Breed Groups and Coat Types
In this book we will be describing the specific pet and breed grooming styles for
the commonest breeds seen today.
There are many different ways to categorise the dog breeds seen in the UK: by
size, colour, characteristics or coat type. We shall be using two systems in this
book, which have been cross-referenced to help you find your way through the
many breeds.
• System one – Kennel Club breed groupings
• System two – Coat types
The breed groups
The Kennel Club categorises breeds into seven groups: Gundogs, Hounds,
Pastoral, Terriers, Toy, Utility and Working. It helps while grooming a dog to bear
in mind what it was originally bred for.
The Gundog group
Gundogs are quite natural looking, bred to work in the field or water. They are
used to hunt, point and retrieve. In this group we find many of the commonest
breeds seen today — Golden Retrievers, Labradors, Setters and Spaniels (Fig. 1.1).
The Hound group
Hounds use either sight or scent for hunting purposes and therefore may be
very independent. They vary hugely in their construction from the small, low to
ground Miniature Dachshund to the giant Irish Wolfhound. Fig. 1.2 shows an
Afghan Hound.
The Pastoral group
These are the shepherding and herding breeds that are used worldwide to keep
flocks and herds under control. The Border Collie, German Shepherd (Fig. 1.3)
and Old English Sheepdog are some examples.
The Terrier group
Terriers are the ratters and vermin hunters, very keen and sometimes wilful. They
are often easily categorised by their distinct harsh coats (Fig. 1.4) but there are
some in the group who differ, such as the Bedlington and Kerry Blue.
The Toy group
These are the companion dogs sought after for their ‘knee-warming’ skills but
don’t be misled into believing that they do not have the same character as some of
their bigger relations. This group contains breeds such as the Yorkshire Terrier,
Bichon Frise (Fig. 1.5) and Cavalier King Charles Spaniel.
The Utility group
This is a vastly mixed group of dogs each with their own character or working
abilities. They range from the Poodle to the Miniature Schnauzer to the Lhasa
Apso (Fig. 1.6).
The Working group
The breeds in this group include the guarders and defenders. The commonest
ones are the Dobermann (Fig. 1.7) and Rottweiler and then come the giant breeds
such as St. Bernard and Newfoundland.
Coat types
For ease of reference we have categorised coats into five types: double coat, silky
coat, smooth coat, wire coat and wool coat.
Double coats
A double coat consists of a dense, soft undercoat concealed by a longer topcoat.
Several breeds of dog fit this coat type, so for the purposes of this book we have
split this group into two:
• Double coat — one (untrimmed or tidied). The breeds with this type of coat are
those that require much grooming and removal of dead undercoat with little or
no trimming. Examples are the German Shepherd, Rough Collie, Samoyed, St.
Bernard and Tervueren (Fig. 1.8).
• Double coat — two (trimmed). These breeds have a much longer topcoat,
which in theory (and particularly for show purposes) should not be trimmed.
However, for pet purposes a more practical, shortened style is far more
appropriate. Examples are the Lhasa Apso (Fig. 1.9), Shih Tzu and Old English
Sheepdog.
Silky coat
The most important feature of this coat is its texture and not the length. Once
again, breeds with this type of coat may require a lot or a small amount of trimming.
Breed examples include the Afghan Hound, spaniels such as the Cavalier
King Charles Spaniel (Fig. 1.10) and Yorkshire Terrier.
Smooth coat
This coat is easily defined by the length, being short and tight to the body. This
coat type is the low-maintenance type in grooming terms. The main objectives of
grooming these breeds is to remove dead coat and give a glossy finish. Breed
examples include the Boxer, Dobermann, Weimeraner and the Staffordshire Bull
Terrier (Fig. 1.11).
Wire coat
This coat has a harsh, dense topcoat with a softer undercoat. The coat should be
‘hand-stripped’ to maintain the correct texture and colour but many pets are
clipped for the ease and cost of grooming — this is not acceptable in the show
ring. The main breed examples here are terriers, e.g. West Highland White, Wire
Fox, Border (Fig. 1.12) and Scottish Terrier although there are other breeds such as
the Miniature Schnauzer and Wire Haired Dachshund.
Wool coat
For the purpose of this book we have used this group to include a multitude of
breeds whose coats perhaps fit better here than under other coat types, although
Breed Standards do not specify ‘wool coat’. These breeds require specific drying
techniques and trimming styles. Examples are poodles (Fig. 1.13), Irish Water
Spaniels and Bichon (Fig. 1.5).
Irrespective of breed or coat type, all dogs should be groomed on a regular basis
for many reasons:
• Promotes good handler—dog relationship.
