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Coat (dog)




lying next to its combed-out seasonal undercoat.]]
Most dogs shed their undercoat each Spring and regrow it again as colder weather comes in; this is also referred to as blowing the coat. Many domesticated breeds shed their coat twice a year. In many climates, the topcoat and undercoat might shed continuously in greater and smaller quantities all year.

Some dog breeds' coat is more like human Hair than like other animals' fur; for example, the Poodle 's coat grows continuously, getting longer and longer, and requires frequent trimming.


SHOW DOGS

The nature and quality of a Show Dog 's coat is an important Conformation Point in the Hobby of Dog Fancy .

Some considerations in judging the quality of a dog's coat:

  • Colour (coat colour other than those allowed in the Breed Standard results in disqualification)

  • Markings (distribution of colour, spots, and patches; for example the spotted coat of a Dalmatian and the Merle coat of an Australian Shepherd are distinctive, the markings of a Terrier vary.)

  • Pattern (specific, predictable markings; Brindle , for example, is a common pattern.

  • Texture of hair (smooth, rough, curly, straight, broken, silky)

  • Length of hair



COLOURS AND PATTERNS

Dogs' coats come in a tremendous variety of colours and patterns. Some breeds come in only one or two specific colors, while other breeds can have a wide range of colors, patterns, and shades. Breeds bred strictly for their Working ability tend to have more variations than breeds bred primarily for their appearance over a longer time, although some very old breeds also have more limited coat colors.

Words used for coat colours can vary from breed to breed, so a colour that is called ''red'' in one breed might be called ''brown'' in other breeds.


Colour names



Patterns

Patterns, like colours, might be called by different terms for different breeds.


MISCELLANEOUS


Coat may also refer to a '' Dog Coat '' (also known as a dog rug); a Garment made by humans to protect their pets from the elements.