Dachshund Grooming Berlin: Caring for Smooth, Long & Wire-Haired Coats

Dachshund grooming depends on the coat type: you brush smooth-haired dachshunds once a week, and long-haired dachshunds several times a week. Wire-haired dachshunds also need hand stripping. At our GroomRoom in Charlottenburg, Giesebrechtstraße 2, 10629 Berlin, we hand strip wire-haired dachshunds Tuesday to Saturday by appointment. Hand stripping costs 70 € per hour, and a session usually takes 60 minutes. For smooth and long coats, the Mini Groom starting at 59 € is usually a great fit.

What kind of grooming does a dachshund need?

A dachshund needs grooming that suits its coat type, as the breed comes in three coat varieties. Smooth-haired, long-haired and wire-haired are each available as standard and miniature dachshunds. This results in six variations with very different brushing and combing requirements.

The smooth-haired dachshund is considered low-maintenance. Long-haired and wire-haired dachshunds need much more regular grooming than the smooth coat. All three varieties have one thing in common: dachshunds shed moderately throughout the year. Regular vacuuming of your home and the dog bed keeps loose hair well under control in everyday life. Dachshunds also have very little doggy odour and are considered a fairly clean breed.

How often should you brush a short-haired Dachshund?

You brush a short-haired Dachshund once a week, which is enough for a well-kept coat. The short, smooth hair needs no clipping and no hand stripping. A weekly brush picks up loose hairs before they end up on the sofa and carpet. Some Dachshunds enjoy the undivided attention so much that they come for a brush more often than necessary.

For short-haired dogs, we recommend an appointment at the salon every 8 to 12 weeks. In the Mini Groom, we wash and dry your Dachshund and comb the coat thoroughly. Nails, eyes, paws and the hygiene area are also included in this package.

A Dachshund's nails should be clipped once a month. Between two grooming appointments, you can book the individual nail clipping service from 15 €. You can find out how this works and what to look out for at home in our guide to dog nail clipping in Berlin.

What does a long-haired Dachshund need against tangles?

A long-haired dachshund needs brushing several times a week to stop their coat from matting. A quick brush after long walks is especially important. Things often get caught in their fur, which can quickly turn into knots.

At the salon, a Mini Groom starting from 59 € is usually perfect for long-haired dachshunds. It includes washing, drying, combing and light thinning. Thinning means we use special scissors to thin out the coat without visibly reducing the length.

Minor knots are included in the price. For heavily matted coats, we charge 15 € per 15 minutes started for dematting. We never pull on mats; we carefully work them out step by step. If the coat is severely matted, we'll discuss the best solution with you beforehand. You can read how to prevent matting from the start in our article Preventing mats.

Why are wire-haired dachshunds hand stripped instead of clipped?

Wire-haired dachshunds are hand stripped because it's the only way to maintain their harsh, wiry coat. During hand stripping, dead hairs are plucked out in the direction of growth. Out of the three dachshund varieties, only the wire-haired dachshund benefits from this technique.

The harsh topcoat is the tough outer layer of hair over the soft undercoat. It insulates against wind and weather, repels burrs and protects the dog in dense undergrowth. If this coat is cut with clippers or scissors, its colour, shine and texture can change. Cutting can also disrupt the natural growth cycle of the hair.

Hairs are plucked during their resting phase, known as the telogen phase. In this phase, the hair is still in the follicle but has already detached from the root. Plucking mimics what bushes, undergrowth and branches naturally do when the dog roams through them. When done correctly, it happens in a gentle rhythm, never with force.

You can find out more about breeds with similar coats in our guide Which dogs need hand stripping.

How does hand stripping for wire-haired dachshunds work at our salon?

We do hand stripping in calm stages with breaks, and we charge by time. Hand stripping costs 70 € per hour, and according to our services page, a session usually takes 60 minutes. Hand stripping is done by Nata, Master Groomer at GroomRoom.

1. Your dachshund gets to settle in first and sniff the table in peace.
2. We'll take a look at the coat and then give you a binding final price.
3. We pluck dead hair from the body in the direction of growth, section by section.
4. The face, throat and belly are sensitive areas, so clippers are often enough there instead of plucking.
5. If your dog needs a break, we take one before we carry on.

Hand stripping on the body hardly bothers most dogs. We let anxious dogs settle in first, without pressure or force. You can watch us work from outside through the shop window. For the rhythm, we recommend a hand stripping appointment every 8 to 12 weeks, depending on the breed. You can find all the details about this service on the hand stripping page.

How to care for wire coats between appointments

Between two hand stripping appointments, you can keep wire hair in shape by rolling the coat and sticking to a firm brushing routine. Rolling means you keep plucking a few loose hairs while stroking, instead of removing everything at once. To do this, grip the hair close to the root with your thumb and index finger. Then pull gently and evenly in the direction of growth. Rubber finger cots or a little chalk provide better grip.

Once a week, the method described by the AKC as double brushing, double combing helps:

1. Brush the coat with a pin brush, this stimulates the skin and loosens dead hair.
2. Comb through with a medium-toothed comb to untangle knots.
3. Go down to the skin with a fine-toothed comb until the coat lies flat.
4. Finally, go over the whole coat with a slicker brush.

This routine doesn't replace hand stripping, but it improves the result significantly. If you don't want to have your dog hand-stripped at all, it still makes a noticeable difference.

How much does Dachshund grooming cost in Berlin?

For a Dachshund, the costs mainly depend on the coat type. Hand stripping for wire hair costs 70 € per hour and is charged by time. The Mini Groom for short and long hair starts at 59 €, the Full Groom at 79 €. You can book individual services like nail clipping from 15 € or the 4-in-1 combo package from 45 € separately.

All prices are starting prices including VAT. We'll give you a binding final price before the appointment, once we've taken a look at your Dachshund. Surcharges only apply if necessary, such as for dematting at 15 € for every 15 minutes started. Payment is on collection, in cash, by card, Apple Pay or Google Pay. The full overview is on our pricing page.

Plan the next appointment for your Dachshund

You can book your appointment online 24/7, choosing your package, groomer, day and time. We are open Tuesday to Saturday, the salon is closed on Monday and Sunday. By train, you can reach us via U7 Adenauerplatz (4 minutes on foot), U1 and U9 Kurfürstendamm (10 minutes). You'll find parking in Giesebrechtstraße and Brandenburgische Straße.

For a quick chat about your Dachshund's coat, you can drop by the salon anytime on weekdays. The consultation is free. If you already know what your dog needs: book an appointment online.