Which dog coat type is best for you?

There is great variety in the types of dog coat available, even amongst the most familiar breeds. Hundreds of years of selective breeding has produced many colours, textures and hair lengths. Some of these coats are quite high maintenance, while others pretty much look after themselves.

Purebreeds pedigree dogs with different coat types

Different dogs, different types of coat

At the “low maintenance” end of the scale, a Bulldog or Boxer has a short, smooth coat which is neat and dry in a couple of shakes. At the opposite end of this scale, the Komondor has corded hair which needs a lot of care, and the Old English Sheepdog needs brushing every day, while Poodles and other curly coated dogs need regular attention to prevent matting too.

It’s not only about ease-of-grooming. Labrador Retrievers and Pembrokeshire Corgis, for example, have a thick, double coat that is difficult to dry. The Chinese Crested and the Mexican Hairless need a different type of skincare, having little or no hair on much of their bodies. They can chill easily, and some are prone to sunburn.

Some dogs are in more than one category. The medium-length haired Labrador Retriever, for example, is also in the double-coated category.