Do Dachshunds Shed? What Each Coat Needs, and the Allergy Question
Yes, dachshunds shed. The AKC describes them as moderate shedders that are relatively clean and have little or no body odor. All three coats shed, and none of them is hypoallergenic. What changes between smooth, longhaired and wirehaired dachshunds is mostly the grooming each coat needs, not whether hair ends up on your sofa.
Worried about allergies? Then the more useful finding is about allergens, not hair, and we cover it below.
How each coat sheds and what it needs
The AKC breed standard describes three coats, and its breed page gives the care you’ll need to give each one. Here’s how they compare:
| Coat | What the standard describes | Care the AKC suggests |
|---|---|---|
| Smooth | Short, smooth and shining; neither too long nor too thick | “Wash and wear”: a wipe with a towel or hound glove |
| Longhaired | Sleek, often slightly wavy hair, longer under the neck, on the chest, ears and behind the legs | May need more frequent brushing, depending on how thick the coat is |
| Wirehaired | A tight, short, thick, hard outer coat with a softer undercoat between the coarse hairs | Plucked or hand-stripped several times a year, plus brushing or combing once or twice a week |
The wirehaired coat is the only one the standard says must have an undercoat; its absence is a fault. Our guide on how often to groom a dachshund covers routines for each coat.
Which dachshund sheds the least?
We couldn’t find a study that measures shedding by dachshund coat type, and owners don’t agree. In one Reddit thread, one owner said long coats shed more, while another said their smooth dog shed far more than their two longhaired dogs. A third put it this way:
“We have two short haired. One barely sheds and the ither sheds constantly all year round. I dont think its a simple as one coat sheds lots and the other doesnt…”
– r/Dachshund, August 2026 (3 upvotes)
Owners in these discussions describe a difference in where the hair shows: short smooth hairs that need a lint roller, and long hair they can sweep up once a week. If you want the least work, the AKC’s own description makes the smooth coat the easiest to keep, but that’s about grooming, not about less hair.
Mini or standard doesn’t change the coat. Miniatures come in the same three coats as standards, so size doesn’t give you a different coat. Our long hair vs short hair dachshund guide compares the two most common coats in more detail.
Are dachshunds hypoallergenic?
No, and no breed really is. A 2012 study in the Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology measured Can f 1, the major dog allergen, in hair and in homes. So-called hypoallergenic breeds such as Labradoodles and Poodles had higher Can f 1 levels in their hair and coat samples than the comparison dogs.
Those higher levels didn’t lead to more allergen in the air of their homes. The authors also found that differences between breeds were small compared with the variation inside a breed, and concluded there’s no evidence for calling any breed hypoallergenic.
The breeds sold as hypoallergenic in that study didn’t carry less allergen in their coats, so a dog that seems to shed less isn’t necessarily easier on an allergy. If you or someone in your home is allergic, you should spend time with the specific dog before you commit. Our are dachshunds hypoallergenic guide goes into more detail.
When shedding isn’t normal
You should expect moderate, all-over shedding. Bald patches, thinning in one area, or red, itchy or flaky skin are different, and they point to a skin or coat condition rather than ordinary shedding. Our guide to dachshund hair loss covers the patterns that turn up in the breed and what your vet will check.
Do dachshunds shed: common questions
Do mini dachshunds shed?
Yes. Miniatures have the same three coats as standards, and the AKC describes the breed as moderate shedders whatever the size.
Do long haired dachshunds shed?
Yes. The AKC says longhaired dachshunds may need more frequent brushing depending on coat thickness. Whether they shed more than smooths isn’t settled, and owners report both.
Do dachshunds smell?
Not much, according to the AKC, which says dachshunds have little or no body odor.
