Everything You Need to Know About Double-Coated Dogs

As the name suggests, double-coated dogs are dogs with two coats. You may not even know you have a double-coated dog! While it is easy to recognise numerous differences between the various breeds of dogs, from size and colour to personality, the fact that some have single coats and others have double is more challenging for the untrained eye to spot.

As you would imagine, some double-coated dogs are easy to recognise as they are extra furry, like Huskies. On the other hand, some appear quite smooth, like the sleek-looking Beagle. So, how do you tell if you have a double-coated dog and if you have one, how does this impact the care required for your pet?

What is a Double Coat on a Dog?

A double coat on a dog consists of two layers, an undercoat and a top coat. The undercoat usually consists of short hairs, and the top coat has longer hairs called guard hairs. For the most part, the dense undercoat makes double-coated dogs appear fluffy, but there are some exceptions to that rule. Whether fluffy or not, double coats on dogs can have enormous benefits. The undercoat provides insulation and protects the dog from weather and elements, while the top layer repels dirt and moisture. The downside is that double-coated dogs tend to shed a lot more and require regular grooming to keep their coat & skin healthy.

How To Tell a Double-Coated Dog From Others

Looking at it, you can sometimes tell if your dog has a double coat. If your dog is extra fluffy and sheds a lot of fur, chances are it has a double coat. If you can’t tell if your dog has a single or double coat, follow these simple steps.

1. Brush your dog’s hair. Using a brush or your hands, stroke upwards from the dog’s hindquarters to the top of the neck. Separate the hair close to the skin. Observe if there is a thick, coarse coat on the top and a soft coat underneath. If there is, it is a double-coated dog.
2. Compare hair in the brush. After brushing the dog’s hair, remove it from the brush and see if two different types of hair have come away. If there is soft and harsh hair, it is a double-coated dog.
3. Look at the shedded hair. In a similar way to the brush, you can look at the hair that is being shedded around the house. Again, soft and harsh hair indicates a double-coated dog.
4. Research the breed. With knowledge of the type of breed of dog you have, if it is a pedigree, you can easily research if that breed is double-coated or not.
5. Check for a dewlap. A dewlap is a flap of skin that hangs beneath the dog’s lower neck. Mastiffs are breeds with dewlaps. Many dogs with dewlaps have a double coat.

Double-Coated Dog Breeds

Dog breeds with double coats come in all shapes and sizes. Usually, double coats are associated with spitz-type dogs because they have long hair and a fluffy appearance. Spitz breeds generally have pointy, upright ears, tails that curl into their back and are quite furry. They are often bred to live in cold climates. However, double-coated dogs can take all forms; here are some examples of double-coated dog breeds you might recognise.

• Australian Shepherd
  
• Beagle
  
  
• Bernese Mountain Dog
  
  
• Bichon Frise
  
  
• Chow chow
  
  
• Corgi
  
  
• German Shepherd
  
  
• Golden Retriever
  
  
• Great Pyrenees
  
  
• Irish Terrier
  
  
• Labrador Retriever
  
  
• Miniature Schnauzer
  
  
• Newfoundland
  
  
• Pomeranian
  
  
• Samoyed
  
  
• Scottish Terrier
  
  
• Shetland Sheepdog
  
  
• Siberian Husky
  
  

How To Groom a Double-Coated Dog

Double-coated dogs tend to shed much more than single-coated dogs, so regular grooming is essential. Without a proper grooming routine, hair from the undercoat can get caught in the top coat, leading to tangling and matting. Your four-legged friend may end up with pain from matted hair and is more likely to suffer from fleas and ticks. On average, double-coated dogs should be brushed daily and bathed once a month.

Ideally, the best way to care for a double-coated dog is to take them to a groomer regularly, as they can more thoroughly care for the dog’s coat and keep them properly groomed and healthy. Double-coated dogs’ top coats and undercoats serve different purposes and must be groomed differently. There are also some grooming practices you can do at home as we know, it’s not always possible to attend a groomer regularly, although it would also be beneficial to implement them just as maintenance between groomer visits.

Follow these steps on how to groom and bathe your precious double-coated pooch.

