Are you thinking of getting a dachshund but want to know if they shed? Maybe you have allergies and need a dog that doesn’t moult much. We’re going to answer your questions about dachshunds and shedding.
Do dachshunds shed? Yes. Like all dogs, dachshunds lose old hairs as new ones grow. But they don’t shed much and wire-haired dachshunds shed the least of all the varieties. Smooth-haired dachshunds lose fur throughout the year, wire-haired and long-haired dachshunds shed twice a year.
Read on to find out how much dachshunds shed, how to manage the hair around the house, what you can do to stop your dachshund shedding and whether dogs can be hypoallergenic.
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How much do dachshunds shed?
Compared to other dog breeds, dachshunds are moderate shedders and don’t moult much at all. They don’t tend to leave masses of hair on the sofa or floor. And, if you groom them regularly, you shouldn’t find too much dog hair around your house.
All dogs shed fur as new fur grows, and dachshunds are no different. Smooth-haired, wire-haired and long-haired dachshunds shed their fur to keep their coats healthy and make it the right thickness for the time of year.
The type of dachshund you have (or are thinking of getting) will affect how much he sheds, when he does it and what he needs from you to keep his coat healthy and shiny.
This is what you need to know:
Smooth-haired dachshunds
Smooth-haired dachshunds tend to lose small amounts of fur every day, rather than shedding their coat in one go. You probably won’t notice him losing that much hair until you vacuum the carpet.
Wire-haired dachshunds
Wire-haired dachshunds have a double coat, with a fluffy undercoat that sits beneath coarse, wiry fur. The coat grows thicker in winter to keep him warm and gets thinner in summer.
So, rather than shedding constantly like the smooth-haired dachshund, wire-haired dachshunds lose their coat twice a year. It usually happens in spring and autumn. A wire-haired dachshund shouldn’t shed that much around the house because he’ll normally have his coat stripped by a professional groomer.
Wire-haired dachshunds with ‘pin wire’ coats
Wire-haired dachshund coats vary. Some have coarse hair and some softer, fluffier hair. The wires with fluffier coats shed more and need stripping twice a year. The wires with shorter, coarser ‘pin wire’ coats don’t shed that much and don’t need stripping either. The beard, eyebrows and legs are still hairy but there’s generally not as much hair compared to fluffy wires.
Another good thing about ‘pin wires’ is they’re easy maintenance – they just need baths and brushing to remove any loose fur. And, if you’re a pet allergy sufferer, they’re probably the best variety of dachshund from a moulting / shedding point of view. Obviously, you’ll need to check this for yourself before your bring your dachshund home.
Long-haired dachshunds
Long-haired dachshunds are said to be the biggest shedders out of the three varieties. It’s still not a lot compared to other dog breeds. They have a double coat and any shedding is done seasonally in spring and autumn. The hair is also longer and easier to spot on the sofa or carpet.
How do I stop my dachshund shedding?
You can’t stop your dachshund shedding. It’s a natural process. But you can reduce the amount he sheds by helping him maintain a healthy coat through a good diet and regular grooming. Brushing your dachshund every few days will reduce the amount of hair in the home.
This is what you need to do:
Nourish your dachshund
If you keep your dachshund’s coat in great condition, his fur will be healthier and stronger and shouldn’t fall out as much. Human hair is pretty much the same as dachshund hair, it falls out when it’s dry and brittle.
Feed your dachshund a balanced diet and consider switching over to a raw food diet if you want to boost the condition of his coat. You can also add Omega 3-rich fish oil, coconut oil or flaxseeds to his meals to nourish his skin and limit shedding.
Groom your dachshund
All dachshunds need regular brushing to get rid of any dead fur. Doing this every few days should remove any loose hair rather than waiting for it to shed all over your house. When you brush your dachshund you also stimulate the natural oils in his coat, which make it luscious and healthy.
All dachshunds need different types of grooming to keep their fur in good condition. Regular maintenance will also remove any loose hair before it ends up in your carpet.
If you have a wire-haired dachshund, you’ll also need to strip his coat twice a year to remove the dead fur from his undercoat (unless he has a ‘pin wire’ coat that doesn’t need stripping at all). You can do it yourself or go to a professional dog groomer. And once done, he shouldn’t shed much at all.
Is your dachshund shedding excessively?
Excessive shedding is quite unusual, unless it’s time for their undercoat to come out, so take advice from your vet to rule out any underlying medical problems.
Dilute dachshunds (blues and Isabellas) can get colour dilution alopecia. This is where the hair follicle is so weak the dog’s fur falls out in patches and doesn’t grow back. If this happens, go straight to your vet. This type of hair loss leaves their skin exposed and they can go on to develop infections, skin conditions and even cancer.
Are dachshunds hypoallergenic?
No. Dachshunds are not hypoallergenic (no dog is), but this doesn’t mean people with allergies can’t live with them. Many dachshund owners – even those with allergies – don’t get symptoms because they don’t shed that much compared to other dog breeds.
No one can really claim a particular breed is hypoallergenic because so much of it depends on the individual dog and person. Some people are allergic to one dog but not another, even though they’re both the same breed.
Dachshunds can be a really good option for some people with allergies because they don’t trigger them, while others may have reactions. The best thing to do is spend time with your chosen dachshund before bringing him home.
It’s not actually the fur that makes you sneeze or gets your eyes streaming. It’s the dander attached to the hair (like doggy dandruff) and saliva that gets your allergies flaring. That’s why wire-haired dachshunds are the best option for allergy sufferers, because they don’t release so much dander into your home. Definitely something to think about.
If you have a dachshund in your sights, spend time visiting him before you buy or adopt him. This will let you see if you’re allergic or not. When you go to visit him, make sure you don’t come into contact with other dogs or have other dogs around. Otherwise you won’t know which dog is causing any reactions.
If you have a really understanding breeder or rehoming charity, they may let you take the dachshund home for 24 hours to see how you get on, or bring the dachshund to your home so you can be around them in your own environment.
What if i am allergic to my dachshund?
Keep your home as clean as possible. Wipe down the surfaces daily, vacuum every few days and wash any soft furnishings like cushions and rugs every few weeks. Use a specialist pet vacuum with HEPA filter to pick up any hairs that get stuck in the carpet.
HEPA filters are brilliant because they trap small airborne particles before they’re redistributed back into the air. They remove any doggy odour too – not that dachshund are that smelly unless they’ve rolled in something!
It’s also best to keep your dachshund out of your bedroom and, if you can, off the sofa too. Maybe train him to stay on his own bed in the lounge rather than allowing him everywhere. You can also get air purifiers that plug into the wall to get rid of pet dander floating in the air. All these things should go some way to alleviating any symptoms.
So, there you have it. Dachshunds do shed a little but not as much as other dog breeds. Smooth-haired dachshunds lose fur throughout the year. Wire-haired and long-haired dachshunds shed twice a year. But wire-haired dachshunds with ‘pin wire’ coats – shorter, coarser hair that generally doesn’t need stripping – shed the least of all the varieties and may be the best option for allergy sufferers. You can’t stop shedding completely as it’s a natural process, but you can get on top of it with a good diet, regular grooming and routine vacuuming of your home.
