7 Best Brushes for Dachshunds With 5 Simple Brushing Tips
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Dachshunds are a German breed of dog that hunters bred to hunt badgers (Dachshund translates to “badger dog” in German) and other tunneling animals. Their short legs and long body allow them to dig their way into tunnels and move around them much easier than other breeds. And their wide chest gives them the strength they need to do battle with their prey.
Since the 1950s, Dachshunds have been one of the most popular dog breeds in the United States, thanks to their playfulness, intelligence, bravery, and loyalty. It doesn’t hurt that they’re also adorable with their big, floppy ears, bright eyes, and expressive face.
However, they are also tenacious and stubborn and often are loyal to one member of a family to a fault. Care must be taken to socialize them and train them in order to prevent their snappy side from becoming an issue. You will need to show him who’s pack leader as well, or you might find him bossing you around and not the other way around.
But when they are properly trained and socialized, they make excellent family dogs because they are very affectionate and amusing, but also proud and loyal. They will become an indispensable member of the family in no time flat.
We’ve taken the time to select the best brushes for Dachshunds on the market today. You’ll find a wide selection of brushes given that Doxies have three different types of fur, so not just one type of brush will do.
There is the best overall brush, as well as a wide assortment of six brushes to tackle your Doxie’s fur.
What Is the Best Brush for a Dachshund?
There are three different varieties of Dachshunds: short haired (or smooth), longhaired, and wirehaired.
The fur of a short haired Doxie is smooth and barely more than ¼” long, needing very little in the way of maintenance, except maybe the need for a winter sweater or coat to keep them warm. And while they do shed throughout the year, it’s hardly noticeable because it’s so short.
But the longhaired variety with its long, silky smooth, wavy hair needs almost daily maintenance in order to reduce tangles and painful matting. You’ll find their hair is longer on the front of their chest, their ears, under the neck, and on their legs. Since the outer coat takes a while to grow, they don’t shed much, and when they do, it’s their undercoat that sheds seasonally.
In between the shorthair and longhair, are wirehaired Doxies. Their outer coats have short and thick fur that has a rough texture, with an undercoat made up of short, finer fur. Some wirehair Dachshunds even have expressive eyebrows and beards, making them almost irresistibly cute! In terms of shedding, they shed even less than the shorthair and longhair varieties do.
To help you choose the best brush for your Dachshund, we will discuss the different kinds of brushes that are available, our pick for overall best brush, six other highly-rated brushes, and answer some frequently asked questions about brushing and grooming your pup.
Different Types of Popular Dachshund Brushes
As we previously mentioned, Dachshunds can have short hair, long hair, or wire hair, so a brush that works for one type may not be best for the other.
There are a few different types of brushes: slicker brush, pin brush, bristle brush, shedding blade, and undercoat rake.
Slicker Brush
This type of brush works with all coat types, so it’s a good buy if you happen to have more than one dachshund with different types of fur.
It comes with either a flat head or a curved head and rows made out of slim wire pins that help loosen shedding fur as well as remove tangles. As such, they are designed more for wire and longhair Dachshunds, but if used gently, they work on shorthair ones as well.
We suggest using short, gentle strokes at first so as not to pull or tug too much and cause pain, which will make your Doxie more suspicious the next time it comes to brush her.
Pin Brush
This type of brush looks very much like the slicker brush, with the only difference being the wires are tipped with plastic that helps prevent cuts and irritation a wire brush might cause on a pup with sensitive skin or a short haired Dachshund.
Bristle Brush
This brush most resembles brushes we use on our own hair, such as boar bristle brushes. We like to recommend these for shorthair and wire haired Doxies because they add shine and remove dander and debris well.
You’ll find that they come in different bristle types such as nylon, boar bristles, or a combination of both. Be sure to look for one with firm, densely packed bristles to smooth out the hair and distribute your pup’s natural skin oils for a shiny, moisturized coat.
