How to Determine Your Dog's Coat Type

Dog coats come in a variety of types - from straight to curly, long to short, and fluffy to wiry. Every breed's coat is different, and as a result, they require different grooming and treatment. The first step in determining how to treat your dog's coat is to figure out what type of coat it is. Thankfully there are only two main types to choose between, and it's fairly easy to spot the difference:

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1. The Double Coat

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Most dogs have a double coat. This is where the coat is composed of two layers. The first is the 'undercoat', which is a short, fluffy type of fur which sits directly against the animal's skin. On top of this sits the 'top coat'. This is typically stiffer, and is designed to repel water. Dogs with a double coat shed their undercoat twice a year.

2. The Single Coat

With the more rare single coat, the dog has no undercoat, and instead has only the water-repellent top coat. Because of the lack of undercoat, dogs with a single coat tend to shed a lot less hair than their double coated counterparts.

How To Tell Which Coat Type Your Dog Has

The easiest way to determine which type of coat your dog has is to look it up in a guide. The American Kennel Club (AKC) produces a guide for every major breed of dog, and this guide lists the coat type.

If there's no guide available for your dog, you'll need to determine his coat type yourself. First you need to get your dog to stand still. Using a partner to hold them will make things much easier! Part the hair on their side to see if the coat appears any different underneath (usually with a more downy 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 this to make informed decisions about grooming it, as each type needs to be treated differently.

How to Determine Your Dog's Coat Type

Paul Watkins loves dogs, and enjoys passing on the knowledge he's gained to help other dog owners have a happy relationship with their pets. He also has a passion for writing and creating websites. Visit his latest site about trial contact lenses [http://www.trialcontactlenses.org] which features tips on where to find affordable contact lenses [http://www.trialcontactlenses.org/affordable-contact-lenses].

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