1. Combing and brushing. Start brushing or combing the undercoat to remove loose hair. Using a brush or comb with longer pins to reach the undercoat is recommended. Go through section by section on the dog, lifting the hair and brushing underneath until you have brushed the entire undercoat. Lifting the dog’s hair is essential to removing the dead undercoat and loosening the hair. The hair will only be removed from the top coat without lifting sections.
2. Bathing. Using a large bathtub, shower, or a self-serve dog wash, wet the dog and apply shampoo to the body and face, avoiding the eyes and ears. Use a spray nozzle to rinse away the shampoo, working your hands down to the undercoat to remove any shampoo residue. Repeat the process with the conditioner to help prevent tangling. Never use shampoos for humans; you can buy special double-coated dog shampoo and conditioner.
3. Drying. Start by towel drying, which might be sufficient if your dog doesn’t have particularly long hair. However, a dog-specific hair dryer is preferred for most double-coated dogs as it will ensure the undercoat is not left damp.
4. Brushing. Using a stiff bristle brush or grooming glove, go over the dog’s coat again to ensure no tangles. This also encourages the release of the natural oils on the dog’s coat.

Why You Should Never Shave a Double-Coated Dog

Now that we know the correct way to groom a double-coated dog, it is just as important to understand what not to do. Double-coated dogs should never be shaved! Even if you think shaving your dog will make it more comfortable in hot weather, the opposite is true. The two layers of the double coat work to keep the dog cool in summer and warm in winter, so shaving will remove their ability to regulate their temperature. Other reasons not to shave a double-coated dog include:

• Causes skin problems. Double-coated dogs can experience more skin problems from shaving, including razor burns when the shaving cuts too close to the sensitive skin.
• Susceptibility to skin cancer. Double-coated dogs that are shaved become more susceptible to skin cancer from sun exposure.
• It does not decrease the dog’s shedding. The dog will still shed just as much. The only difference is the hairs may be shorter than prior to shaving.
• The coat will be permanently damaged. Shaving permanently damages and alters the dog’s coat because it alters the natural cycle of the coat. After shaving, it may take up to two years for hair to grow back, if it grows back at all. Sometimes the hair will grow back patchy and thinner, and the dog may even develop conditions like alopecia.

Additional Tips for Grooming

Because double-coated dogs are a little more high maintenance than single-coated dogs, here are a few additional tips to help with grooming.

• Brush a double-coated dog at least two or three times per week at home. When the dog is shedding seasonally, brushing may increase to once daily.
• Use a slicker brush on short-haired dogs. Brush the undercoat with a slicker brush, moving the brush outwards and then brush the top coat in the direction of growth.
• Use an undercoat rake on long-haired dogs. Make sure you brush from the skin outwards. Then continue with a wide-toothed comb.
• Use a de-matting tool regularly. This is a tool that is used to remove mats, dead hair, and knots from the dog’s hair. Different dematting tools include dematting combs, rakes, dematting tools with blades, and undercoat rakes. There are also slicker brushes, which are traditional dematting tools with fine, short wires that are close together. These are ideal for dogs with medium to long hair.
• Use a detangler spray. Just like humans, dogs can benefit from detangler spray. Use a dog-specific detangler when brushing or combing out knots before bathing or when brushing the dog regularly.
• After ocean swims, wash the salt water out. If the dog goes for a frolic in the ocean, make sure to wash the salt water right out, as it can become trapped between the undercoat and top coat, causing irritation and possible matting.
• Trim the dog’s coat regularly. Some double-coated dogs need regular trimming, while others might just need the odd haircut and tidy. It is always a good idea to ask the dog groomer whether your double-coated dog needs regular coat trims. If it does, keeping up with the regime is essential, as regular trimming is an excellent way to avoid matting.

Double-coated dogs often need more care and attention than other dogs, so it is important to know if you have a dog with a double coat. Some double-coated dogs have long hair and are easy to recognise, but short-haired breeds may not be as prominent. In this article, we explain how to tell if your dog has a double coat and guide you through the professional grooming and washing that double-coated dogs require.