Topcoat and the Undercoat

A dog can be single or double-coated

There are two types of fur that contribute to your dog's coat - the topcoat and the undercoat. The topcoat is usually the coarser and longer of the two coats, and it is made up of guard hairs. It is generally a weather-resistant coat that protects the finer undercoat from the elements like rain and snow. The undercoat consists of finer, fluffier fur that serves to keep the dog warm as it insulates by trapping the body heat generated by the dog. This works very much like "down" in comforters.



A dog can be single or double-coated. Double-coated dogs are more resistant to the cold than single-coated dogs because of the added layer of fur. Single-coated dogs have only the topcoat layer while double-coated dogs have the top and bottom layers of fur. However, there are some breeds of dogs like the Chinese Crested that have very little or no fur. Depending on the breed of dog and climate that they are living in, dogs can shed their top or undercoat, or both, variably. There are some breeds of dog that shed once, twice, or throughout the year. Another noteworthy fact is that short-haired dogs may shed just as much as long-haired breeds. Shedding is very much breed-dependent.