• Promotes health, cleanliness and well-being of the dog.
• Provides an opportunity to inspect the dog for any skin, coat or health
problems.
Always remember that when you are grooming a dog you are the one in charge
and not the dog. Learn to make grooming a pleasurable experience for both you
and the dog. Further details of handling are covered in Chapter 4.
Cross-reference system
The breeds are in alphabetical order with their breed group represented as follows:
Gd = Gundogs To = Toy
Ho = Hounds Ut = Utility
Pa = Pastoral Wo = Working
Te = Terriers
Dc1 = Double coat — one Dc2 = Double coat — two
Si = Silky Sm = Smooth
Wi = Wire Wo = Wool
Gundogs (Gd)
English Setter Si
Gordon Setter Si
Irish Setter Si
Italian Spinone Wi
Retriever
Flat Coat Dc1
Golden Dc1
Labrador Dc1
Spaniels
American Cocker Si
Clumber Si
Cocker Si
English Springer Si
Field Si
Irish Water Wo
Sussex Si
Welsh Springer Si
Hounds (Ho)
Afghan Si
Dachshund Sm, Wi or Si
Deerhound Wi
Irish Wolfhound Wi
Pastoral (Pa)
Bearded Collie Dc2
Border Collie Dc1 or Sm
German Shepherd Dc1
Old English Sheepdog Dc2
Polish Lowland Sheepdog Dc2
Rough Collie Dc1
Samoyed Dc1
Shetland Sheepdog Dc1
Terriers (Te)
Airedale Wi
Bedlington Wo
Border Wi
Cairn Wi
Dandie Dinmont Wi
Irish Wi
Kerry Blue Si
Lakeland Wi
Norfolk Wi
Norwich Wi
Parson Russell Terrier Wi
Scottish Wi
Sealyham Wi
Soft Coated Wheaten Si
Welsh Wi
West Highland White Wi
Wire Fox Wi
Toys (To)
Bichon Frise Wo
Cavalier King Charles Spaniel Si
Griffon Bruxellois Wi or Sm
Lowchen Si
Maltese Si
Papillion Si
Pekingese Dc1
Pomeranian Dc1
Yorkshire Terrier Si
Utility (Ut)
Chow Chow Dc1
Lhasa Apso Dc2
Miniature Schnauzer Wi
Poodle Wo
Schnauzer Wi
Shih Tzu Dc2
Tibetan Terrier Dc2
Working (Wo)
Bernese Mountain Dog Dc1
Bouvier des Flandres Dc2
Boxer Sm
Dobermann Sm
Giant Schnauzer Wi
Newfoundland Dc1
St. Bernard Dc1
Of course there are some exceptionally different coats in the world of dogs, which
we felt needed a mention, such as the corded coat of the Hungarian Puli and the
unusual look of the Chinese Crested. However, specialist knowledge is required
for maintaining the coats of these breeds and therefore these are not covered in
this book.
In Chapter 2 the breed names are followed by the group and coat type’s abbreviated
name so that you know which tools and equipment are relevant for each,
for example:
• Bernese Mountain Dog (Wo-Dc1) = Working dog with Double coat — one.
• West Highland White (Te-Wi) = Terrier group with a wire coat.
Working with this book should be easy, as specific details for trimming each
breed are given on a designated page (see Chapter 11). There are sections on
grooming out, and bathing and drying in Chapters 4, 6 and 9, and these are
reinforced in the checklists in Chapter 10 and the breed profiles in Chapter 11. In
cases of breeds with similar trimming requirements, cross-references have been
provided to the other breed(s).
CATS
A cat’s fur is its most admired feature, and it is also an important part of its body.
It is not just the basis for cat breed identification but on a functional level it:
• Provides a barrier between the cat’s skin and its environment
• Protects the cat from injury and infection
• Helps to regulate body temperature
• Insulates the body in cold weather
• Is a general guide to health
• Protects against excess sunlight and chemicals
The coat hair may be:
• Long
• Short
• Hard
• Soft
• Silky
• Coarse
• Thick
• Wavy
Selective breeding and genetic mutation have enhanced cats’ coats and in fact
have caused coat loss. The result is that the various cat breeds not only have different
textures of coat but also have an incredible variety of colour and coat
pattern. The basic type of cat, the wild type, is the Tabby cat. It is from the Tabby
that all other breeds of cat have evolved. A cat’s coat may contain up to 200 hairs
per square millimetre (130 000 per square inch). The cat has a top coat of guard
hair and an undercoat which consists of coarse, bristly awn hairs and soft down
hairs (Fig. 1.14).
