Long Haired Dachshund: 12 Differences You Should Know

The Long Haired Dachshund is a more elegant, furrier version of the famous smooth-coated Dachshund! They have a long, wavy coat that often grows so long it brushes against the ground.

Their coat gives them an elegant, adorable look that makes them irresistibly cute.

But a long coat isn’t their only charming feature. Long-haired Dachshunds are as intelligent as they are dapper with a working history.

These dogs are friendly, gentle and playful making them a great companion. Especially for anyone looking for an independent and beautiful breed.

Think you know everything there is to know about the sausage dog? Keep on reading to find out how these dogs differ from the classic sausage dog, and more!

Long-Haired vs Smooth-Haired Dachshunds

The main difference between the long-haired and smooth-haired Dachshund is their coat. Long Haired Dachshunds have a coat which is six inches longer.

Apart from their coat length, there is a more subtle difference in their appearance too. Their longer hair means they have less well-defined features.

For example, the standard Dachshund is said to have rounded ears and a distinct ‘tuck’ in their abdomen. Long Haired Dachshunds might still have rounded ears and a tucked abdomen, but they are not visible under their long coats.

Coat length is a clear and obvious difference between these two types of Dachshunds, but there are other differences to consider too.

The first of these differences is that the Long Haired Dachshund has a sweeter, more friendly temperament. This is because they were bred with spaniels in the past. They inherited the spaniels happy-go-lucky, gentle and mild manners.

Despite the differences in their appearance and temperament, the long-haired Dachshund still shares many features and traits with the short-hair.

They both have a history as badger-hunting dogs and have the iconic sausage-shaped long bodies. They both come in two sizes, miniature and standard. Both have the same life expectancy of 12 to 16 years. Both are also accepted as an official purebred dog.

Are Long Haired Dachshunds Nicer?

Dachshunds are intelligent, courageous and energetic dogs that were originally bred as badger-hunting dogs. They have short legs which helped them fit down badger holes and wide paws for digging down in the dirt. Their rib cages are long to give them space for big lungs, which also give them their iconic sausage-shape!

They had to be brave and clever when they were underground hunting badgers on their own. However, their working history means they can have an aloofness about them as they are used to working alone.

Long Haired Dachshunds tend to be friendlier and more sociable.

They also tend to be more loving and friendly, enjoying the company of other humans rather than work. They love to cuddle on a lap at the end of a long day of playing and chasing.

The Long Haired Dachshund gets their milder temperament from the breeds they were crossed with to get their long hair. It is thought they were crossed with a spaniel of some kind, although their exact history is not known.

The breeding of Dachshunds with spaniels is also thought to reduce their prey drive. It is rare for them to want to chase anything that moves.

Having a reduced prey drive, and being less defensive, means they are more likely to want to be friends with small pets, rather than seeing them as a potential threat as smooth-coated Dachshunds do.

Their spaniel genetics also make them less feisty and stubborn than their siblings.

Overall, they are a playful, kind, gentle, and friendly dog who loves to chase and play. Long Haired Dachshunds are friendlier and do not have quite as strong a prey drive or independent streak as their smooth-coated siblings.

What Breeds Make A Long Haired Dachshund?

Dachshunds originally come from Germany where they were bred for hunting badgers.

They were first bred to be smooth-coated and there is no definite consensus on when or how the Long Haired Dachshund came about.

It is believed that smooth-coated puppies were bred with spaniels in order to give them a longer, warmer coat. This longer coat would allow them to stay out hunting in the cold winters for longer periods of time.

Breeding with spaniels also made them less work-driven and calmer. There is a theory that they were actually bred to be a more affectionate, sociable pet.

Do They Shed More?

With hair as majestic and long as these dogs you would expect them to be shedding and leaving it behind wherever they go.

Long-Haired Dachshunds shed a surprisingly little amount for having so much hair.

They are considered moderate, seasonal shedders. This means they only shed their fur twice a year, in fall and spring. They actually shed less than the smooth-haired Dachshund who will shed all year round!

During fall and spring they will only lose a small amount of their hair each shed. That is not to say that these dogs are hypoallergenic, as they do still shed and therefore are not suitable for those with allergies.

What Are They Bred For?

Long Haired Dachshunds suit a quiet, active family as the only pet in the house.

