Dog Pregnancy Calculator And Timeline
Dog coats are not only classified in terms of length, texture, and color. They are further divided into two unique categories-double coat and single coat. Let’s get insight into the double-coated dogs.
The most important thing for a dog owner is to understand their dog’s coat type as it plays a major role in dog maintenance and grooming.
What Is A Double Coated Dog?
A double coat normally consists of two different layers. These dogs also have an undercoat consisting of very short hairs over a top layer of longer hairs known as guard hairs.
The thicker the undercoat, the coat will appear fluffier and the dog will need more grooming. The main purpose of an undercoat is to protect the dog from extreme weather conditions – both cold and hot weather- while the upper coat tries to prevent dirt and moisture.
List Of Double Coated Dog Breeds
Working dogs with double coats
- Tibetan Mastiff
- Saint Bernard
- Newfoundland
- Leonberger
- Kuvasz
- Komondor
- Pyrenean Mountain Dog
- Entlebucher Mountain Dog
- Black Russian Terrier
- Bernese Mountain Dog
Herding dogs with a double coat
- Australian Shepherd
- German Shepherd
- Bearded Collies
- Shetland, Belgian, Old English sheepdogs
- Australian Cattle Dog
- Swedish Vallhund
- Canaan Dogs
- Pulis
- Bouvier des Flanders
- Briards
- Belgian Tervuren
- Belgian Malinois
- Beaucerons
- Cardigan Welsh Corgi
- Pembroke Welsh Corgi
- Polish lowland sheepdogs
Hounds With Double Coats
Hound dogs also need double coats because of their busy hunting outdoors or tracking animals. One such double-coated dog is the Otterhound.
Double Coated Dog Breeds List
Spitz Dogs With Double Coat
These dogs have fluffy tails, strong jaws, pointed ears, and the most attractive part is their thick furry double coats.
Some of them in this category include
- Siberian Husky
- Alaskan Husky
- Swedish Lapphunds
- Finnish Lapphunds
- Finnish Spitz
- German Spitz
- Norwegian Lundehunds
- Korean Jindos
- Shiba Inus
- Keeshonds
- Chow Chows
- American Eskimos
- Chinooks
- Akitas
- Alaskan Malamutes
Sporting Dog Breeds With Double Coats
Most of these dogs spend their time in the water. Their skins need the much-required protection and their coats are water-resistant by nature.
- Wirehaired Pointing Griffon
- Nova Scotia Duck Tolling Retriever
- Labrador Retriever
- Golden Retriever
- Chesapeake Bay Retriever
- Boykin Spaniel
- American Water Spaniel
Toy Dog Breeds With Double Coats
Other than being just beautiful lap dogs, some of the toy dog breeds include
- Yorkshire Terrier
- Tibetan Spaniel
- Shih Tzu
- Pomeranian
- Havanese
Terrier Dog Breeds With Double Coats
Some of the terrier dog breeds with double coats include
- Wirehaired Fox Terrier
- Wheaten Terrier
- Skye Terrier
- Miniature Schnauzer
- Sealyham Terrier
- Scottish Terrier
- Lakeland Terrier
- Irish Terrier
- Parson Russell Terriers
- Norfolk Terrier
- Tibetan Terrier
- Dandie Dinmont Terrier
- Cairn Terrier
- Australian Terrier
Double Coated Dog Grooming
These dog breeds (double coated) usually shed a ton and you will need vacuum cleaners to tidy your house. Initially, when you start, undercoat hairs will get entangled resulting in tangles and mats.
No one can stop a canine from shedding, and you will discover that regular grooming patterns will maintain dog-related allergies in a subtle way.
Tips For Grooming A Double Coated Dog
- Use an undercoat rake to clean dead and loose hairs.
- A slicker brush is the right tool for grooming the fur present on your dog’s back portion which is longer and thicker.
- Brush your dog at least twice or thrice a week. This will prevent unnecessary tangles and mats.
- Use a comb or wire pin brush to remove loose and dead hairs sticking on the topcoat.
- Clean the tangles and mats with a comb having wide-tooth. Suppose, if you decide to cut, you pinch the hair as closely as possible to stop accidentally ripping his skin.
- The final one is to use a bristle brush over your dog’s fur to increase shine.
Shaving A Double Coated Dog
If you own a Pomeranian, Chow Chow, or an Australian Shepherd, you would have thought of giving them a cool summer cut.
Double Coated Dogs In Hot Weather
Dogs and humans have different outer layers. The outermost human skin has more protection than the dog epidermis or outer skin. Because of this, the sunlight will easily burn the dog’s skin. For this reason, dogs compulsorily require their coat to insulate and protect them.
At times, the dog might also overheat. It’s like you sitting directly under the sun without having any kind of protection, causing your body temperature to increase manifold. In the process, you will get sunburned. The same thing goes for dogs as well.
Can You Shave A Double Coated Dog?
Unless and otherwise, vets recommend you to do so, avoid shaving them because they become prone to hazardous UV rays.
Dogs get hot much faster than humans in general. Dogs do not sweat like us, they manage their body temperature through sweat glands and by panting.
Extra protection of a double coat in these dogs functions as a good thermal regulator that manages heat in hot weather and protects the body from cold weather.
Remember, spring shedding naturally removes unwanted undercoats but never touches the guard hairs. In this way, the air passes through the strong guard hairs, keeping the skin cool.
Once you shave your dog, the undercoat will grow first. The guard hairs will grow a lot slower. This mixture of loose undercoats growing with slow guard hairs will turn your dog into a hot oven. The reason this happens is that the undercoat prevents air circulation, thereby affecting the natural cooling method.
The Bottomline
Your dog’s double coat actually manages its body temperature 24/7 365 days a year. If you shave your dog, it can suffer from sunburn. Act wisely and never ever shave your dog’s double coat without seeking a piece of vet advice; other than for medical reasons.
