Double coated dogs: Why they need to be groomed differently

Double Coat? Yep, it’s more common than you may expect. When you’re out walking your dog you will likely encounter other dogs and note that there are a myriad of different coat types. Besides the visual differences like colour, texture and length; coats can typically be divided into two categories – single coat and double coat, with the latter being the trickier coat to maintain.

As the coat type implies, a double coated dog has two distinct fur ‘layers’. There’s the undercoat and the top coat; both of which have unique features that are specific in their function for the dog. The undercoat, which is also the shedding coat, generally has dense, fine, fluffy hairs that are short and crimp and close to the skin. This layer is excellent at trapping air as well as insulating the dog – keeping it warm in winter and cool in summer.

The top coat, also known as guard hairs, helps repel moisture and dirt, and protects your dog from the harsh sun and bugs. The top coat does not shed. There is quite a vast list of double coated breeds, however, the more common one’s you may encounter are:

• Spitz
• Golden and Labrador Retrievers
• Collies
• Scottish, Yorkshire and Wired Haired Fox Terriers
• Corgi
• Pugs
• Various Speciality Cross-breeds
• Beagles

Grooming

Before you groom your dog, you need to know what type of coat it has. Double coated dogs shed a lot, and as such, need a lot more grooming care. In particular, your dog should to be brushed at least 3 times a week to keep its skin and coat healthy. If you don’t brush your double coated dog regularly, hairs in the undercoat tend to get caught up in the top coat, causing mats and tangles that are both painful and potentially harmful to your dog.

When you brush your dog, it gets rid of dead hair as well as dry and dead skin. It also stimulates the skin surface and helps distribute the natural oils to ensure the coat is healthy and clean.

Regular brushing won’t stop the shedding, however, it will minimise it and will aid in keeping dog-related allergies to a minimum. Releasing dead hair allows new, healthy hair to occur in the hair follicles and the healthier a double coat is, the better it is in regulating air flow, heating and cooling. Thick, matted fur can trap moisture close to the skin causing dermal infections or inflammation such as hotspots.

Brushing tips to aid you in maintaining a healthy coat:

• To remove loose and dead hair from your dog’s under coat, use an under coat grooming rake.
• The fur is thicker and longer on your dog’s back thighs, so you’ll need to use a slicker brush in this area (always be gentle and patient; in some cases less is more).
• To prevent mats and tangles as much as possible, brush your dog at least 3 times a week – don’t pull and tug the brush when it hooks on a mat or tangle.
• Use a conditioning spray directly on your brush to aid in loosening the matts and allows the brush to slide through the coat with more ease.
• To remove loose and dead hair from the top coat, go over your dog with a pin brush or comb.
• If you want your dog’s coat to shine a bit, go over his coat with a bristle brush at the end of his brush session.
• Deshedding tools are wonderful to use as well, but please remember to be gentle as they have blades and you do not want to irritate your fur kids skin.

Coat Protection

One of the biggest mistakes you can make with your double coated dog is to have their coat shaved. They have their specific coat for a reason – it protects them! There are 3 very common misconceptions when it comes to shaving a double coated dog:

1. My dog is so hot in the summer months and clipping him will cool him down.

The double coat acts as insulation and protects your dog from the heat, the cold, the sun’s rays and skin problems. They don’t name the top coat ‘Guard Hairs’ for nothing. The chances are good that your dog will overheat if his coat is shaved. At best, I will trim the coat, particularly around thigh, tummy, feet and legs.

2. My dog sheds too much, clipping will stop this from happening.

Dogs with an under coat will shed. Shaving the coat won’t stop this. A clipped double coated pooch will continue to shed – maybe less than usual, but the problem won’t go away.

3. I want my dog to look cute with a short coat.

While your dog may look cute for a day or two, you will soon start seeing the re-growth. Shaving a double coated dog not only destroys its natural beaut, but the texture of the coat.

Their coat may grow back (in older dogs, the top coat may never grow back), but it will never look the same again. The under coat grows faster than the top coat and your dog will tend to look patchy and scruffy and may alter the look of the coat for the rest of their life.

Shaving your double coated dog’s coat means that you are putting them at risk of poor health by negating the natural protection the coat provides, poor coat quality with patchy re-growth (possibly leading to alopecia – bald patches), and shedding will continue to happen.

If you think your double coated dog needs to have their coat shaved for health or hygiene reasons, always consult your professional groomer.

Bathing your Double Coated Dog

When it comes to grooming a double coated breed at home, a pre-bath brush will help remove any loose hair. Wash your pooch with shampoo, rinse, repeat and then condition. Brushing while the conditioner is still on the coat removes a substantial amount of hair. Once the conditioner has been rinsed, move onto a towel drying your dog.

If you choose to blow dry your dog, then brushing and massaging the coat with your fingers will ensure you remove all the moisture out of the under coat. Make sure you don't burn your dog's skin while blow drying.

It is imperative that you rinse and dry a double coat well to avoid moisture retention which can lead to ‘hot spots’ developing; the more common areas being the base of the tail. Be vigilant in making sure you dog’s ears are kept dry as well. Cleaning your dog's ears is an important part of their regular at-home groom routine. Use ear cleaner or wipes to gently wipe away any dirt or odour and prevent ear infections from developing.

Double coats play an important function in your dog’s life. Avoid ever having to clip the coat as you can cause irreparable damage to the coat’s ability to properly heat or cool your dog and will expose them to the risk of skin problems. The best care is to regularly brush and bathe your dog with the appropriate tools and methods.

If you are unsure about what type of coat your dog has and how to maintain it, don't hesitate to reach out to one of Pet Direct's Customer Service Experts on 0800 200 240.

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