Do Labradors have thick fur

Double Vs Single Coat Labradors (List of Differences)

What Is a Single Coat Labrador?

A dog with a single coat typically has thin hair rather than thick fur. This coat will show itself around your home, depending on how much shedding your dog does. While their coat length doesnt impact whether they have one or two layers, Labradors shed a lot. There arent too many single coat Labs, but heres what you should know about them:

• A single-coat dog shows their skin under the top (and only) coat. You can brush your Lab and see their skin behind the comb. Much like humans, dogs with one layer of hair show the scalp right below because they dont have an undercoat. This method is typically the easiest way to know (Ill cover this later in more detail).
• Single coat Labs dont overheat too quickly. Since they dont have extra insulation, Labradors with one layer of hair feel much more comfortable in warm weather. However, theyre more prone to UV skin damage and radiation from the sun. Please make sure they get plenty of shade on sunny days.
• They might not be as good of swimmers as double coat dogs. A primary evolutionary trait of dogs with a double coat is it wicks water off of their fur. Since Labradors with one layer of hair dont have an undercoat, they wont have the same moisture-repelling benefits. In other words, they wont glide through the water as easily.
• They wont shed as often as double coat Labs. Dogs with one coat typically dont lose as much hair, but they have a longer hair growth cycle. This is convenient for you and your dog since you wont have to groom them or clean their hair around the house as often.

There are a handful of Labradors that only have one layer of hair, but its worth knowing more about them in case your pup is an outlier. If youre convinced your dog has a double coat (which is more than likely if theyre a Lab), proceed to the next section to learn all about them.

What Is a Double Coat Labrador?

If you have a Lab, youre probably used to dealing with their double coat without knowing it. Many dogs have two layers; The topcoat is usually made of hair, while the undercoat is made of fur. Fur mats and clumps together, whereas hair falls out in strands. A double coat Labrador has to deal with both, while a single coat Lab only has hair.

• Almost all Labradors have a double coat. If youre unsure which type of coat your pup has, its safe to say they very likely have two layers. Labradors are known to have a double coat, which is why many companies target this breed when advertising grooming kits.
• They can get exhausted from excess heat and exercise. Labs cant get too hot, or theyll succumb to all sorts of illnesses. I cover everything you need to know about what temperature range Labradors can handle here. Brushing them will limit overheating, but its much more difficult with any breed with two coats.
• Dogs with a double coat fare better in cold environments. Labradors originate from colder climates, which is why their insulation is crucial to their survival. You mightve noticed your Lab doesnt mind the rain too much. Swimming, rainy weather, and similar conditions are no problem for a Lab with an undercoat.

If youre having trouble knowing which coat your Labrador has, youre in the right place. Read on to follow the three-step process to find out how many coats they have, why it matters, how to take care of them, and so on.

How Do You Tell if Your Dog Has a Single or Double Coat?

Fortunately, its pretty easy to know if your dog is a single coat or double coat Labrador. Once you know whether or not they have an undercoat, youll better understand how warm or cold they can get, whether theyll shed everywhere, and whether they have fur or hair (or both).

Heres a quick process to know if your Labrador has a single coat or double coat:

1. Look at the hair or fur they shed to identify if its matted or single hairs. A dog with a double coat will shed matted fur that youll find in clumps. A Lab with a single coat sheds hair, so itll look similar to a cat or human hair laying around your house.
2. Check beneath the visible layer of fur. Brush their hair with your hand and see if theres another layer beneath. The undercoat is typically shorter, so youll notice long hair and short fur layered over each other. This step can be challenging if your Lab has a short double coat because the layers blend together.
3. Figure out the breed (almost every Labrador has a double coat, so chances are your Lab is a double coat breed). While its not a guarantee, knowing if your dog is a full-bred Labrador will drastically narrow its chances of having one coat. If your Lab is a cross-breed with another dog with a single coat, you should check with a local vet.

Following these suggestions can make it easier to know if your Lab has one or two coats, but its up to you to decide which pup is meant for you. Weather patterns, temperature, and many other variables can impact you and your Labs lives, so lets break everything down below.

Which Lab Is Right for Your Home?

Orvis shows single coat dogs are better for warm weather, and double coat dogs do better in cold or mild weather. If you live in an area thats always extremely hot, its important to find a Labrador that can handle the heat. Also, remember that their undercoat can add more grooming and cleaning around the house.

Owning a Lab is a lot of responsibility, and their double layer of hair and fur is part of the process. That being said, theyre mans best friend and are more than worth the cleaning and brushing required to maintain their grooming needs. In addition, Labs are adaptive dogs and can learn to love most environments!

Conclusion

Now that you know the differences between single coat and double coat Labradors, you can learn how to care for your dog better. Remember to brush your double coat Lab more often and that almost every Labrador is a double coat dog. You can quickly find out which coat your pup has by looking under their topcoat.

Do Labs Have Hair Or Fur And Why That Matters?

Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Linda Richard

People often used the words fur and hair interchangeably when it comes to dogs. Thats not really accurate, however, and there are a lot of big differences between dog hair and fur. So, if youre a new lab owner you might be wondering do labs have hair or fur and why that matters? Does this affect allergies or shedding? Lets find out below.

Do Labs Have Hair Or Fur?

In a word fur. Like most other dog breeds, a Labrador Retrievers coat can best be described as fur. There are a few breeds like the Poodle who have hair but most dogs have fur.

Dog hair vs fur whats the difference?

If youre new to the canine word you might be wondering whats the difference between hair and fur. Its normal to think that fur is just the word we use for dog hair but thats not exactly the case. While both fur and hair are made from the same main component keratin they are functionally different in several major ways. These include:

1. Length fur doesnt grow as long as the hair

As you know, human hair can grow quite long hence why we need to get haircuts frequently to maintain its length. The same (partly) applies to dog hair as well. While it cant get as long as human hair as the individual strands of hair eventually fall, dog hair grows significantly longer than dog fur. Especially in labs, fur stays short and dense, close to the body.

2. Layers fur is double-coated while hair has a single layer

This is the big one hair and fur are at the core of the difference between double-coated and single-coated dogs. Simply put, fur comes in two layers the upper layer of dogs hairs that we see and an underlayer of soft, short, curly, and dense fluff. These two layers have very different purposes that work perfectly together the upper layer protects from the elements and is even waterproof in water dog breeds like the lab while the undercoat offers insulation against high and low temperatures.

Dog hair, on the other hand, doesnt have an undercoat. This means that temperature insulation isnt a thing for single-coated dogs. Dog hair also doesnt have the same waterproof function as a double-coated dogs upper fur layer. On the plus side, dog hair is much easier to maintain and groom, it doesnt shed as much and is much lighter overall.

3. Texture hair is smoother

This is a less crucial difference but it is an easy way to check if a dog has hair or fur. As with humans, dog hair has a pretty soft and silky texture. It can still come in different types, of course straight, wavy, curly, and so on. However, its always soft and silky to the touch, especially when the dogs been fed and groomed properly.

Fur is quite opposite of that as its always coarse and dense to the touch. This isnt as much a fault or a drawback of fur as it is its function. Furs benefit is that it provides insulation for the dog so it has to be coarse and dense. As any lab owner will tell you, the coarseness of fur isnt unpleasant to the touch, its just notably different from hair.

4. Shedding seasonal or regular

The other big difference between hair and fur is the shedding. Dogs with both types of coat will shed, of course, as do all types of hair. Human hair sheds too, after all. The amount and regularity of the shedding vary, however.

As a rule of thumb, dog hair sheds a little but regularly. This means that maintenance and grooming are pretty simple for a dog with hair you just need to brush and comb them often (say, every day or every other day) and youll easily remove all their matted or loose hair and keep it from getting on your furniture.

Fur, however, is quite different. Dogs with fur will still shed a little every day. The difference here is two-fold: 1) that shedding will be less noticeable because fur is shorter and 2) dog fur also blows out two or three times a year.

This coat blowout will typically happen in the spring and fall and it is an almost full change of the dogs coat. Thats done in order to prepare the dog for the summer and winter seasons. Needless to say, seeing a labs coat blowout for the first time can be quite overwhelming.

Why do dogs have fur?

So, we know the answer to Do labs have hair or fur but why do most dogs have fur? The purpose of the fur is to provide insulation. Especially for northern breeds, having hair just isnt enough to stave off the winter cold. Fur is also great for swimming as it acts like a ducks feathers and keeps the water from making much of a (or any) contact with the dogs skin. Fur can also act as great insulation in the summer heat which is a big reason why its usually a bad idea to shave your lab in the summer.

Do Labs Really Shed That Much?

They do. Labrador Retrievers are up there with some of the heaviest shedders out there such as Siberian Huskies, Golden Retrievers, and German Shedders. Fortunately, their coats are pretty short which alleviates the issue a little bit. But youll still need regular brushing and grooming to minimize the problem.

Are labs bad for people with allergies?

Yes, labs are definitely far from being hypoallergenic. Of course, its not the actual pet fur that causes allergies its the saliva and dandruff that the fur carries in the air. However, the excessive shedding of the lab makes sure that people with allergies just cant live with a lab in the house. Wed recommend trying a poodle instead they are the closest a dog can be to hypoallergenic.

So, Do Labs Have Hair Or Fur, And What Does This Mean For You?

Labs have fur and lots of it. Fortunately, its short which minimizes the shedding issue but itd still be quite noticeable if you dont brush your lab regularly. Shaving is also ill-advised, especially in the summer when the lab relies on its undercoat for insulation from the heat. Overall, while shedding can be annoying, a labs fur is an invaluable tool for the dog.

Read more aboutHow To Shave A Lab And Why You Maybe Shouldnt?

Read more about How Long are Labs in Heat