1. Coat Characteristics of Dogs
Ms. Simunich
Small Animal Care II
Louisa County High School

2. 9 Types of coats 1. smooth-coated 2. double-coated
3. short-haired coat
4. silky/combination-coated
5. wire-haired coat
6. heavy-coated
7. long-haired coat
8. curly/wavy coat
9. corded coat

3. Smooth-Coated Dog
Very short hair that lies flat and sleek against their bodies.
Most lack undercoats, despite popular belief, all of them shed.
Some breeds, such as the Dalmatian, shed year-round.
Groomed to exemplify the breeds physique

4. Examples: Boxer Bulldog Greyhound Great Dane
Staffordshire Bull Terrier
Whippet
Weimaraner

5. Double-Coated Dog dense coats, very straight
short to moderate in some areas and of medium to long length in others
guard coat -harsh and tough fur along with thick, downy undercoats that are soft and fluffy, the hair provides insulation
sheds excessively during their seasonal shedding periods
natural body oils combined with their harsh coats can cause them to produce odor that can be unpleasant

6. Examples: Alaskan Malamute Cardigan Welsh Corgi Collie (Smooth-Coated)
German Shepherd Dog
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Siberian Husky
Labrador Retriever

7. Short-Haired Coat
Much like the smooth-coated dog, but 1-2 inch longer hair
Requires different brushing/bathing regimens
Back-brushing= very effective
Coat protects from elements
“Harsh” look to coat

8. Examples:
Australian Cattle Dog
Beagle
Bullmastiff
Pug
Rottweiler

9. Silky/Combination Coat
Combination-coated dog has combination of both long, silky hair and short, smooth hair.
A silky-coated dog also has a combination of both of these types of hair
Difference between the two is that the silky-coated dog’s hair is finer, and it requires both carding and hand-stripping.
Their grooming processes are similar as combination- coated dogs also benefit from carding
Do not bathe too often-can strip coat of natural oils that aid in the silky texture of coat

10. Examples: Silky: English Cocker Spaniel English Setter
Combination:
Australian Shepherd
Border Collie
Brittany
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel
Chihuahua (Long-Haired)
Dachshund (Long-Haired)
Golden Retriever
Tibetan Spaniel
Silky:
English Cocker Spaniel
English Setter
English Springer Spaniel
Irish Setter
Welsh Springer Spaniel

11. Wire-Haired Coat
Coats are wiry, coarse and lie flat against the dog’s body when done properly
Wiry guard coat over their entire body
Soft but dense undercoat over the majority of the body
Tangle/Mat easily if not groomed regularly
Soft undercoat sheds seasonally
Carding/Stripping is necessary
[pluck undercoat out, leaving guard coat intact]

12. Examples: Dachshund (Wire-Haired) Fox Terrier
German Wirehaired Pointer
Irish Wolfhound
Miniature Schnauzer
Petit Basset Griffon Vendéen
Scottish Terrier

13. Heavy-Coated thicker than double-coated dogs
coat should not be clipped→undercoats can grow over the guard coat unevenly and may never look the same again
Most of their grooming revolves around combing and brushing
[linebrushing and line-combing are essential), de-shedding, de-matting, bathing and drying

14. Examples: Bernese Mountain Dog Chow Chow Great Pyrenees Newfoundland
Pekingese
Pomeranian
Saint Bernard
Shetland Sheepdog

15. Long-Haired Coat drop-coated one hair per follicle no undercoat
reduce the amount of shedding
decreases the level of dander =less allergenic
Tangle and mat very easily!

16. Examples: Lhasa Apso Maltese Old English Sheepdog Shih Tzu
Yorkshire Terrier

17. Curly/Wavy Coat every breed has a pattern that should be followed
proper grooming procedure is hand-stripping-except for the Bouvier des Flandres
the correct and proper way to complete the patterns is to hand-scissor
pet grooming procedure is a clipper trim for every breed in this category
Considered a “nonshedding breed” (hypoallergenic?)
Do shed a bit, but curly coat holds on to the shed hair….thus the need for carding/stripping

18. Examples Bedlington Terrier Bichon Frisé Bouvier des Flandres
Irish Water Spaniel
Kerry Blue Terrier
Poodle
Portuguese Water Dog
Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier

19. Corded Coat No clipping pattern
Pet dogs can be clipped down and their cords removed
Downfall of grooming-coat may take up to 12 to 24 hours to dry completely
Water or bacteria can stay in the cords
Must squeeze shampoo in to cords- cannot scrub cords! (ruins them…)
Komondor: Cords must be one-half to an inch wide and flat at the base
Puli: Cords are thinner, but more abundant

20. Examples:
Komondor
Puli
Havanese (variation)
Poodle (variation)*

21. Which coat type?