Coat Types
One of the most amazing things about dogs, is that they come in all sorts of shapes and sizes- different coat textures! Theres officially 15 different coat types, according to modern research.
1. Short
1) Short-Hairless
To start off, there is the hairless coat type, which, obviously, has no hair/fur. The most well-known example of this is the Chinese Crested dog. These breeds require a lot of oils in their diet with a risk their skin drying up and forming a crust if not properly maintained.
2) Short-Smooth
Next, we have the short-smooth, which are dogs like Great Danes, Boxers and Pugs. They have short, stiff hairs that give the dog a smooth appearance. Maintenance for these coat types include regular bathing and de-shedding with non-metal tools.
2. Double
1) Double-Short
These are your Labrador Retrievers, your Australian Cattle Dogs, your Corgis etc. They have a dense coat they typically shed a lot. These guys typically get brushed every week with a gentle de-shedding tool such as a rubber curry.
2) Double-Medium
For the medium double coat - think Border Collies, German Shepherds and Australian Shepherds. They have a bushier tail, ruff (longer hair around neck/chest) and pantaloons (longer hair around hind legs). These guys require regular de-shedding with slicker brushes, combs and rakes.
3) Double-Long
This category includes breeds like the Newfoundland, Rough Collie, Shetland Sheepdog and more. They have a dense coat than the medium coat and as such require more regular maintenance. For these guys I recommend a professional de-shed every 8 weeks to keep shedding under control and prevent compaction.
4) Arctic/primitive
Finally, we come to the thickest of the thick when it comes to coat types. Huskies, Samoyeds, Chow Chows all fit under this category. The undercoat is incredibly dense, and a fine-tooth comb will struggle to pass through this coat. Regular brushing at least twice a week is recommended for these guys, and a professional de-shed every 6-10 weeks ideally.
3. Flat/Feathered
Moving on to the feathered coat, these are breeds such as the Golden Retriever, the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel and Setters. Their jacket (back) lays flat against their skin and they have long hair on the backs of their legs, on the chest and on their pants. These guys require regular de-sheds and their furnishings should be combed at least a couple times a week to prevent matting.
4. Wire
1) Wire-Rough
These dogs have thick, course hair that gives them a scruffy appearance. Breeds include Airedale Terrier, Schnauzers, West Highland White Terriers etc. Although some de-shedding is needing, these dogs benefit the most from hand-stripping, a process in which the dead hairs are gently removed by hand. This shortens the coat without giving them the dull colour that shaving the coat will.
2) Wire-Broken
Very similar to the rough coat, this is essentially a mix of smooth coat or short double coat and rough coat. Breeds that fit this are the Jack Russell, Irish Terrier and some mixed breeds. Less hand stripping is needed for these guys, and they will not look as polished as the rough coat when stripped.
5. Curly
1) Curly-Curly
These are your Poodles, Bichons and some Oodle crosses. They have tight curls that when properly fluff dried give the dog a cloud-like, fluffy appearance. These guys need brushing multiple times a week, and professional grooming is recommended every 3-6 weeks, depending on style and length of coat. (A Poodle kept in a poodle clip, for example, will need their poodle points refreshed at least once a month to keep them looking neat!)
2) Curly-Wavy
This includes many oodle crosses, as well as the Portuguese Water Dog. The coat is more wavy than curly, and sits flatter. They generally don’t have the big ‘poofy’ head that the curly coat has and are not as easy to work with style wise. Brushing is needed every few days and professional grooming every 6 weeks ideally.
3) Curly-Rustic
Only two breeds are in this category - the Lagotto Romagnolo and Spanish Water Dog. When being professionally groomed, they are left to dry naturally and hard ringlets form. Brushing these ringlets out causes matting, so they are the only breeds recommended not to brush between grooms (unless brushed soaking wet and allowed to air-dry)
6. Long
Breeds with a long coat include your Maltese, your Shih Tzus, your Afghan Hounds and others. They have a long, fine, flowy coat that often reaches the ground or longer and require daily brushing.
7. Corded
Next we have the corded breeds, such as the Puli or Komondor, although some other breeds like the Poodle can also be corded. These are incredibly difficult to groom and maintain, generally only kept by show dog owners or groomers. It involves constantly reforming the cords to ensure they keep their shape and remain even, and bathing these dogs is often a day long process!
8. Combination
Finally, we have the combination coat, which is many oodle mixes, Old English Sheepdogs, Bouviers etc. These breeds usually have a cross of fur and hair. They also have a high tendance to mat. Any dog that doesn’t fall under one of the listed categories basically comes under this category, and grooming needs vary from each dog.
I hope you found some of this information useful to you, if you need help figuring out which category your dog fits into and/or what grooming they require, please reach out!