7 Different Dog Coat Types (Tips for Brushing)

Brushing your dog is a daily necessity for some long-haired breeds—it’s a major part of grooming. Unlike other tasks like trimming dog nails or bathing which you must do once every month, brushing should be done more regularly. Even if you have a short-haired dog, brushing her can provide benefits for you both. To properly brush your pooch, it’s important to know different dog coat types and how exactly to groom them.

Benefits of brushing your dog

First and foremost, brushing obviously removes tangles from your dog’s coat. Small knots and tangles can lead to painful matted dog hair, which will then need to be cut out by your vet or a professional groomer. Brushing will also remove dirt and debris from your dog’s coat.

Brushing distributes protective and nourishing oils through your dog’s coat, helping to keep her skin healthy and fur shiny. It also helps keep shedding under control. Furthermore, the time you spend brushing your dog can be special bonding time for you both.

Here’s the thing. Brushing an Afghan hound [1] or Chow is very different from brushing a Labrador or Pug. Take note of the following information and advice for different coats:

What are the different dog coat types

If you’re a dog owner, then you may have wondered about the different dog coat types.

Dog coats can be categorized into two main groups: long coat and short coat.

Short and smooth coat

Dogs with short and smooth coats do not need much brushing – once a week is enough. This will help remove shedding fur, dirt and dead skin cells, and will stimulate nourishing oils and disperse them throughout the coat.

A grooming glove with a rubber palm area is good for smooth-coated dogs. The bumps will collect the dead hair while also giving your dog a nice massage. Alternatively, use a bristle brush. Start from the head and work your way to the tail, brushing in the direction of the hair. smooth coated breeds

Smooth Coated dog breeds include Dalmatian, Basset Hound, Weimaraners, Pointers, Pugs, Dobermans, Bulldog, Labradors, Greyhounds, Beagles, American Pit Bull, Staffordshire Terrier, Boston Terrier, Soft Coated Wheaten Terrier, Boxer, Short-haired Chihuahua, Fox Terrier-smooth, Bull Terrier, Great Dane, Miniature Pinscher, Rottweiler, etc.

Silky

Breeds such as Yorkies with their coats kept unclipped need a lot of attention to keep their long, silky coats in top condition and free from matts.

Start by brushing out tangles with a pinhead brush. Then use a bristle brush to make the coat shiny. You may want to part the hair in the middle, brushing downwards on either side.

Silky breeds include: Yorkshire Terrier, Shih Tzu, Tibetan Terrier, Lhasa Apso, Maltese, Silky Terrier, etc.

Long coats

Long-haired dogs need daily brushing. Start with a pinhead brush to untangle matting, but remember, never cut matts out with scissors. Use a wide-tooth comb to finish. The Bernese Mountain Dog and all kinds of Collie have double coats, as do many other long-haired canines.

Long-coated breeds include: Long-haired Dachshund, Old English Sheepdog, Long-haired Chihuahua, Cocker Spaniel, Flat Coated Retriever, Newfoundland, Afghans, etc.

Double-coat

To assist with shedding, brush double-coated dogs once a day with a firm bristle brush. Daily brushing is essential, as matts will form in the undercoat, which are painful against your dog’s skin.

Double-coated breeds include: Collies, Malamutes, German Shepherd, Keeshond, Husky, Akita, Chows, Pomeranian, Golden Retriever, Shiba Inu, Samoyed, etc.

Wire coat

Brushing 2-3 times a week will help keep wiry coats free of tangles. A stiff brush is best for wire-coated dogs. Brushing will not make the coat soft and silky, as wiry coats are meant to be rough. These coats need plucking or stripping of the dog’s hair, as well as combing and washing. Plucking is just what it sounds like: plucking off wild, old, or unwanted hairs. This will encourage the new hair growth and thin out an excessive coat. This may be done using a stripping comb/brush or by hand.

Wire-haired breeds include: Wire-haired Dachshund, Fox Terrier-wire, German shorthaired pointer, Irish Terrier, Scottish Terrier, Brussels Griffon, Irish wolfhound, West Highland White Terrier, Affenpinscher, etc.

Curly

Brushing curly coats tends to turn the curls to frizz, so it is best to brush only during the shedding seasons, though regularly so. Curly coats can tend to be dry, so you may want to spray your dog with a conditioning spray before brushing to avoid breakage.  Also a curly coat is more prone to fleas, so you must be very carefull where your dog goes when you dont pay attention to it. In order to make sure you know where your dog goes, purchase the best GPS dog fence.

Curly breeds include: Curly-coated Retriever, Poodle, Poodle crosses, Bichon Frise, Komondor, Irish Water Spaniel, etc.

Hairless dogs

Dogs with no hair are simply that! They have little or no hair on their bodies, however they may be coated with a fine down. To avoid dry skin, these breeds should be bathed often with a gentle dog shampoo and moisturised with a dog-safe moisturiser. Breeds like the Mexican Hairless Dog (Xoloitzcuintli), Chinese Crested, and American Hairless Terrier are ideal if you don’t want to brush your dog.