Some breeds of dog are instantly recognisable by their coat. It's what distinguishes them from other breeds. The poodle for instance, is unique with its tightly curled woolly coat or an Old English Sheepdog with his shaggy, gray and white mane of hair. While it may appear that dog's coats come in all sorts of varieties, they are in fact distinguishable by only two types of coat – a single coat or a double coat.


Single Coat

Single coated dogs such as a Whippet or Yorkshire Terrier only have an outer top coat which is made up from primary or guard hairs.  As such, their coat is often referred to as hair rather than a coat. Dogs with this type of hair can be easier to groom since they tend to shed less. However, their coats aren't waterproof and single-coated dogs can feel the cold more readily than their double-coated counterparts. In the colder months especially, single coated dogs can really appreciate the added warmth of a specially made material coat or jacket.

Double Coat

Double coated dogs have an outer top coat as well as a denser undercoat. The undercoat is made from fine or secondary hairs which are very soft, giving it a velvety downy feel. As well as repelling water, it provides an added layer of protection and warmth. Breeds such as the German Shepherd and the Husky have very dense and lustrous double coats to keep them warm in the cold. Sometimes it's not always easy to know whether a dog has a double coat or not but by lifting up the top layer of hair or parting it, you should be able to see and feel the softer undercoat. Also, the secondary hairs are shorter and have a different texture to the guard hairs of the top coat.

Length

The length of a dog's coat can be split into four categories: hairless, short, medium or long. Obviously a hairless dog is the easiest to care for in terms of grooming and they have the benefit of not being troubled by fleas. Short haired dogs generally have hair no longer than two inches while medium haired dogs can grow their hair to three inches. Long haired dogs can grow their hair to more than three inches and often need to have it trimmed or cut.

Texture

As well as coat type and length, dog's coats have a particular texture. These can generally be categorized as curly, smooth, silky, wiry or corded. Dogs with corded hair such as the Komondor, is a Hungarian breed of dog used to guard livestock whose white coat is particularly useful since it helps him blend in with the sheep. Wire haired dogs such as a Border Terrier or Wire haired Dachshund have predominantly more of the harsher outer guard hairs.

All dog's coats are there to serve a purpose. Besides protecting their skin from UV radiation and injury, for most dogs it's their main method of keeping warm and some coats are more efficient at doing this than others. All dog's coats need grooming, with the exception of the hairless breeds, and the amount of time necessary to devote to this task depends very much on the coat's length and texture. And of course, all dog's will shed their hair at some stage, some more than others.

Knowing how to distinguish a dog's coat type can be useful for anyone planning on buying a new dog or puppy. The type of coat will influence what sort of brushes and combs to buy and whether or not your dog might need a coat in winter. But whatever type of coat your canine friend has, your dog's coat is beautiful and unique to him and deserves your care and attention.