hair

Coat Composition
The rough Nordic coat type is much like the rough coat type but exhibits a growth pattern of many of the northern breeds.  This coat is a determined length and does not grow past that determined length.  There is short hair on the head and legs with long hair on the rest of the dog creating a well defined mane, body and a thick plumed tail. This coat has a very thick under coat that, like the Nordic coat, lifts up the top coat giving it an open appearance.

Shedding Pattern

Coat Composition
The Nordic coat has a very thick fluffy appearance.  This coat has a very thick under coat that lifts up the top coat.  The coat will have shorter fur on the face and legs with longer coat on the body and tail. Because this coat has a very abundant under coat, particularly in winter, the coat appears very open.  This type of coat grows to a determined length and then sheds.

Shedding Pattern
The Nordic coat sheds in a block or band pattern.

Coat Composition
A medium smooth coat is very much like the coat of a wolf.  This has a double coat with a thick and dense under coat.  This coat has a smooth closed structure where the top coat lays flat over the under coat.  The growth pattern is obvious and the hair must always be straight.  The hair on the head and legs will be shorter then the rest of the body and this type of coat will shed often.

Shedding Pattern

Coat Composition
Like the short coat the smooth coat is comprised of very short hairs that follow the contour of the body.  The smooth coat will vary in length depending on the location of the body.  It will be longer on the body and tail. The top coat will lay very smoothly over the under coat to create a very sleek appearance.

Shedding Pattern
This coat will shed in a block or band pattern.

Breeds
The following breed have a smooth coat:

Coat Composition
This coat is made up of short hairs that grow close to the contour of the dog's body.  Because the hair is short, it is easy to see the growth pattern.  There is very little, if any, under coat that can sometimes be found at the neck.  This type of coat tends to shed easily and often.

Shedding Pattern
The short coat sheds in a block or band pattern.

Breeds
The following breeds have a short coat:

Every breed of dog has a different genetic pattern that will determine its coat.  A dogs coat could be anything from a long coat, short curly coat, fluffy coat and wire coat.  The genetic makeup of the breed will determin the length, pattern and type of hair that a dog will have.  The different coat types are as follows: