We all know the feeling; you get home from a walk and your darling little doxie treads god knows what all over the floor!
It is definitely bath time, but which shampoo is best for a dachshund’s sensitive skin?
Luckily, dachshunds do not tend to hold a smelly dog odour as much as other breeds, but there will undoubtedly be times when a great shampoo is required.
Here we have our favourite shampoos for dachshunds, why it’s important and how to use them!
Our top shampoos for Daschshunds
- Honeydew PetPleasant Lavender Oatmeal Puppy Shampoo
- Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Medicated Dog Shampoo
- John Paul Sensitive Skin Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs
- TropiClean 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner
- Wahl Waterless No Rinse Shampoo
How to bathe your dachshund
Before you grab your chosen shampoo, you might need a reminder on the best way to use it! Here are some easy to follow guidelines for using a traditional dog shampoo in the bath:
Start bathing your dachshund as a puppy, to get them used to it. They might be anxious about the entire process but getting them used to it young can help to alleviate this.
How often to bathe a dog is widely debated and dependent on your dog’s coat, activity level and temperament. The American Kennel Club’s grooming experts advise only bathing your dachshund when they are smelly enough to offend you.
Slip-proof the bath. Use a non-slip mat or a wet towel for your dachshund to stand on so that they do not slip over. This will help make it safer and easier for you to clean them.
Keep calm. Your dachshund will react to your cues, so if you panic, so will they! Speak gently and quietly throughout the entire process.
Distract them. This will not always be necessary but might help a more anxious dachshund. Using treats or a lick-pad such as this can help reduce their wriggling.
Use warm, shallow water. Your dachshund may fear the water, so make it shallow enough that they can stand up. Using warm (not hot) water will be most comfortable and prevent illnesses from reduced temperatures such as hypothermia. This goes for the room temperature too.
Avoid the head. Shampoo them gently all over their body but leave the head for later. Dachshunds can be prone to ear infections, which might be caused by excess water in their ears. Carefully blocking the ears with cotton wool might also help to keep water out of their ears.
Rinse well. Still avoiding the head, gently rinse all the shampoo off. Any excess shampoo left to dry could irritate your dachshund’s sensitive skin.
Dry well. Let your dachshund shake off naturally, and then use a warm towel to soak up the rest of the water. Make sure you are gentle but thorough to prevent your dachshund from feeling cold.
Clean the head once dry using a damp cloth or dog wipe. Don’t forget the ears!
Use positive reinforcement to tell your dachshund what a good dog they have been! This can also help them to associate bath time with positive experiences and alleviate anxiety. Now might be a good time to whip out those high-value treats.
Why does it matter?
Which shampoo you use to wash your dachshund can have a huge impact on their health and wellbeing. Dogs, like humans, secrete substances from their bodies to form a barrier that protects their skin and maintains its PH levels.
The wrong shampoo can disrupt these PH levels and dry out the skin, causing your dachshund to scratch, subsequently leading to infection. The right shampoo, however, can treat or prevent common ailments in dogs such as fleas, dry skin and bad odour whilst keeping them clean and fresh.
What makes a good shampoo?
The perfect shampoo works for you and your dachshund. You want a clean smelling, flea free dachshund; they want a gentle shampoo that maintains their neutral PH level. Dog shampoo can contain harsh chemicals such as dyes and scents, which you might want to avoid.
World-famous dog trainer Cesar Millan suggests looking for natural ingredients such as oatmeal, chamomile and eucalyptus to avoid irritating your dachshund’s skin or eyes.
Although you do not want to cause your dachshund irritation, you obviously still want a shampoo that does its job. Soap-based shampoos might clean better, but a shampoo that moisturises whilst still getting rid of odour can help you keep everybody happy.
Millan also advises considering the individual needs of any dog. These might include getting a puppy-specific shampoo, an anti-flea treatment or medicated shampoo for a particular skin condition.
If you have a long-haired dachshund, you might also need to think about conditioners, or getting a shampoo that does both!
Human shampoo
It is mostly agreed by experts that you should never use human shampoo on your dachshund because shampoos made for our slightly acidic skin are too strong for a dog’s.
Despite this, some associations – such as the American Kennel Club – suppose that it might be acceptable to use human shampoo in emergencies.
