Glossary

Double coat

A coat with two layers, a soft dense undercoat beneath longer, coarser guard hairs, that insulates a dog against cold and heat and sheds heavily in season.

Also called: double-coated, double coated dog, blowing coat, shedding season, two-layer coat

A double coat has two layers. The outer layer is made of longer, stiffer guard hairs that repel water and dirt. Beneath it lies a short, soft, dense undercoat that insulates. Breeds with double coats include the Siberian Husky, the German Shepherd Dog, the Golden Retriever and the Pembroke Welsh Corgi.

Most double-coated dogs shed a little all year and a lot once or twice a year, when the undercoat comes out in clumps. Owners call this blowing coat. Regular brushing and a bath or professional dog groomer visit help.

A double coat is not a reason to shave a dog in summer. The layers help regulate temperature, and shaved coats can grow back uneven or take a long time to recover, so ask a groomer first. The coat of a smooth coat breed has only one layer, and no coat type makes a dog hypoallergenic.

Last reviewed November 8, 2026

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Related terms

Undercoat The soft, short, dense layer of fur beneath the longer outer guard hairs of a double-coated dog, which provides insulation and is shed in large amounts. Smooth coat A short, close-lying coat that needs little grooming, found on breeds such as the Boxer, Beagle, Greyhound and Doberman Pinscher. Dog groomer A professional who bathes, brushes, clips and trims dogs, in a salon, a mobile van or a clinic. Hypoallergenic dog claim The marketing claim that a breed will not trigger allergies; no dog is truly hypoallergenic, since allergens also come from saliva, skin and urine.