Introduction
Dog coats come in a variety of textures and lengths based on the breed. While some dogs have a single coat, others have a double coat consisting of a soft undercoat and a coarse outer coat. The most common coat types in dogs include curly coats, wire coats, silky coats, smooth coats, wool coats, and hairless coats. In this article, we will provide an overview of the main coat types seen in dogs and give examples of breeds that exhibit each coat type. Proper grooming and care varies based on the type of coat a dog has, so understanding coat types is an important aspect of dog ownership.
Double Coats
A double coat on a dog refers to two distinct layers of fur. The topcoat is composed of tougher guard hairs that protect the dog from dirt, debris, and water. The undercoat is soft, dense, and wooly fur that helps insulate the dog’s skin. The combination of the coarse outer coat and downy undercoat allows double coated breeds to thrive in cold weather climates.
According to the World Animal Foundation, some examples of popular double coated dog breeds include Golden Retrievers, Labrador Retrievers, Australian Shepherds, Collies, Siberian Huskies, and Chow Chows (https://worldanimalfoundation.org/dogs/double-coated-dog-breeds/). These dogs were bred to work and live outdoors, so their double coats provide protection from wind, rain, snow, and cold temperatures. The undercoat grows thick in the winter to keep the dog warm, and then sheds out in the spring as temperatures rise.
Single Coats
Single coated dogs have only one coat, which consists of guard hairs without an undercoat. Some examples of single coated dog breeds include Poodles, Greyhounds, Whippets, Dalmatians, and Italian Greyhounds.
Single coats tend to shed minimally and require less grooming. However, single coated breeds don’t have the built-in insulation of a double coat, so they may get cold more easily. Owners of single coated dogs may need to provide sweaters or jackets in cold weather.
The texture of the single coat can vary between breeds – some have a smooth, short coat while others have a longer, silky coat. Examples of smooth, short single coats are seen in Boxers and Doberman Pinschers. Silky, longer single coats are found in breeds like Maltese, Shih Tzu, and Afghan Hound.
Overall, single coated dogs require less grooming and shedding is minimal. However, their coats don’t provide as much insulation, so they may need some extra warmth in colder temperatures.
Hairless Coats
Hairless dog breeds have very little to no hair growth on their bodies. According to the AKC, hairless dog breeds like the Xoloitzcuintli and Peruvian Inca Orchid are characterized as having “virtually no body hair”.
These hairless breeds often have hair on certain parts of their bodies, such as their head, tail, and feet, but the rest of their body is predominantly hairless with smooth, soft skin that may have the appearance of a mild to moderate case of mange (source: https://www.akc.org/dog-breeds/hairless-dog-breeds/). Their skin is very sensitive and requires extra protection from sunburn, abrasions, and cuts.
Some examples of hairless dog breeds include the Chinese Crested, Xoloitzcuintli (Mexican Hairless), Peruvian Inca Orchid, American Hairless Terrier, Argentine Pila Dog, and Hairless Khala (source: https://www.thesprucepets.com/hairless-dog-breeds-4801015). These breeds come in a variety of sizes from small to medium.
While hairless breeds do not shed, they require extra skin care. Their sensitive skin needs moisturizing and sun protection. They also need protection from cold temperatures.
Wire Coats
Wire coats are a type of coat made up of coarse, dense hair that feels wiry or broken to the touch. The hair stands out from the body rather than lying flat.
Some examples of wire coated dog breeds include:
- Wire Fox Terrier – This breed has a dense, wiry outer coat and a softer undercoat.
- Kerry Blue Terrier – Known for its soft bluish-gray and wiry coat that doesn’t shed much.
- Australian Terrier – Has a weather-resistant, dense rough coat that protects it from the elements.
- Schnauzer – Comes in three sizes (miniature, standard and giant) and has a distinct beard and eyebrows along with a harsh, wiry outer coat.
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon – Used for hunting, this breed has a coarse, dense coat that provides insulation against cold and water.
The wire coat helps protect these dogs from wind, dirt, moisture and thick vegetation. The texture of the coat also helps prevent penetration to the skin.
Silky Coats
Silky coated dogs have long, straight, fine and smooth feeling hair that has a lustrous sheen or satin gloss. The hairs are very soft to touch. This type of coat often appears shiny because the silky hairs reflect light well. Some examples of silky coated dog breeds include:
- Maltese – This toy breed has a long, straight, silky white coat covering the entire body.
- Yorkshire Terrier – The Yorkie has a fine, glossy, straight coat that hangs long and parts down the middle of the back.
