May 29, 2012
Posted in Pet Health, Pet Supplies

Dogs tend to have different style of coats including coarse and fine or thick and curly. Understanding what your breed's needs are can make a huge difference in keeping its coat in tip top shape. It's important to first figure out if your pooch has a primary and outer coat or just a primary coat as well as if its coat is thin, thick or somewhere in between. These facts can help you figure out how much grooming you'll need to do to keep your dog's skin healthy. It can also help you address whether or not your pup needs sun protection in the summer and pet products to keep it warm in the colder months.

Primary coat only

Breeds like the Shih Tzu, the Yorkshire terrier, Greyhound and Irish water spaniels all have just a primary coat. This means they only have a top layer of fur to help keep them warm and cool. These dogs can have straight or curly coats, but the coats are thin, so they often shed less than breeds with primary and undercoats.

If you have a breed with only a primary coat, you'll most likely need to groom it once every few weeks if it has straight hair, or once a week if it has a curly coat. Make sure to pick up grooming tools like FURminator deShedding Tool for Dogs in either the short or long hair version to remove the most loose hair. Keep your dog's coat and skin moisturized and healthy by bathing it with pet shampoo like Oatmeal & Aloe Vera shampoo. During the warmer months, make sure to offer it places in the shade in the backyard as the dog's thin hair can make it more susceptible to sunburns.

Primary and undercoat care

Dogs that have both primary coats and undercoats tend to have their roots in colder regions, where it was necessary for them to have extra insulation. Breeds like the Bernese mountain dog, Newfoundlands and Siberian Huskies have both coats. The second coat helps to keep the dog warm in the winter. Although these breeds benefit from their second layer, they also tend to shed more because of it.

If you have a dog with both coats you'll need to keep up with its grooming or bring it to a groomer often to ensure its coat stays healthy while keeping shedding at bay. If your pooch doesn't mind the sound of vacuuming, you may want to purchase the Yowza Pet Grooming Vacuum Attachment that you attach to your vacuum and then use to brush your dog's coat. The suction helps to remove the most loose or dead hair on its body.

Related posts:

1. Understanding your dog’s coat
2. Get that coat to shine bright
3. Why choose a miniature poodle?
4. Reasons behind shedding
5. What to do with your stinky dog