Does a Havanese Have a Double Coat? (Explained!)

Havanese dogs have hair but not fur and this creates confusion about whether they are a double-coated breed or a single-coated breed.

Because dogs with hair generally have a single coat. Therefore, it’s obvious that you might have the same confusion and question does your Havanese have a double coat or not.

Does A Havanese Have A Double Coat?

Havanese dog breed has a double coat. And it is assumed that since they are from a tropical country Cuba, they have developed a double coat. Only the adult Havanese dogs develop a double-coat. Puppies have a single coat and at the adult phase, they shed off the puppy coat and develop a double coat.

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Generally, it is assumed that Havanese dogs have a single coat because they shed less and have hair on the body instead of fur.

But not, Havanese dogs are a double-coated dog breed. As they are originated from a tropical weather country Cuba, they were born with a double-coat gene to adjust to cold and summer.

However, Havanese pups are born with a single coat. And when they reach six to eight months old, they shed off their puppy coat and develop a double-coat. This simply means, after the puppy phase only the adult Havanese dogs have a double-coat.

Do Havanese Have An Undercoat?

Havanese dogs do have an undercoat. Since Havanese is a double-coated dog breed is has an undercoat. In fact, all double-coated dog breeds have an undercoat.

The first layer of hair or fur is known as the undercoat. It is comprised of short, fine, wavy hairs and works for trapping air and insulation.

It’s known that Havanese dogs are originated from Cuba, which is a country with tropical weather. Therefore, Havanese dogs have developed an undercoat for trapping air in hot scorching summer to keep their body cool and to protect them from the sun as well as in winter.

So, if you wonder whether Havanese have an undercoat or not seeing less shedding, just know they do have one.

What Is A Double Coat?

The double coat is a kind of coat that comprises two layers of hair or fur. The underneath layer is known as the undercoat and the upper layer coat is known as the topcoat.

The undercoat is full of short, fine hairs. And the texture is either wooly or wavy depends on whether it’s a dog with fur or a dog with hair.

The undercoat is denser, and the denser the undercoat is the fluffier the overall coat would be. Also, the undercoat protects from the heat and the cold as well as traps air to keep the body cool.

And the upper layer of the undercoat means the topcoat has tougher hairs that protect the dogs from insect bites, dirt, and repel moisture.

Both of the coat layer has their own significance and contribution. And together they make a double coat.

How Can You Tell A Dog Has A Double Coat?

It’s a common question of most of the new dog owners. So if you are one of them and getting perplexed recognizing whether your dog has a double coat or not. then look at these easy ways explained below for you.

Shedding

Dogs with double coats have two layers of coat. The first one is the undercoat and the second one is the topcoat. And the undercoat is consists of short, soft hairs and it’s denser. And it makes the dog shed more than any sing-coated dogs.

Most dogs with an undercoat shed two times a year. Especially in the winter season, they start to grow new thick hairs and shed off old ones. So if you notice your dog shed too much especially during season change, assume that it’s a dog with a double coat.

Texture

A dog with a double coat has a wooly texture and it is denser than dogs with a single coat. The texture of their undercoat is soft, wooly, and quite dense.

And it makes the undercoat fluffy. And when the undercoat is fluffy overall coat looks fluffy too. But the texture of their topcoat is not soft. It’s rather rough and tough.

So if your dog is double-coated upon touching it you will feel two types of feeling, the topcoat will feel tough but the undercoat will feel soft.

Grooming

If you need to take your dog for grooming more often. Then just know it’s a double-coated dog. Because they have two layers of coat which makes them shed a lot also they are prone to matting and tangling more than a dog with a single coat.

So, if you have to brush regularly and take them to a professional groomer quite often, it’s undoubtedly a double-coated dog.

Color of undercoat

The undercoat coat color of dogs with a double coat is not the same as the topcoat typically it’s lighter than the topcoat. So if you see this difference you will eventually know it’s a double-coated dog.

How To Groom Double-Coated Havanese Dogs?