Thanks to their spaniel ancestors they are much more affectionate than smooth-haired Dachshunds. If a Long-Haired Dachshund is not busy playing with their toys, they can be found curled up on their human’s lap getting cuddles and ear scratches. They will form a close attachment to just one human, treating them as their owner and often seeing other members of the family as playmates, rather than cuddly laps to sit on!

Rarely will a smooth-haired Dachshunds want to cuddle close with their owner.

The long-haired prefers to be the only pet in the house as they like all the attention to be on them! However, their sociable side will often win out when there are other pets in the house and they will tolerate, and even make friends with other dogs or cats in the home.

Their general friendliness also makes them ideal for a family with older children.

As a small dog breed Dachshunds are fragile and so they are not ideal for families with young children, especially since they are known to nip or bite when they get fed up with someone.

When left alone the Long Haired Dachshund can become just as destructive as their siblings. They are better suited to homes where they are not going to be left alone for more than a few hours.

What Is The Life Expectancy Of A Long Haired Dachshund?

You can expect your Long Haired Dachshund to live for between 12 and 16 years. They are not at a greater risk of any particular disease when compared to short-haired Dachshunds. However, all types of Dachshunds have a greater risk of some diseases that owners should be aware of.

The most common health issue is intervertebral disc disease.

Intervertebral disc disease is a disease in which the discs between the vertebra of the spine slips or becomes ruptured. It is common in this breed because of how extended their body is compared to other breeds.

Many responsible breeders will genetically test their Dachshunds for intervertebral disc disease because of how common it is.

All Dachshunds are prone to weight gain too. This is due to their active, working lifestyle being replaced by a more sedentary life as a pet. Watch your dog’s diet closely and ensure they are not getting too many treats and tidbits to ensure they do not get overweight.

Too much weight can predispose them to further health issues such as arthritis and intervertebral disc disease.

They are also at risk of patellar luxation, which is dislocation of the kneecap, due to their short legs.

How To Groom

To keep your Long Haired Dachshund’s silky coat in tip-top condition it is best to groom them at least three times a week. Grooming should only take 15 minutes each time, so it should take you no longer than an hour in total spread over the entire week.

Start grooming your puppy from a young age to get them used to the sensation of being brushed all over. Breeders recommend you start as young as 12 weeks old.

The best type of brush to use for grooming is a pin or bristle brush. These brushes will help to comb out any matting in their hair without hurting your dog. You can use a hair clip to pin up sections of their coat and work through each layer section-by-section.

Make sure to brush in the direction of hair growth, which will prevent any matting building up. Focus especially on behind the legs and the chest where the hair is particularly prone to matting.

If your Long Haired Dachshund starts to have hair so long it trails along the floor, then it might be time for a visit to the groomers. They will cut the coat to stop it getting too dirty and tangled.

How To Trim Their Paws

Long Haired Dachshunds don’t just have long fur over their body; they also have long fluff between their toes! The hair between their toes will need trimming on a regular basis to help keep them comfortable. Sticks, thorns and debris have a tendency to become accidentally tangled in their long hair.

Dachshunds need to have their paws checked after every walk.

The best way to trim their paws is using a pair of round-tipped grooming scissors. The round tip means you can’t accidentally prick their paw with the sharp point like with normal scissors.

Before you start trying to trim the fluff between their toes with scissors, it is best to get them used to having their feet handled and held without any tools first. Once they happily let you hold their paw, get them used to the sound of the scissors without actually trimming them. Once they are happy to listen to the sound of the scissors opening and closing, you can begin trimming.

Hold the paw firmly and gently spread their pads apart to reveal the fluff between their toes.

Holding the scissors parallel to their pads, trim any hair that extends beyond the level of their pads. Don’t cut directly between the toes as this fur helps protect the skin between each pad.

How To Tell If A Puppy Is Long Haired

All Dachshund puppies are born with the same smooth coat. The genes your puppy inherits from their parents will decide whether they have long or smooth hair. Being long-haired is considered a recessive trait. This means that your puppy must have two copies of the “long hair” gene in order to grow a long coat.

The smooth-haired gene is dominant. If there is just one copy of the “smooth hair” gene you will get a smooth coated puppy.

There is a commonly understood rule between Dachshund breeders to not breed two different coat types together. In general Long Haired Dachshunds are only bred with each other. This means that all the puppies will have a long coat with a 100% certainty.

In rare cases when the breeder is not sure, you can tell from around the age of around 3 weeks.