Shedding Blade
Before you think that this is an actual blade, rest assured that it’s not. All a shedding blade is, is a metal comb that’s shaped like a horseshoe with short “teeth” that are great for dealing with loose fur of all kinds. Some are dual-sided with long and short teeth that work on different coat types.
Given the name, it should only be used when your Dachshund is shedding excessively and not on a regular basis. We recommend either a bristle brush or pin brush for everyday brushing and maintenance.
Undercoat Rake
Best for longer, thicker double coats, undercoat rakes are the top tool for wire haired and longhair Doxies. They are shaped like straight razors and have a few rows of long teeth that tackle the undercoat hair as it gets trapped after coming loose and getting stuck under the topcoat.
Note that you shouldn’t use an undercoat rake on a short haired Dachshund, as they have no undercoat. Rakes will only cause irritation if you use it on your shorthair Doxie, so steer clear and go for one of the other types mentioned in this article.
Overall Best Brush for a Dachshund
| Our 2023 Picks: Dachshund Dog Brush Recommendations | |||
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Check out our top pick for brushing your Dachshund.
Safari Combo Brush for Dogs
We recommend this brush because it’s two brushes in one and works great on all types of Dachshund fur. One one side is a pin brush with protective plastic nibs that take care of tangles in long and wire haired Doxies, and the other side is a nylon bristle brush that works to restore the shine of a short haired Doxie’s thin coat.
People who have bought it give it high marks all around, but what they like most is the durable one-piece handle that is more durable and lasts longer than other brands of combo brushes that tend to separate.
6 More Top-Rated Dachshund Dog Brushes
Want more recommendations? Read on.
FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush
If you haven’t heard of the FURminator deShedding Edge Dog Brush, and you have either a longhair or wirehair Dachshund, you’re really missing out.
It’s not your ordinary shedding blade or undercoat tool. Some owners claim this brush is a game-changer when it comes to dealing with dogs with undercoats, saying it’s almost magical with how well it works. Somehow, it reaches down into your pup’s undercoat and loosens then catches the dead fur, reducing shedding by up to 90% when used regularly.
We like that it comes in shorthair and longhair versions as well as a number of different sizes, so it’s great for your wirehair or longhair Dachshund. But you won’t need it if you only have shorthair Doxie, because they do not have an undercoat.
KONG Dog ZoomGroom Multi-Use Brush
If you have a short haired Dachshund, this is a great brush choice because it gently removes hair and massages your pup’s skin all at the same time. Much like a bristle brush, it also keeps your dog’s fur shiny by distributing the natural oils produced on her skin to her hair, keeping it moisturized.
It also makes brushing an enjoyable experience for your pup thanks to the massaging action. Some owners say their Doxies get super happy when they see this brush come out because they love how good it feels.
And because it’s solid rubber, you can use it in the bath without having to worry about rust developing on it, like you do with slicker, pin, and deshedding brushes.
Safari De-Matting Dog Comb
This is our favorite brush for long-haired Dachshunds because their coats do get tangled easily, even when maintained properly. And tangles can lead to matted fur, which can irritate your pup’s skin and cause discomfort.
To tame mats and knots, a special type of tool is needed, one with serrated teeth to remove stubborn knots without causing tugging or pulling. The Safari De-Matting Dog Comb’s unique design features rounded ends to ensure safety, while the blades cut through mats with ease. And the rubber handle prevents the brush from slipping out of your hand and causing injury.
Most users are astonished at how well it works, claiming it makes dealing with mats on their wirehair and longhair Dachshunds much less like a chore and more pleasant for their pups.
Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush
Cleaning dog brushes is gross, right? Well, the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Dog Slicker Brush will make your job a little easier with this innovative brush design. All you need to do is push a button to retract the bristles over a trash can and watch the fur fall into it without needing to pull or tug at the brush.
The bristles on this slicker brush are curved in such a way that they get down into the undercoat with ease and remove any tangles without much effort on your part. They are also tipped with plastic so as not to irritate your pup’s skin. It’s why we recommend it for wirehair and longhair Dachshunds and their thick undercoats.