The guard or primary hairs normally form the coarse outer layer of the coat. In
the cat these hairs tend to be rooted in individual hair follicles. They are connected
to the nervous system (autonomic) and therefore respond to information from the
senses (eyes, ears, smell and touch) in the form of excitement, fear, cold or the
fight reflex. The guard hairs stand upright at these times giving the cat an aggressive
appearance. There are more of these hairs on the cat’s back and sides making
it appear larger to another animal. If the cat is cold then these hairs stand up providing
an area around the cat in which to trap body heat and thus acts as a form
of insulation. Throughout the top coat of guard hairs is the under coat made up
of bristly awn hairs with thickened tips and the soft downy hairs which lie close
to the skin.
Generally cats are considered to be either short haired or long haired with a
guard hair length from 4.5 cm to 15 cm. Besides the length, there is the coat’s
density and texture. This is provided by the guard, awn, and down hairs. These
three hairs vary from one breed to another.
The ideal coat of a pedigree cat has been set out in Breed and Show Standards,
over the last 100 years of selective breeding. The aim of the Standards is to ensure
that any proposed new breed is different from other registered breeds and that
there are enough potential breeders interested in breeding the cat to support the
agreed Standard. The process may take a number of years, through preliminary
and provisional stages before being shown in championship level classes. This is
regulated by the Governing Council of the Cat Fancy.
For grooming purposes, cat breeds can be subdivided into:
• Long hair: Persian
• Semi-long hair: Birman, Turkish Van, Ragdoll
• Short hair: British short hair, Manx
• Short hair: Foreign Abyssinian, Russian Blue, Cornish and Devon Rex
• Short hair: American Shaded Silver, Red Tabby
• Burmese: Burmese
• Oriental: Oriental Black, Blue and Caramel Havana
• Siamese: Siamese, Balinese
In North America domestic cats are categorised in two groups only:
• Long hair
• Short hair
Coat types
Long coat
Cats with long coats have large bodies and a round head. The nose is short,
the eyes are large and the ears are small. The coat is long and double with soft
undercoat and quite coarse guard hairs of almost the same length as the undercoat
(Fig. 1.15). Although these cats will self-groom, to prevent matting of the coat
the owner needs to assist the cat. This will prevent tangles forming, which the cat
cannot deal with. Typical long haired breeds include Persian and Angora.
In the long hair coat the down hair is almost as long as the guard hair, giving the
coat a soft silky feel. The longest guard hair length is about 12.5 cm (Fig. 1.16).
Breeds like the Turkish or Birman, though genetically the same as the Persian,
have shorter down hairs, leaving the coat less full.
Semi-long coat
These cats are sturdy and muscular with a normal shaped head and length of
nose. The eyes are of normal size, however the upright ears can be large. The coat
is long but not as double as the Persian, having either a finer or a shaggy texture
(which means that the coat is less liable to matting).
Short coat
This coat is dense and easy to care for. It is easier to clean and unlikely to get
tangled. Fig. 1.17 a and b show cats with typical short coats. Fig. 1.18 is a diagrammatic
illustration of how short hair grows.
These cats’ features vary depending on their origin, for example:
• British Shorthair: These cats have a stocky build, with large round heads and
muscular body and short legs.
• American Shorthair: These cats are larger than the British/European breeds,
with a lean body. They are longer legged with an oval head.
• Foreign Shorthair: These cats are slim bodied and long legged, their coat contains
fine hairs and the head is wedge shaped.
Curly or wavy coat
The curly or wavy coat has either no guard hair or very short guard hair (see also
Chapter 5). It comprises short curly awn and down hairs that are of the same
length, giving the coat a curly, wavy appearance, e.g. the Cornish Rex (Fig. 1.19).
The Devon Rex coat has all three types of hair, however the guard and awn are so
altered they resemble down hairs giving the coat a harsher feel. The Devon Rex
also varies in that it has either shortened whiskers or none at all.
Wire coat
The coat is thick, curly, woolly, coarse and wiry to touch. It appears crimped due
to the wave or curl of the hairs, and some are even coiled in spirals. The guard hair
and down are similar, the tips of the awn hair looking like a shepherd’s crook,
with some even coiled into complete spirals (Fig. 1.20). A typical breed with this
coat type is the American Blue Wirehair.
Hairless
These cats do in fact have some hairs, but they are so sparse that the appearance is
hairless. Down hairs around the face, legs and body give a thin covering (1.21).
With little or no hair to protect the skin and help in body heat conservation this
breed needs assistance in cold weather and early treatment for any obvious skin
damage. The skin and down hair can be of any recognised colour and pattern,
such as that seen in the Blue Sphynx (1.22).
