Double-Coated Dog Breeds

It may surprise you to learn that dogs come in two different coat types: double and single. A double-coated dog is where there’s a dense undercoat that usually consists of shorter hair and a longer top coat which are referred to as guard hair. The fluffier dogs you encounter tend to be the result of a very dense undercoat, whereas the smoother breeds are generally single-coated. 

This double-coat doesn’t just serve to make them look cute and fluffy though, it’s incredibly clever! During the cooler months it acts as insulation and keeps them warmer, whereas when it’s hotter, it allows air to circulate and prevents them from overheating. That’s not all either, it also helps to repel moisture and dirt and keeps them cleaner!

Grooming double-coated dogs

The most important thing you should know is that you should never, ever clip a double-coated dog. Not only does this damage their luxurious locks (sometimes irreversibly), but it can actually make them overheat. The coat is designed to reduce exposure to UV rays and most double-coated dogs are actually pink-skinned and more susceptible to sunburn, so by clipping them you remove their built-in protection.

The correct way to groom a double-coated dog is with regular brushing (a few days a week is best for most), to prevent mats, tangles and to remove dead hair. By grooming often, you’ll improve the health of the coat, which in turn improves their ability to regulate temperature and increases airflow!

Double-coated dog breeds

Now you know how to groom a double-coated dog and what their unique coat is for, you’re probably wondering which breeds come with this type of fur. Check out our top 7 below!

1. Akita

This large and muscular double-coated dog from Japan has a very dense and plush undercoat with a short top coat. Akitas are prone to heavy shedding two to three times a year which is referred to as ‘blowing’ their coat. During this time the undercoat will shed profusely and don’t be alarmed if it comes out in clumps! At all other times of the year, they’ll just require weekly brushing.

2. Siberian Husky

Siberian Huskies are known as naturally being very clean and seldom needing baths, just weekly brushing. They have a soft and dense undercoat with a medium length, straight top coat which serves to keep them warm whilst performing their sledge dog duties in the freezing temperatures of Siberia. The undercoat will shed around twice a year when it will require a good rake out. Interestingly, Husky’s in cooler climates tend to shed far less than those in warmer areas.

This impressive coat was developed to keep them warm whilst carrying out a variety of tasks from hunting to sledging in the unforgiving Alaskan climate. They require regular brushing and expect heavy shedding twice yearly.

4. Chow Chow

You’d be forgiven for thinking the Chow Chow is a bear, but we assure you, it’s just a very, very fluffy dog! Their coat comes in two varieties, rough and smooth. Rough is thick and fluffy with a soft, woolly undercoat and a proud ruff around their head and neck, whereas the smooth type has a hard, dense and smooth outer with no ruff or feathering. Regular grooming is required with this double-coated dog, at least a few times a week.