The smooth or short-haired dachshund is the foundation variety — the coat the breed carried when it was first standardised. The hair is short, close-lying, hard to the touch and shining, thickest on the neck and thinning slightly on the underside and ears.
Because there is no coat to disguise the outline, the smooth is where you see dachshund structure most honestly: the long level topline, the prominent breastbone, the well-developed forechest and the tucked loin.
Grooming and shedding
Maintenance is genuinely minimal — a rubber curry mitt or hound glove once a week lifts dead hair and keeps the shine. Baths are occasional. There is no trimming, stripping or clipping.
Do not mistake short for non-shedding. Smooths shed steadily year-round and more heavily in spring and autumn. The hairs are short, dark and stiff, and they weave into upholstery and clothing. Regular brushing outdoors is the main defence.
Cold weather and skin
A single short coat is not much insulation. Many smooths visibly dislike cold, wet weather and benefit from a well-fitted coat in winter, especially the miniatures and the seniors.
Smooths can be prone to a few skin issues — thinning hair on the ear edges with age, and in some lines a pattern of hair loss on the chest and belly. Any sudden change in coat quality is worth a vet check, since thyroid problems show up in the coat first.
