Dogs have a wide range of coat types, from very short with no undercoat to very long with dense undercoats to everything in between. Their fur can be silky soft to wiry hard.
The truth is that chemically, both dog hair and fur are the same, so what is the difference? Dog hair has a longer growth cycle, similar to a person’s hair that will grow long if not trimmed. Dog fur always stays the same length. For example, you never see a long haired Boxer or Pointer and you never have a Poodle that does not need a haircut.
One difference between fur and hair is the texture. Hair is finer, often softer and usually wavy or curly. When you have a dog with hair that does not have an undercoat, is wavy or curly, the hair will trap the shedding hair and dander inside the coat, giving the impression that the dog does not shed and is allergen-free.
Dogs that have silky coats, regardless if they have a longer growth cycle or not, have a greater risk of having their coats mat, the longer the coat, the greater chance that it will mat. This means that the dog’s owner must groom their dog on a daily basis.
Mats are caused by the individual hairs twisting and forming a dense tangle of hair. Often the mats work themselves into such tight clumps close to the skin that the base of the hair will constantly pull, causing considerable pain for the dog. The closer the mat works itself to the skin, the more difficult it is to remove it and the greater risk there is in nicking the dog’s skin while trying to remove the mat. Maybe some of you remember as a child having tangles in your hair and how it hurt to pull them out. A mat in a dog’s coat hurts even more than that.
The most common places for mats to form are behind the ears, in the “arm pits” by the front legs and between the dog’s toes.
When you consider what type of dog to own, it is important to consider the grooming needs of the dog based on the type of coat it has. For those people who purchase mixed breed dogs, such as Labradoodles, or any Poodle mix, there is no way to tell what type of coat the dog will have. These dogs are not hypoallergenic as some people claim.
If a person is looking for a dog for themselves or family who has allergies, it is best to check with a doctor that is an ENT-Allergist or a doctor that specializes in allergies to see what preventative measures can be taken. It would be a good idea to spend time with the breed of dog you are considering to see if there is an allergic reaction. Sometimes people can tolerate a very short haired dog such as a terrier but cannot tolerate a short haired dog in the hunting group.
Breeds of dogs that are bred to be water dogs, such as Labradors, typically have more oil in their coats to protect them from the water, which can trigger an allergic reaction in some people. Another factor to consider which only a doctor can test for is the degree that you are allergic to dogs. Some people have a mild allergic reaction and medication can keep it in control. Some people cannot tolerate dogs at all. Also keep in mind that part of living with a dog when you have an allergy to dogs is keeping your house what I call, allergy clean. The dog dander and hair can build up in a home, especially in carpet, which can contribute to a person’s allergic reaction over time.
With a little bit of research and by knowing the truth about dog hair/fur, someone who wants a dog but is allergic to them, or wants a mixed breed dog can determine what type of dog to get. For those with allergies it is always safer to stick with a purebred dog because you can be sure of what you are getting. Most quality purebred dogs cost the same and sometimes less, than the over-priced “designer” mixed breed dogs that are available which are no more hypoallergenic than any other dog.
A Blog by Susan Bulanda 