Mabel the Rescue Dog

2 min read (Articles narrated by Mabel)

Sometimes humans will refer to their dog’s coat as fur, but other times they will call it hair. Many dog lovers probably just assume that these two words are interchangeable, but they are actually two different types of coats. So, how do you know which one your dog has?

What is Fur?

As surprising as it may seem, not all dogs have fur! Fur typically only refers to dogs that have a coat that is multiple layers. This means that dogs that have fur typically shed and have a shorter, denser coat than dogs with hair.

Dogs with fur do not need regular grooming. In fact, cutting their hair could actually be harmful and cause it not to grow back as well. Fur is meant to shed during the summer and grow thicker in the winter in order to properly protect your pup.

Therefore, dogs with fur have more simple grooming needs than dogs with hair. They will need baths, nail trims, and other basic grooming items, but there is no need to trim their coats.

Common Breeds with Fur

There are so many breeds out there, but just to give you an idea, here are some of the popular dog breeds that have fur:

• Labrador Retriever
• German Shepherd
• Golden Retriever
• French Bulldog
• Beagle

What is Hair?

I actually have hair instead of fur. Dogs with hair actually have a coat that is similar to the hair on a human’s head. It continually grows instead of shedding seasonly. Therefore, dogs with hair barely shed.

Dogs with hair have a coat that is generally softer to the touch, and it only has one layer. Therefore, we need to go to the groomer every once in a while to keep our coats maintained.

Every dog parent has different preferences for their dog’s appearance, so some will let their dog’s hair grow out while others will keep it short. I know that I get hot and exhausted if my coat is too long in the summer though, so that’s why I usually have a fresh haircut.

Dogs with hair also require more brushing than dogs with fur. We can easily get knots in our coats, which can be frustrating for groomers to brush out. Therefore, to avoid getting a matted coat, it is a good idea to brush our hair often, especially if it is longer.

Common Breeds with Hair

Many of the breeds with hair are smaller dogs. However, here are some of the popular breeds just to give you an idea:

• Poodle
• Shih Tzu
• Yorkshire Terrier
• Maltese
• Miniature Schnauzer

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