Due to the conflicting advice, we suggest making sure you always have the perfect dog shampoo to hand, to avoid having to make this decision!
Our favourite shampoo for dachshunds
Let’s take a more in depth look at our favourite choices.
Honeydew PetPleasant Lavender Oatmeal Puppy Shampoo
This shampoo is specially formulated for puppies but can be used on dogs of any age. This shampoo manages to keep you and your dachshund happy by controlling their odour with all-natural ingredients.
The ingredients of this oatmeal shampoo are created with sensitive skin in mind, so it cleans effectively whilst also gently soothing.
The lavender oil serves to make bath time easier by calming your dachshund and doubles up as an odour eliminator. This shampoo might be good for a dachshund with sensitive skin and a tendency to get smelly.
Although an effective cleaner, this shampoo does not create a lather easily like some other shampoos.
Honeydew are so confident about their oatmeal puppy shampoo that it comes with a money-back guarantee!
Pros:
- Natural ingredients
- Effective odour control
- Calming
- Sensitive on skin
- Money-back guarantee
Cons:
- Does not lather well
Veterinary Formula Clinical Care Medicated Dog Shampoo
This medicated shampoo might be perfect for dachshunds with skin problems like mange, parasites and bacterial infection.
For dogs over 12 weeks, this shampoo soothes and repairs skin whilst retaining a dog’s natural PH balance. It also does not interfere with any other treatment you might put on your dachshund, such as flea ointment.
This shampoo contains no dyes or soap so will not dry out or irritate the skin any further. All the ingredients are veterinary-grade and the formula is fast-acting on skin conditions.
Although it is effective at soothing skin, this shampoo does smell a bit.
Pros:
- Fast-acting relief of skin problems
- Retains PH level
- Gentle
Cons:
- Bad smell
John Paul Sensitive Skin Oatmeal Shampoo for Dogs
This luxurious shampoo cleans and moisturises simultaneously. The ingredients include oatmeal, aloe vera and chamomile which are all naturally soothing.
Almond oil conditions and leaves a pleasant smell on your dachshund’s coat and the product lathers well so a little can go a long way.
The natural formula might suit a healthy dachshund who wants a little conditioning but is not medicated so may not work for a dog with more serious skin conditions.
This shampoo might also suit a philanthropist, as John Paul donate a portion of the sales proceeds to animal and wildlife charities!
Pros:
- Cleans and conditions
- Natural ingredients
- Lathers well
- Donates a portion of sales
Cons:
- Does not soothe highly irritated skin
TropiClean 2-in-1 Shampoo & Conditioner
This 2-in-1 blend cleanses, moisturises and conditions all at once, so might be great for long-haired dachshunds. It also acts as a detangler, so you won’t have to wrestle with the dog brush after bathing.
The sweet papaya and coconut scent will cover up nasty doggy odours but might be a little strong for some pet parents.
This shampoo is dye and paraben-free using natural ingredients and is PH balanced to match your dog’s coat.
Pros:
- Cleanses, moisturises and conditions
- Detangles
- Natural ingredients
Cons:
- Smells strong
Wahl Waterless No Rinse Shampoo
This no rinse shampoo requires no water, so might suit those pet parents who are in a rush. You just pump the foam into your hand, rub into your dachshund’s fur and then brush it out.
The formula is PH balanced, alcohol and paraben-free and contains calming scents such as chamomile and lavender. This scent might be a little strong for some, though.
As well as cleansing, this shampoo conditions, moisturises and detangles too!
Pros:
- Waterless
- PH balanced, alcohol/paraben free
- Calming scents
Cons:
- Smells strong
Our favourite shampoo for dachshunds is…
The winning shampoo in our books is the Honeydew PetPleasant Lavender Oatmeal Puppy Shampoo. This formula is especially for puppies but can continue to be used when they become adults too! It manages to find the balance between natural products and effects odour control, a difficult feat indeed.
Of course, every dog is different. If you are unsure of anything or your dachshund has a specific skin condition always consult your vet before trying a new shampoo.
Remember to follow out steps to bathing your dachshund to have them smelling as fresh as a… doxie!
References / Further Learning
https://www.reviewsworthy.net/dogs/shampoo/how-to-chose-right-dog-shampoo