.
Wirehaired Dachshund: What to Expect?
Each dog breed is different and requires special care. You need to be ready to spend plenty of time taking care of your new pet and keeping it healthy.
If your family is ready to accept the responsibility, the enjoyment you’ll get from owning such a dog will go soar the roof.
Dachshunds, especially purebred dogs, are at a heightened risk for certain health conditions. The number one health issue these pups face is obesity.
While it may be tempting to overfeed your dog, this can lead to several other problems, including arthritis and spinal issues.
Wirehaired Dachshund Care Tips
A Wirehaired Dachshund can become your best friend in a flash. If you are looking for a kind dog that can be your companions for years to come, buying a dachshund is a wonderful idea.
When it comes to dachshunds, there are plenty of breed variations. Wirehaired breeds usually require more hair care. You need to be ready for the hair to be lying around your home and frequent visits to the groomer.
This doesn’t mean that with proper training, you won’t be able to take care of your new best friend on your own. Here are a few tips to make it easier. You can also read these character traits of Wirehaired Dachshund here.
1. Brush It Right
In order to keep the coat clean and shiny, you need to brush your wirehaired dachshund every other day. Make sure to get a good bristle brush.
Brushing should be done in the direction the hair grows. Don’t brush too hard in order not to damage the skin.
Cutest Dogs With Brilliant Haircuts
2. Don’t forget the stripping
When you see that the brushing is not helping your pet’s coat to look neat and shiny anymore, the time has come to do some stripping.
Stripping is usually required twice a year, in the spring and in the fall. Get a special brush with metal pins on a rubber cushion to do the job.
3. Enjoy a Good Bath
Even if your dog is a big bathing fan, it shouldn’t be washed more than four times year. The infrequent washing has to do with the sebum produced by the oil glands. Washing it away can leave the dog prone to hot or cold weather.
4. Deal with the tangles
No matter how well you care for your dog’s hair, the tangles and knots are bound to appear. Take them apart carefully with your fingers when the hair is dry.
Once you separate them, you can carefully comb through with a fine-toothed comb. Cutting away the tangles is not recommended.
Damn Cute Yorkie Haircuts For Your Puppy
5. Trim the face
Wire haired dachshunds need to have their faces trimmed. This should better be done by a professional groomer.
Plenty of special tools is involved in keeping the face well-groomed. It takes a professional not to hurt the dog in the process since it involves cutting the hair around the eyes.
6. Take care of the eyes
You need to take good care of the dog’s eyes by gently wiping them with a clean damp cloth. The same procedure should be done to keep the ears clean. Ears can be wiped with a cloth soaked in mineral oil.
7. Exercise
This breed is a big fan of exercise, so make sure you give the dog an opportunity to play and run around as much as it wants.
Regular exercises can help your dog feel happy and healthy for many years. The life expectancy of a wire-haired dachshund is 15 years.
15 Wire Haired Fox Terrier Grooming Tips
While hair care is a significant focus for this breed, here are some tips for taking care of some of their other needs!
8. Food
Adult dachshunds should have their food split into two daily meals (breakfast and dinner) with little treats. They can have dry kibble, wet food, raw food, or any combination. No matter what food you feed them, be sure to portion their meals based on their weight.
9. Potty Training
Wirehaired dachshunds are notorious for being slow learners when it comes to potty training. To help the process, make sure to give your dog frequent breaks to go outside, especially first thing in the morning, after a meal, nap, or playtime, and right before going to bed.
After a successful trip outside to use the bathroom, reward them with their favorite treat or toy. With time, patience, and dedication, your pup will be accident-free in no time!
10. Nail Clipping
Nail clipping is an aspect of grooming that is essential to keeping your dog happy and healthy. They will need to be trimmed about once every three to four weeks to remain at a healthy length and avoid any discomfort.
Frequently Asked Questions
This section will cover some of the most common questions people have about caring for a wire-haired dachshund.
Yes. It is possible to shave a wirehaired dachshund’s coat. Some owners prefer to shave their dogs as a more accessible alternative to hand stripping.
However, over time, shaving will cause hairs to grow back softer and more delicate, and your dog’s coat will lose its classic wiry look.
Yes, it is safe to trim a wire-haired dachshund’s fur with clippers. However, you will get the same result of softer, limper hairs that happens if you fully shave them.
No, the process of hand stripping will not hurt your dog! Most wirehaired dachshunds need their coats to be hand stripped two or three times a year. Hand stripping is the process of removing dead hairs from the fur.
You should brush your wirehaired dachshund around every two days or three to four times a week. Frequent maintenance will help avoid tangles and knots that need to be cut out.
We hope you now have a good idea of whether or not you are ready to make a wirehaired dachshund a part of your family. Good luck!