Understanding your dog's coat type is one of those things that quietly changes everything about how you care for them. It tells you how often to brush, which tools to reach for, how much they'll shed, and, crucially, whether shaving them in summer would help or do real harm. Yet most owners have never been told whether their dog is double coated or single coated. So let's clear it up properly.
In simple terms, a double coat has two layers and a single coat has one. That one difference drives almost everything about grooming, so it's well worth knowing which camp your dog falls into.
What is a double coat?
A double-coated dog has two distinct layers. Underneath sits a soft, dense undercoat that works like thermal underwear, trapping air to keep the dog warm in winter and, cleverly, cool in summer. Over the top are the coarser guard hairs that repel water and dirt and give the coat its colour and shine.
As Wikipedia's overview of dog coats puts it, dogs with both an undercoat and a topcoat are said to have a double coat, while single-coated dogs have only the guard hairs with little or no downy underlayer.
Common double-coated breeds include:
- Labradors and Golden Retrievers
- German Shepherds and Border Collies
- Huskies, Malamutes and other spitz breeds
- Corgis, Pomeranians and Chow Chows
If your dog "blows" its coat in great fluffy clumps twice a year, that's the undercoat shedding, and it's a dead giveaway.
What is a single coat?
A single-coated dog has just the one layer, no soft undercoat underneath. Their hair often keeps growing rather than shedding out seasonally, which is why breeds like Poodles are sometimes described as having "hair" rather than "fur".
Common single-coated breeds include Poodles, Bichon Frises, Maltese, Yorkshire Terriers, and the many Doodle crosses (though coats vary a lot in mixes). These dogs tend to shed less, but there's a catch: because loose hair doesn't drop away, it stays trapped in the coat and forms mats unless brushed out regularly.
How to tell which one your dog has
If you're unsure, try this: part the coat and look closely at the base near the skin.
- Double coat: you'll usually see a layer of soft, fluffy, often lighter hair underneath the longer, coarser top hairs.
- Single coat: the hair looks fairly uniform from tip to skin, with no obvious fluffy underlayer.
Still not sure? Breed is a strong clue, and your groomer can tell you in seconds. The Royal Kennel Club breed information is a handy reference if you want to check your dog's likely coat type.
Why the care is so different
Here's where it matters day to day:
- Double coats need de-shedding, not shaving. Regular brushing with a slicker and an undercoat rake removes the loose undercoat before it ends up all over your home. Our deshedding treatment is designed to strip out that dead underlayer safely.
- Single coats need frequent brushing right down to the skin to prevent matting, plus regular clipping or scissoring because the hair keeps growing.
The one thing you must never do: shave a double coat
I'll say this as plainly as I can, because I see the damage: do not shave a double-coated dog to keep them cool. It's one of the most well-meaning mistakes an owner can make.
That double coat is a temperature regulator working in both directions. Shaving it off removes the insulation that keeps them cool and exposes skin that was never meant to be bare, raising the risk of sunburn and overheating. Worse, the undercoat often grows back faster than the guard hairs, coming through patchy, coarse and sometimes a different texture or colour entirely. In some dogs it never fully recovers.
Groomer's tip: To keep a double-coated dog comfortable in hot weather, de-shed rather than shave. Removing the dead undercoat lets air circulate right to the skin, which is exactly what cools them down, without stripping away the protection they need.
Frequently asked questions
How do I know if my dog is double coated?
Part the coat near the skin. If you see a soft, fluffy underlayer beneath the longer top hairs, it's a double coat. Heavy seasonal shedding in clumps is another clear sign.
Is a Labrador double coated?
Yes. Labradors have a classic double coat, which is why they shed so noticeably twice a year despite their short hair.
Can you ever shave a double-coated dog?
Only on veterinary advice, for example for surgery or a serious skin condition. For cosmetic or cooling reasons, no. De-shedding is the safe alternative.
Do single-coated dogs shed?
Much less than double coats, but they still lose some hair. The main issue is that loose hair stays in the coat and mats, so they actually need more regular brushing, not less.
Fluffs is a professional dog grooming salon in Wigginton, York, offering one-to-one grooming for dogs of every breed and coat type across Haxby, Strensall, Huntington, New Earswick and the surrounding villages. Not sure how to care for your dog's coat? We'll show you exactly what it needs. Book a coat-type assessment.