Coats

There are many varieties of dog fur. Fur can be wiry, coarse, brittle, smooth, straight, curly, long, or short. Breeds that have soft, smooth fur often don't shed. These include dogs such as wheaten terriers, poodles, and labradoodles.

Soft-Coated Wheaten Terrier:

Labradoodle:

Other dogs have coarser fur. For instance labs have thick, somewhat oily fur that makes them good water animals.

Some dogs have a combination. Bouviers have a thick wiry outer coat and a smooth, silky inner coat.

Obviously, fur color also varies, even within breeds. For instance, scottish terriers can be black, white, wheaten, or brindle (red highlights).

Fur length also varies considerably and may impact the extent of the mess made by shedding. Newfoundlands, Collies, and Bernese Mountain Dogs have very long fur.

Newfoundlands:

Bernese Mountain Dog:

Collie:

By contrast, Grey Hounds, Pointers, Bull Dogs, Boxers, Beagles, and dalmations have shorter fur.

Grey Hound:

Beagle:

Boxer:

Retrievers have medium length fur.

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Choosing a dog

Choosing a dog is much harder than it appears. Different breeds have unique characteristics that should be considered. Variations in temperments, sizes, coats, and other traits may make certain dogs better suited to your family than others. This blog is devoted to helping prospective owners find the breed of dog best suited to their needs.

The Family Dog Blog

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