Decisions, Decisions, Decisions...COAT TYPE

What kind of coat on your potential new dog will work best for both you and your home?? It is important to remember, keeping up with a dog's grooming and hygiene is extremely important. Below is a little more information on dog coats to help you decide which one you are willing to take responsibility for, whether it be low-maintenance or higher maintenance. There are many to take into consideration so be sure to choose the one that is right for you.

Long-coated and double-coated dogs shed, shed, and shed some more. They can leave tufts of hair to float about the house and land everywhere you can think of. Meticulous housekeepers and folks with little or no time for grooming will be happier with dogs that don't leave a part of themselves behind. It is important to remember that double-coated dogs may also have longer, stiffer guard hairs that can penetrate bare feet like splinters. Keeping up with this type of coat is time consuming and tedious, but well worth the finished product if it is kept up and maintained.

For the terrier/poodle breeds, regular brushing is needed to remove the dead hair from the wire-coated terriers, poodles, and poodle relatives/mixes, and professional grooming is necessary to maintain texture and color in these breeds. These breeds are generally better than heavily shedding breeds for owners with allergies, and are easier to keep and maintain.

Just a quick note and reminder - dogs with a tendency to oily outer coats can develop a doggy odor that can be unpleasant, dogs with heavy coats may suffer in southern climates, and dogs with short coats may shiver in the north. Be sure whether keeping them inside or out, their coat is appropriate for where you will be keeping them and where you live.