Understanding your Dog's Coat

Dogs have a variety of different kinds of coats. Some require a lot more maintenance than others. Understanding your dog's coat will help you to determine whether you can handle grooming yourself or if you need to call in a professional. Also, when choosing a dog you can learn what to expect in terms of mess quantity and primping time.


Types of dog coats:
There are basically two kinds of coats; the double coat and the single coat. The double coat ,or two-ply, consists of two layers of hair; a top coat and an undercoat. The top coat is made up of coarser hairs. These hairs are water repellent. They protect the dog's skin and undercoat from the elements. The undercoat is much softer, shorter fur that serves to keep the dog warm. Dogs shed their undercoat two times each year. Single-coated dogs only have the top coat. Therefore, they shed much less.


Textures of a dog's coat:
There are four main coat textures in dogs.
Smooth-coated dogs have very short hair that settles nicely against the skin. This type of coat can be found on both single and double-coated dogs. Smooth coats require less maintenance, but they do still shed. Dalmatians are an example of a dog with this coat texture.

Wire-coated dogs have fur that is wiry on the outside and soft on the inside, but this texture can be found on single coats as well. Wire coats tend to be wavy looking and are coarse to the touch. This type of fur requires a little more attention. It may need to be stripped or clipped. Terriers have this kind of coat.

Curly-coated dogs are on the high maintenance end of the spectrum. They need regular brushing and clipping. These coats are found on Poodles.

Corded coats or dreadlocks are the most difficult coats to maintain. The hair can easily become twisted and tangled. Pulis belong to this texture group.


Coat lengths:
Just as dog's coats have different textures they also have different lengths. These range from completely hairless like the Chinese Crested to long like the Afghan Hound and everything in between. Short-coated dogs can have a single or double coat. Medium-coated dogs are usually double-coated and long coats are often single-coated. Typically the longer the coat the longer the grooming time required. However, hairless dogs also need a lot of attention paid to the skin.


Regardless of your dog's coat type, regular bathing and brushing is always a good idea. Keep your dog clean and let him show off his beautiful coat. A healthy coat is a sign of a healthy dog.