Safari Dual-Sided Shedding Blade Dog Grooming Tool
While this may not look like a brush with its horseshoe shape, it’s a great tool for long and wirehair Dachshunds when the weather changes, when shedding starts to become a bigger issue. For that reason, we don’t recommend it for daily use as it can irritate your pup’s skin if used too frequently.
Its dual-sided design has coarse teeth on one side to deal with thick coats, and the fine teeth on the other work well to smooth out and add shine to shorter coats.
Some users claim that they were skeptical at first it would work on their Doxies, but they quickly became converts when they saw how well it worked. Some pups even fell asleep while they were getting brushed!
Li’l Pals Dog Bristle Brush
Do you have a miniature shorthair or wirehair Dachshund? Then you need this adorable and effective bristle brush. Made specifically for smaller breeds, this brush removes loose hair and smoothes the coat with ease. The bristles are firm and densely packed, but soft and gentle enough to prevent irritation.
And while it is effective for either wire haired or shorthair Dachshunds, we believe it’ll become a favorite of owners of short haired weiner dogs because their coats don’t need much more than a bristle brush for maintaining their coats.
Owners claim that their pups now look forward to getting brushed when they see this brush come out, making it a fun time for everyone!
5 Simple Tips to Properly Brush a Dachshund
Now that we’ve covered seven of the top brushes for Dachshunds, we thought we’d cover some basic tips for keeping your pup groomed and looking good.
- Brush on a regular basis, daily with longhair and weekly for short and wirehair Dachshunds to keep their coats in top shape.
- Train your dog to sit or stand at attention. It will help keep them calm and help you go faster by lessening distractions.
- Start with the head and move toward the tail and brush in the direction of hair growth and not against it. Going against the grain is uncomfortable.
- If your Doxie has mats, start with a de-matting dog comb like the one we recommended, then move on to a slicker brush to smooth everything out. Detangling spray is also helpful if it’s a challenging situation.
- Make it a fun experience by offering treats and other rewards when you are finished brushing your pup.
With these tips and one of the brushes we recommend, brushing your Dachshund will become a favorite activity for everyone involved.
FAQ Regarding Dachshund Brushing/Grooming
Do you still have questions about brushing your Dachshund or grooming him? Here are five of the most common questions we get with our best answers.
Do Dachshunds Shed?
The short answer is, yes. That’s because every dog sheds somewhat, even so-called hypoallergenic breeds that grow hair rather than fur.
How Much Do Dachshunds Shed?
That depends on which type you have. While shorthair Doxies don’t appear to shed as much, they actually shed a fair amount because it’s constantly growing and falling out. But because their fur is so short, it’s less noticeable.
Dogs like longhair and wirehair Dachshunds have undercoats that shed fur that gets caught underneath the topcoat, and is more prone to shedding as it gets warmer outside. However, their fur takes longer to grow in, so the amount they shed isn’t as much as some other wirehair and long haired dog breeds.
How Can I Lessen the Amount of Shedding?
We recommend regular brushing, especially during transitional times of the year when your Doxie’s undercoat will start falling out to keep him cooler in the summer months.
Can I Overbrush My Dachshund?
With longhair Dachshunds, not really. That’s because their long, silky hair does tangle and mat easily, which can lead to pain and irritation for your dog. Most groomers recommend daily brushing for longhair Doxies as a result.
For wirehair and especially short haired Dachshunds, you can irritate their sensitive skin if you overbrush. We recommend weekly brushing sessions, or more, if you have a wirehaired Doxie who likes to do more than his fair share of digging and getting dirty.
And short haired Doxies really only need basic maintenance to keep their coats moisturized and healthy-looking.
What If My Dachshund’s Fur Is Too Matted for a Brush to Handle?
We recommend cutting it out or taking him to a groomer if it’s a really bad case of matting. They will know best how to handle it and have the necessary grooming devices to shave her coat in severe cases of mats and tangles.