- Cocker Spaniel – The Cocker Spaniel has a silky, wavy coat. The featherings on the ears, chest, legs and tail are particularly silky.
- Pomeranian – Poms have a long, abundant double coat with a frill of fur around the neck. The outer coat is straight and silky.
Silky coats tend to be low shedding. However, they require frequent brushing and grooming to prevent tangles and mats from forming in the long, fine hairs. Special conditioning treatments may help keep a silky coat looking its best.
Wool Coats
Wool coats are made up of thick, dense hair that resembles sheep’s wool. The coat protects the dog from cold weather and moisture. Wool coats consist of an outer coat and an undercoat. The outer coat contains long, coarse guard hairs, while the undercoat contains fine, short hairs to provide insulation.
Some examples of dog breeds with wool coats include:
- Poodles – Poodles have thick, dense curly coats that resemble wool. They have hair rather than fur. The coat keeps them warm in cold weather and protects their skin.
- Bichon Frise – This breed has a soft, dense undercoat and coarser outer coat that forms loose curls over the body, resembling wool.
- Maltese – The long, silky white coat of the Maltese resembles spun wool. Their hair continues growing throughout their life.
- Samoyed – This breed has a straight outer coat and soft, thick undercoat suited for cold climates. Their white coat resembles wool.
- Shetland Sheepdog – “Shelties” have a long, dense double coat with an outer coat resembling rough wool.
- Tibetan Terrier – Originating in the Himalayas, their coat contains fine underwool and longer guard hairs.
The wool coats of these breeds require regular brushing and grooming to prevent matting.
Curly Coats
Curly coated dogs have tight curls or waves throughout their coat. The curls vary from loose, open curls to very tight corkscrew curls. Curly coats are composed of hair that grows from the dog’s skin in an undulating or curving pattern, forming springy curls that cluster together throughout the body. The curly coat provides insulation and water resistance while maintaining a relatively low-maintenance coat.
Some examples of curly coated dog breeds include:
- Poodles – Poodles have dense, curly coats that require regular grooming and trimming. There are three sizes of Poodles: standard, miniature, and toy (What are the breed characteristics of the Labradoodle?).
- Bichon Frise – The Bichon Frise has a dense, curl coat resembling powder puffs over their entire body.
- Portuguese Water Dog – This breed has a thick, curly coat that provides insulation when retrieving from cold water.
- Irish Water Spaniel – Covered in tight ringlets, the Irish Water Spaniel’s curly coat helps repel water for swimming and retrieving.
The curly coat texture ranges from soft curls to more coarse, wooly curls. Curly coats tend to cord or mat if not regularly brushed and groomed. Most curly coated dogs require professional grooming (The Ultimate Curly Coat Dog Breed Guide). Their curly fur continues growing and needs trimming every 4-8 weeks.
Smooth Coats
Smooth coated dogs have short, dense, and sleek coats that lie flat against their skin. Their coat is typically shiny, glossy and smooth to the touch. Smooth coats only have one layer of hair that is the same length all over their body, lacking an undercoat like some breeds have.
Some examples of smooth coated dog breeds include:
- Boxer
- Great Dane
- Doberman Pinscher
- Weimaraner
- Vizsla
- Greyhound
- Whippet
- Boston Terrier
Smooth coats tend to shed moderately and require minimal grooming. A weekly brushing is usually sufficient to remove dead hair and distribute skin oils. Their short coat also makes smooth coated breeds ideal for owners with allergies.
Conclusion
In summary, dogs come in a wide variety of coat types that each have their own unique properties. Double coats like those seen in breeds like Siberian Huskies have a thick, dense undercoat protected by a coarse outer coat that insulates them in cold climates. Smooth coats like those of Boxers and Weimaraners lie flat against the body and shed minimally, making grooming easier. Wire coats, characterized by stiff, wiry hairs as seen in Wirehaired Dachshunds protect dogs like terriers who hunt prey underground. Silky coats form long, sleek, shiny hair as with Yorkies and Maltese. Wooly coats in breeds like Old English Sheepdogs and Poodles have thick, dense, curly hair for insulation and curl close to the body to repel dirt and debris. Hairless coats like those in Chinese Crested and Peruvian Inca Orchids allow breeds from tropical climates to avoid overheating. Curly coated dogs like Poodles have thick curls or waves that protect their skin and repel water for retrieving birds from lakes and streams. No matter their differences, all coat types serve an important function to keep dogs comfortable in their environment.