MASTERCLASS
Dachshund
TAYLAN BRADLEY
MAX
Max is a Long-Haired Dachshund in for his regular bath, groom-out and light tidy. But while Tay certainly gets him looking lovely, this tutorial has another job: showing how to groom one very long little dog without forgetting the body underneath all that sausage.
Throughout the groom, Tay demonstrates different ways to support Max while working on his feet, legs, furnishings and harder-to-reach areas, along with safer ways to lift and reposition him without letting his back end dangle or his body twist around.
Part 1 | Grinch feet, furnishings & supporting Max
Tay starts with Max’s pads and delightfully hairy little feet, using the tidy to demonstrate how she supports underneath his belly and body while lifting individual legs.
She works around his hocks, rear furnishings and front legs with the same idea in mind: if Max sits, wriggles or sends his front and back ends in different directions, she can support and reposition him rather than dragging him across the table. There are several different holds here, including options for accessing the groin if that ever needs attention.
Part 2 | Picking up a sausage dog
There is, apparently, a correct way to pick up a sausage. Tay demonstrates a couple of ways to lift Max with both his chest and rear supported and his body held securely against hers, rather than letting half of him dangle like a handbag.
She also works through alternative holds for pads, nails and legs, including some useful options for wriggly or less cooperative dogs and that awkward opposite foot. Whatever position she uses, Max’s long body stays supported while Tay gets access to the bit she needs.
Part 3 | The final Dachshund tidy
Before Max goes home, Tay gets right through his coat with a fine-tooth comb, checking the longer areas that can easily hide tangles, including underneath the body, through the chest, armpits and behind those soft ears.
She lightly blends his chest and tidies his very long tail without sacrificing the natural look his mum loves. It’s those small finishing touches, Tay explains, that can turn a straightforward bath and tidy into a really clean finish.
Tay finishes with a few more Dachshund-specific considerations, including gentler drying, handling dogs with previous spinal injuries, managing wriggly dogs and using additional support such as a belly band or hammock where appropriate. She also touches on the other Dachshund coat types and the grooming tools that can help manage shedding and dead coat
