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Best Brush for Dachshunds: Smooth, Long & Wire-Haired Coats

Best Brush for Dachshunds: Smooth, Long & Wire-Haired Coats

Smooth, long or wire-haired: your dachshund doesn't need the same brush depending on coat type. A rubber curry brush for one, a soft pin brush for another, a stripping knife for the third. Here is the complete guide to choosing the right tool, using it at the right frequency, and brushing your sausage dog without hurting him.

The short version: The right brush depends on your dachshund's coat. Smooth coat: a rubber curry brush or a grooming glove, once a week. Long coat: a soft metal-pin slicker brush + a fine metal comb, 2 to 3 times a week, focusing on behind the ears, the belly feathering and the back of the thighs. Wire coat: a stiff-bristle brush + a sturdy comb daily, and a stripping knife (hand stripping) twice a year. In every case, always brush in the direction of the coat, on a dry coat, never a wet one, with gentle strokes. Expect to spend roughly €8 to €25 on a quality brush (French market prices).

Why coat type changes everything

Dachshunds come in three coat varieties: smooth (the most common), long and wire. Each has a different coat structure, and therefore completely different brushing needs. Using the wrong brush is at best a waste of time, at worst a way to irritate your dog's skin or break his coat. Before buying a tool, first work out which category your dachshund belongs to.

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Smooth-coated dachshund

Short, dense hair that lies flat against the body. This is the easiest variety to maintain: one pass a week is enough to remove dead hair and make the coat shine.

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Long-haired dachshund

Silky hair with beautiful feathering on the ears, chest, belly and back of the legs. Gorgeous, but also the variety most prone to tangles and matting.

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Wire-haired dachshund

Coarse, tight hair with the characteristic eyebrows and beard. It barely sheds but needs hand stripping twice a year to stay healthy.

If you're still unsure about your dog's variety or his grooming needs, our guide on shedding by coat type will help you sort it out.

The 5 essential brushing tools

There is no ONE universal brush for dachshunds, but a small toolkit where each tool has a specific job. Here are the five essentials, with what they do and a ballpark budget.

Tool What it does Best for which coat Typical price (France)
Rubber curry brush Lifts dead surface hair and massages the skin Smooth (ideal), long as a supplement €5 – €12
Grooming glove Gentle, petting-style brushing, perfect for dogs who don't like brushes Smooth €6 – €15
Slicker brush (soft metal pins) Detangles and removes dead undercoat and small knots Long (essential), wire €8 – €20
Fine metal comb Finishing, spotting tangles, sensitive areas (ears, feathering) Long, wire €6 – €15
Stripping knife (trimmer) Hand stripping of the wire coat Wire only €15 – €30
✅ Good to know: for a smooth-coated dachshund, one tool is plenty. For a long or wire coat, plan on at least two complementary tools (a brush + a comb). Investing in quality gear also means fewer broken hairs and a dog who tolerates the session better.

Which brush for a smooth-coated dachshund?

This is the easiest variety. The smooth coat is short and doesn't tangle. Brushing is mostly about removing dead hair, spreading the natural skin oils to make the coat shine, and creating a bonding moment.

🎯 Our recommendation

Go for a rubber curry brush or a grooming glove. The soft nubs pick up dead hair without harsh contact with the skin, and most dachshunds love the feel, which is close to a massage. A weekly 5-minute brushing is more than enough.

During shedding season (spring and fall), step up to 2 to 3 times a week for 3 to 4 weeks to help the coat along and avoid finding hair all over the house. A smooth coat sheds more than you'd think: regular brushing is still the best defense.

Which brush for a long-haired dachshund?

This is the variety that needs the most attention. The long coat is silky and forms beautiful feathering, but that feathering mats easily if neglected. The basic tool is a slicker brush with soft metal pins, completed by a fine metal comb for finishing and spotting tangles.

The ideal frequency is 2 to 3 times a week, or even a quick daily pass over the high-risk areas. Good news: tangles don't form everywhere. Three zones account for almost all of the matting:

  • Behind the ears: the hair there is fine and constantly rubs, making it the number one tangle spot.
  • The belly and chest feathering: close to the ground, it picks up moisture, dust and bits of plant debris.
  • The back of the thighs and the armpits: friction zones where the hair tangles quickly.

Target these three zones with the fine comb at every session, and the rest of the body can be brushed less often with the slicker brush. A few focused minutes beat a long, sloppy brushing.

⚠️ Handling a tangle without hurting him: never yank with the comb. Hold the base of the tangle with your fingers so you don't pull on the skin, and gently pick it apart from the outside in. A detangling spray makes the job easier. If a tangle really won't budge, snip it out with round-tipped scissors rather than forcing it.
🚨 Never wet a tangle: water tightens existing tangles and turns them into dense mats that are much harder to undo once the coat dries. Always detangle before the bath, never on a soaking wet dog.

Which brush for a wire-haired dachshund?

The wire coat has a particular trait: it doesn't renew itself. Dead hair stays stuck to the skin instead of falling out, which smothers the coat and can irritate the skin over time. That's why we don't clip it: we hand strip it.