You can tell if a puppy will be long-haired from around the age of 3 weeks. This is when long-haired puppies start to become fluffier and furrier. By 4 weeks of age they will start to get longer hair on their stomachs and chest.

Long Haired Dachshund puppies are especially obvious in a mixed litter where they quickly start to look different from their smooth-haired siblings.

How Much Are Long Haired Dachshunds?

Demand for Long Haired Dachshunds is the main reason you might find yourself paying more for one. They cost between $2,000 and $3,000, which is significantly more than their short haired siblings at $500 to $2,000.

These dogs are rarer, but also more popular due to their calmer and more laid-back nature. This means that there is a high demand, but few puppies available.

Just like their smooth-haired siblings, these puppies come in both standard and miniature sizes. You might pay more for a mini, than a standard. Rarer colors such as dappled Dachshunds will cost more too. The average dapple will cost $2,900.

When Does A Long Haired Dachshund Get Its Full Coat?

The first indication that a Dachshund is going to be long-haired will be at around 3 weeks of age. They will start to become a bit fluffier than their smooth-coated littermates.

At 4 weeks old their hair will start to grow longer around their belly and chest. At this point they can look patchy and will still be smooth-haired in places. They can look patchy even as old as 3 months.

By 6 months your Dachshund should have a long coat which will continue growing, becoming smoother and thicker.

At 18 months your Long Haired Dachshund’s coat will have reached its full length and thickness!

You can expect their hair to be longest under the neck and chest, on their entire belly and on their ears. They will also have feathering on the backs of all four legs and long hair on the full length of their tail.

Their long coat needs bathing no more than once a month. Bathing too frequently will cause their natural oils to be lost and their skin will become too dry. It is best to use a specific dog-friendly shampoo and to ensure you use a non-slip mat so that they are comfortable and safe when being washed.

Are They Still Considered Purebred?

Smooth-haired Dachshunds are the ‘original’ sausage dog, but there are actually three types. A Long Haired Dachshund is a purebred dog and is one of three recognized types of Dachshunds. The other two being the classic smooth-coated and wire-haired.

All three sausage dogs are considered official American Kennel Club breeds. They were first recognized in 1885, the very same year they were first brought to the US!

Although it is not certain how the long-haired was first bred, you can be sure you will be getting an adorable and intelligent pup!

These dogs not only come in over 30 colors, but there are also two possible sizes – the standard and the mini. Standards grow up to 8-9 inches tall and 16-32 pounds, whereas a mini will only be up to 11 pounds and 5-6 inches fully grown.

No matter their size or color they all have sleek, wavy hair all over their body. Their hair is so long it might even trail along the ground sometimes.

They are not only elegant and adorable with their long, wavy hair, but they are sweet-natured, energetic and friendly. They make the perfect addition to any family looking for a loving and active dog to have as much fun with in the house as they have on their daily walks.

Key Takeaways

• All Dachshund puppies are born with what looks like a smooth coat.
• A Long Haired Dachshund will start to get extra fur behind their ears and stomach by the age of 3 weeks. By 6 months old they have a distinctly longer coat which will be six inches long by the time they are 18 months!
• They are recognized by the American Kennel Club.
• A long-haired puppy costs between $2,000 and $3,000.
• These Dachshunds are active, energetic dogs who love to chase, run, play and exercise. However, they also love a cuddle and are more sweet-natured. When they aren’t busy making mischief they can be found on their owners lap having a scratch.
• Long-haired Dachshunds were created by breeding the original smooth-haired Dachshunds with Spaniels. The goal was to give them a longer coat to protect them in the cold winters while working outside.
• Some breeders say they were bred to be a less work-driven, calmer and more sociable pet.
• They only shed twice a year in the spring and fall. In order to keep their long hair in good condition they need grooming for 15 minutes 3 times a week with a pin or bristle brush.
• Their wide, fluffy paws will need grooming too. Their fur will even grow long between their toes, so this needs trimming down regularly to ensure dirt and grit doesn’t get too stuck in it.
• Long Haired Dachshunds love to hunt, but their prey drive isn’t quite as strong as smooth hairs. They need an hour of walking a day. This is often better if it is split into two 30-minute walks.

With long hair to match their long sausage bodies, who could resist this dog?

Do you think these dogs deserve as much attention as their famous smooth-haired siblings? Let us know and leave a comment.

Learn More About Other Long Haired Dogs

Long Haired German Shepherd Differences
Fluffy Frenchie Breed Information
Long Haired Chihuahua Differences