There are only three AKC registry-accepted coat types Long, Smooth, and Wire. However, this article will cover all four coat types possible.
Long Hair
Traditionally, longs were only bred to other longs and resulted in thicker LONG coats however there is more to the genetics than that. Certain bloodlines carry more curl or a thicker undercoat, or softer silkier long hair. The old wives tail that breeding a long to a smooth will result in a lesser long coat. This is simply not true; case in point, all of Sprinkles (a smooth hair) long-hair pups like Starfire have turned out the best coats of all our longs. Mousse’s line had a much thicker coat and was softer than any I have encountered.
Many of the “lesser” coated long-haired dogs are commonly referred to as broken long, where the hair is only long on the ears and tail, yet still a fluffier body than a smooth.
While the true long hair dachshund is glorious in its own right, the broken long is easier for the common family to upkeep and much less likely to get tangles and prickles, so are popular with families who like the long look and personality but don’t have the extra time to care for a breed standard long coat.
Long hairs tend to be calmer and quieter than their smooth counterparts however, there are exceptions to that rule.
Smooth
The smooth hair is an easy keeper that requires almost no brushing, only occasional baths or wipe-offs. Smooth coats tend to be more active and boisterous, so they make excellent family and hiking companions.
Wire
Wirehairs are the class clowns; they feed on attention and seem to learn new tricks quicker than the other coat types ( I don’t have a clue how coat type affects intelligence, but wires just are). Wire coats do not shed; they require stripping, which is not as awful as it sounds. Once a week, you just gently tug at the long wire guard hairs while petting your dog, and any loose ones will just come off painlessly. Occasionally, the hairs that fan out in front of a wire hair’s eyes or beard hairs that overgrow the mouth can and should be trimmed. Wire hairs should never be shaved; it ruins their coat and makes them more susceptible to cold.
A wire hair with a properly stripped coat should resemble a smooth all but the beard and eyebrows.
Soft/Silky Wire
This coat is a fairly new emergence that comes from the crossing of long hair on a wire. It is not accepted in the breed standard.
This coat type requires the most upkeep. Some people choose to keep their soft wires natural, which often takes brushing to keep tangle-free, and I have known a few owners who get their soft wires the schnauzer cut. Soft/silky wires can not be stripped; they require shaving regardless of how it affects the coat. This is not a hair type we strive for.
Photo courtesy of McCoy’s Precious Doxies