“My long-haired Dachshund seems uncomfortable and she tends to scratch and lick various parts of her body. Is there something wrong with her?" Somebody asked me that question one fine day when I and my dog was out in the park for a walk. The dog indeed looks uncomfortable! And upon checking, I realized that something isn't right with the way the dog is being taken cared of.



Common problems with regards to dog care are misconceptions as to how this proper grooming should be done. Though it may just be a minor mistake, it still need to be corrected anyway to make your dog look good and feel good.

There is really nothing to worry about short-haired Dachshunds when it comes to brushing and hair care. They require less grooming because only a few cling to their coats. Regular brushing with soft bristle is enough to maintain a short-haired Dachshund. Unlike the short-haired Dachshund, wire-haired and long-haired Dachshund need frequent brushing to remove dead hair and prevent mats and tangles. In long-haired Dachshunds, mats oftentimes develop behind the ears and in areas where the hair is longer. These mats need to be entangled by hands and sometimes need to be cut off. It is also important to blow-dry them instead of allowing them to dry. The hair can grow very long and can pick up dirt and debris from the ground thus trimming the underside is recommended.

Wire bristle brush is good for wire-haired Dachshunds and pin brush for long-haired. An excellent brushing tip is to brush according to the direction of the hair growth, starting from the head and work down from there. Negligence in brushing your Dachshund's hair may lead to serious tangle problems so beware!

While bathing helps make the coat smoother and softer, doing it too often may not be good for Dachshunds. Dachshunds are known to produce a special hair fat that serves as insulating layer for protection. Bathing removes this hair fat which makes the coat softer however it makes your Dachshund more exposed. Coat is not just the thing to consider when bathing a Dachshund. The ears are equally important and keeping water or soap from getting into the ears plays a very great role in the prevention of infections. To clean the ears, gently clean the inside ear with a soft moistened towel.

These practices may seem insignificant to some but nobody gets hurt from doing these things. No more uncomfortable dogs! What you will have is a feeling good, looking good Dachshund dog that you surely love to hug and cuddle.