Grooming a double-coated Havanese dog is a tricky job. As they are small in size also, you can be confused regarding their coat type and what type of groom will suit it. Therefore, to rescue you, here are the most effective ways of grooming a double-coated Havanese dog.

Brushing

Brushing is the regular homely way of grooming your Havanese pup. Brush them regularly to deal with matting and tangling.

Gently brush down to the root as mats tend to form close to the skin. And before brushing spay a detangling product or make your own detangling spray with water and conditioner.

Bathing

Bathing is another way of grooming your double-coated Havanese. Giving them a routine-wise bath cleans all dirt and removes tangles. But before bathing them brush them nicely to detangle the tangles and mats in hair.

Bathe them with appropriate dog shampoo. Don’t use a shampoo that is for humans. Choose a tearless shampoo and bathe nicely. After that use a dog conditioner, as the conditioner will keep their hairs nice, soft, and shiny.

And then rinse them precisely leaving no shampoo or conditioner reduces and dry them fully. For drying, you can use a blow dryer with warm air.

Ears And Eyes

Havanese dogs have tear staining issues. So to avoid staining, use a cotton ball soak in dog-friendly eyewash and clean the area gently. Do it regularly.

And to clean their ears, out some ear cleansing liquid in their ears before bathing. It will soft their ear wax meantime. Then clean it with a Q-tip.

Teeth

Brushing your Havanese dog’s teeth is necessary. It avoids tooth plaque. Brush their teeth 1-2times a week with dog toothpaste and brush.

Nail Trimming

Twice a month trim their nails with a pet clip. It will prevent their nails from breaking and will not occur a painful walk for them.

What Breed Of Dog Has A Double Coat?

Here is a list of dogs that have a double coat.

Golden and Labrador Retrievers
Pomeranians
Newfoundland
German and Australian Shepherds
Siberian Huskies
Corgis
Alaskan Huskies
Shiba Inu
Alaskan Malamute
Collie( Border, Rough, Bearded, Smooth)
Havanese
Yorkshire Terrier
Welsh Corgi
Shih Tzu
Scottish Terrier

Is It Bad To Shave A Dog With A Double Coat?

It’s bad to shave a dog with a double coat, especially in summer. Shaving a double-coated dog really can damage their coat.

Shaving in summer prevents air to get into its skin to cool down it. Also, it absolutely doesn’t protect his skin from the sun either, instead makes it exposed under the sun. And that can cause overheating, sunburn, and even skin cancer.

Moreover, shaving fully doesn’t even protect from bug bites or insects. It just makes it worse. As the skin is exposed so bugs can easily latch on him and bite him.

Also, after shaving the hair or fur will fully grow but the undercoat will grow in the first place. Who makes it difficult for him to cool off.

So, you will make a great mistake if you shave them fully. Because it will only strip his natural ability of cooling themselves and protecting themselves.

Instead of shaving him, you can regularly bathe and brush him to keep cool and comfortable in summer. Or just trim their coat about one inch but not more than this.

Why Should You Not Shave A Double-Coated Dog?

Shaving makes the situation worse than good for your double-coated dog. And the reasons have been stated below for your knowledge.

Shaving hairs fully make a double-coated dog’s skin exposed under the sun which causes sunburn, overheating, and skin cancer.
Shaving cuts off his natural ability to cool himself down in summer.
It makes the skin exposed to bugs and insects too.
Shaving prevents cool air to get into his skin because the undercoat is there as it grows up fast than the topcoat.

Do Double Coated Dogs Shed?

Double-coated dogs shed off the most. In fact, they shed twice a year. During the season changes, especially in winter, you will see them shed so much that it can even cover your whole house.

Because at that time they grow new hair/fur and sheds the old ones. So you can get tired of cleaning your beloved pup’s hairs from your belongings.

Havanese is a double-coated breed as it has both undercoat and topcoat. And to adjust with heat and cold, naturally, it has inherited the gene of double coat due to being born in tropical weather.