Day to day, a weekly brushing with a stiff-bristle brush or a slicker brush, followed by a sturdy metal comb, is enough to prevent tangles in the undercoat and around the beard. Pay extra attention to the beard and eyebrows, which easily trap food residue and dirt.

⚠️ Stripping, twice a year: twice a year (usually in spring and fall), the old coat needs to be removed by hand or with a stripping knife. This technique, called hand stripping, keeps the coat's wiry texture and color. If you're not comfortable doing it, a groomer can do it in one session.
🚨 Never clip a wire-haired dachshund: clipping with clippers destroys the structure of the coat, which grows back duller, softer and often a faded color. Hand stripping is the only method that respects the coat.

For the complete how-to, see our dedicated guides: how to strip a wire-haired dachshund, which stripping tool to choose for a wire coat and what age to start hand stripping.

How to brush your dachshund step by step

Whatever the variety, the brushing method follows the same logic. The goal: an efficient session that is pleasant for the dog and pain-free.

  1. Settle your dachshund somewhere calm, on a stable surface (table, cushion, your lap). A relaxed dog is much easier to brush.
  2. Check that the coat is dry before you start. Never brush a wet dog, except for a finishing pass after he is completely dry.
  3. Start with the body, always in the direction of the coat, with long, slow strokes. This removes dead hair and brings any tangles to the surface.
  4. Move on to the sensitive areas (behind the ears, belly, feathering, armpits) with the fine comb, holding the skin so you don't pull.
  5. Finish with a final comb-through to smooth the coat and make sure no tangles remain.
  6. Reward him with a treat or a cuddle. Brushing should stay a positive moment, especially for a puppy.
✅ Start early: introduce the brush from 2 months old, in short 2 to 3 minute sessions. A dachshund who gets used to it young will accept brushing for life without squirming.

Use each session to check the skin (redness, ticks, parasites) and to think about the ears, which are particularly sensitive in dachshunds: our article on cleaning a dachshund's ears is a perfect companion to your grooming routine.

Brushing mistakes to avoid

A few bad habits can turn a pleasant session into a chore, or even damage the coat. Here are the most common pitfalls.

  • Brushing against the grain: uncomfortable for the dog and ineffective. Always go with the direction of the coat.
  • Using a human brush: the bristles are poorly spaced and often too stiff for a dog's coat. Choose a tool designed for dogs.
  • Forcing through a tangle: you pull on the skin and create a negative association. Pick the tangle apart or cut it out with round-tipped scissors.
  • Ignoring shedding season: during the spring and fall peaks, brush more often, otherwise dead hair builds up.
  • Bathing too often: an adult dachshund only needs a bath 3 times a year at most. Too many baths dry out the skin and dull the coat.

FAQ: your questions about brushing a dachshund

Which brush for a wire-haired dachshund?
A stiff-bristle brush or a slicker brush for weekly brushing, completed by a sturdy metal comb. Twice a year, add a stripping knife for hand stripping, which preserves the coat's texture and color.
How often should you brush a dachshund?
Smooth coat: once a week (2 to 3 times during shedding). Long coat: 2 to 3 times a week, with a quick daily pass over tangle-prone areas. Wire coat: weekly brushing + stripping twice a year.
How do you get tangles out of a long-haired dachshund?
Hold the base of the tangle with your fingers so you don't pull on the skin, then gently pick it apart from the outside in with a fine comb, with a detangling spray if needed. If the tangle won't give, cut it out with round-tipped scissors. Never wet a tangle: water tightens it.
Do you need to brush a smooth-coated dachshund?
Yes. Even though a smooth coat doesn't tangle, it still sheds dead hair. A weekly brushing with a rubber curry brush removes dead hair, makes the coat shine and cuts down on hair on the couch.
Can you use a human brush on a dachshund?
It's not recommended. Human brushes have bristles that are too stiff or poorly spaced for a dog's coat. A grooming glove or a rubber curry brush, both designed for dogs, are far better suited and more comfortable.
Which brush during a dachshund's shedding season?
For a smooth coat, the rubber curry brush remains the ideal tool, increasing the frequency to 2-3 times a week. For a long coat, the slicker brush combined with the fine comb effectively removes dead undercoat. The wire coat sheds very little and is mostly managed through stripping.
How do you get a dachshund puppy used to brushing?
Start from 2 months old with very short sessions (2 to 3 minutes), done gently and followed by a reward. The idea is to associate the brush with a pleasant moment. A puppy who gets used to it young will let you brush him easily for life.

Choosing the right brush for your dachshund starts with identifying his coat type: a rubber curry brush is enough for a smooth coat, a slicker brush and a fine comb are essential for a long coat, while a wire coat calls for regular brushing and stripping twice a year. In every case the golden rule is the same: gentle strokes, in the direction of the coat, on a dry coat, and a session turned into a bonding moment from the earliest age. A well-kept coat means a better-looking dachshund, healthier skin and far less hair around the house. Find everything you need for your sausage dog's grooming and well-being in our selection of dachshund accessories.

Health & wellness tips – Teckel Paris

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