How to determine your dog’s coat type
Dog coats come in a variety of types, from smooth to curly, long to short, and fluffy to wiry. The coat of each breed is different and as a result they require different care and treatment. The first step in determining how to treat your dog’s coat is to find out what type of coat it is. Fortunately, there are only two main types to choose from, and it’s pretty easy to spot the difference:
1. The double layer
Most dogs have a double coat. This is where the fur is made up of two layers. The first is the ‘inner hair’, which is a type of short, fluffy fur that sits directly on the animal’s skin. On top of this is the ‘top layer’. This is usually more rigid and is designed to repel water. Dogs with double coats shed their undercoat twice a year.
2. The single layer
With the rarer single coat, the dog does not have an undercoat and instead only has the top water-repellent coat. Due to the lack of an undercoat, single coated dogs tend to shed much less than double coated dogs.
How to know what type of coat your dog has
The easiest way to find out what type of coat your dog has is to look it up in a guide. The American Kennel Club (AKC) produces a guide for each major breed of dog, and this guide lists the coat type.
If no guide is available for your dog, you will need to determine his coat type yourself. First you need your dog to stay still. Using a partner to hold them will make things so much easier! Part the hair on the side to see if the fur looks different underneath (usually softer in texture than the outer hairs). If so, your dog has a double coat, otherwise it’s a single coat.
Once you know your dog’s coat type, you can use it to make informed decisions about how to groom your dog, as each type should be treated differently.
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