Coat Types

Having evolved in the colder regions of the northern hemisphere, the earliest breeds of dog had dense coats for protection from the cold and from predators. Then, as dogs moved into hot climates in the company of humans, their coats became shorter and thinner. The Saluki in Arabia, the Basenji in Africa, and the Australian Cattle Dog illustrate how different coats have evolved according to regional climatic conditions. The enormous variety of coats found today is due to selective breeding ofdogs by humans, who have developed breeds with specialized coats for different purposes.

Short coat
These Welsh Corgis have dense, short coats of profuse, downy, water-resistant hair close to the skin, and thick, straight surface hair. This coat should be groomed once a week.

Long coat
This Lhasa Apso has long, straight, coarse outer coat and a thick undercoat, which require daily grooming and regular trimming. Long coats originally offered dogs protection from the cold, but now serve purely fashionable purposes.

Smooth coat
Smooth, shorthaired coats such as this dobermann's are the easiest to maintain, but offer little protection from either dog bites or cold weather. Althrough short and relatively sparse, these coats are shed and require weekly brushing.

Silky coat
Afghan Hounds have the bodies of racing dogs, but because they evolved in a cold climate, they retained heavy coats for protection against the elements. Silky coats need a lot of care, with daily grooming and regular trimming.

Wiry coat
The wiry coat on this Airdale Terrier consists of stiff, dense hair, wich needs daily grooming to prevent matting. You should never use conditioners on this type of coat, since they will soften it. Wiry coats do not moult, and require regular hand-stripping or clipping.

Curly coat
Kerry Blue Terriers like this one have curly, non-shedding, extremely waterproof coats.Breeds with similar coats are Portuguese Water Dog, Irish Water Spaniel, and Poodles. This coat should be bathed and clipped every two months.