BATHING AND GROOMING DOUBLE-COATED DOGS

CHARACTERISTICS OF THE DOUBLE COAT IN DOGS

Double-coated dogs typically have a longer outer coat covering a second, softer, shorter inner mantle. Characteristic and most often encountered double-coated breeds are the Golden & Labrador Retrievers, German Shepherds, Pomeranians, Siberian Huskies, Akitas, Miniature Schnauzers, Simba Inus, Chow Chows, Border Collies, Newfoundlands, Corgis, King Charles Cavaliers, mixed-breeds who have a parent from a double-coated breed.
As for all dogs, the coat protects them from external environmental factors, and it is their insulation from the cold in winter and the heat in the summer. Moreover, the hair in double-coated dogs tends to tangle and create knots, thus retaining dust, moisture, and foreign bodies. Also, especially during the shedding period (spring-summer), it is not easy to expel the dead coat as the loose free hair gets trapped in the dense coat.
So, for the double coat to remain healthy and well-groomed, without knots and unnecessary dead hair, it requires frequent brushing, shampooing with pet shampoos that help remove dead hair, and in some cases, depending on the dog’s breed, regular haircuts.
The cleaning and grooming routine – as it is for all dogs – the same for dogs with a double coat is particularly important and necessary to ensure the proper functioning of the coat (protection, insulation, temperature regulation) so that our dog feels comfortable, and that the coat remains healthy. Let us not forget that the grooming routine helps significantly keep our house and rooms hair free.

Why it is essential to remove dead hair?

A dog with a double coat that is discomforted by excess hair and knots, especially if combined with dry or oily skin, cannot cool properly during summer or keep warm in the winter as excess hair disrupts the correct insulation function. This does not allow the coat to expel moisture as fresh air cannot penetrate, dry, and freshen the coat. Moisture and dust are trapped in the coat, intensifying the issue thus creating an environment where bacteria and fungi can develop, causing various adverse conditions, from the most straightforward such as unpleasant smell to more serious ones such as the creation of wounds and irritations on the skin. Such an environment is also hospitable to parasites that cannot be detected in time. The result is that the dog feels uncomfortable and develops severe itching that irritates and frustrates it.

Keep a double coat healthy and well-groomed

To maintain a healthy and well-groomed coat for our pet, we need to have a grooming routine that ideally includes some visits to a professional pet groomer and certainly a grooming routine at home.
For those who choose to bathe their pet at home, we emphasize that it is necessary to choose shampoos, hair and skin care products specially designed for dogs, as well as to select products that meet the specific needs of the skin and coat of their dog (type and length of coat, skin, seasonal conditions, malodor, oily or dry skin, etc.).
For the double coat, we choose shampoos designed to help remove the dead hair, such as the Top Dog Narcissus, which is ideal for efficiently removing the dead coat. For better results, we also recommend the use of conditioner or dog masks such as Top Dog Conditioner, Top Dog Green Clay Mask, or Leave In Mask, as their use enhances the level of hydration, softens the coat, and helps easily remove dead hair;
Bathing with shampoos that soften and moisturize the coat properly in combination with brushing makes removing the dead coat easy, the coat breathes, and the skin maintains its balance offering the dog comfort.

Essential for the grooming routine of dogs with a double coat is frequent and daily brushing with a suitable pet grooming brush. Brushing helps to keep the coat knot free, helps to distribute the natural oils of the skin to the hair while maintaining it hydrated, and helps to keep the coat in good condition between baths.

Read about how to bathe your dog at home in our previous articles and get rid of the excess hair on your dog and home with pet shampoos Top Dog Narcissus, Top Dog Flower Mix, Top Dog Fruit Mix, and Top Dog Baby Powder.