Senior Sheepie - Hair
Charlie can be seen here http://oesrescuenetwork.org/availableforadoption.html I only fostered him for a few days as his adopted family was so anxious to get him! What a sweet boy he is and now has a wonderful new family! But, I digress....my question is about the coat. Charlie had no measureable undercoat....just top coat. Is that common? Do they go through a second coat change? I was amazed at how easy he was to brush! He had just been groomed, so I supposed it was possible that the groomer just stripped it - but all of it?? Just curious and figured those of you will lots of sheepie experience would know!! |
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| I don't have an answer, but just wanted to say he is adorable. I chuckled once I saw him just because he brought that happy aura. |
| Tammy, my parents' dog Maggie basically has no undercoat, either. She's 8 1/2 now, but she's always been that way. My parents said she was discounted at the breeders for not meeting the standard (I think she also has an underbite) so I think the lack of undercoat could have been part of that.
It works out well for her since she lives in San Diego and definitely doesn't need the coat to keep her warm! |
| You know, I'm not so sure what an undercoat actually is. All of our long haired dogs always went to the groomer so I think they may strip the undercoat out. When I comb Annie between baths, she isn't hard to comb (her coat is the longest we've let it go at the moment approx 5-6 inches. Her hair barely mats either. |
Barney's hair is much different in consistency than Maggie's hair. Her hair is silky, while Barney's is much rougher. She mats easier than Barney, but hers is easier to comb through. Barney's chest hair  is extremely dense, so that takes a lot of work to comb through, but Maggie's chest is not.
I don't find Barney particularly difficult to brush through in comparison to Maggie, but there is definitely a difference in their fur composition. |
| Norman hasn't had any undercoat to speak of for about 3 or 4 years. It does seem to get less and less as they get older. His chest seems to be the thickest part of his coat, right now. |
| Charlie is eleven and his hair is a different texture than Beau & Gen's too. It's silkier and straighter than either one of their coats.
Interesting that they start to lose the undercoat as they age. 
Thanks for the info!  |
Everytime someone mentions that their dogs hair seems thickest around the chest I picture the dog as the "stereotypical italian"...shirt unbuttoned low, curly hair sticking out and gold chains. 
It is making me laugh at my desk.
Amanda |
Joahaeyo wrote: I don't have an answer, but just wanted to say he is adorable. I chuckled once I saw him just because he brought that happy aura.
He really is the sweetest thing. I was very impressed with his attitude and how totally adaptable he was, especially considering his age. It took him all of about five minutes to settle in and make himself at home. Very happy fellow - always smiling. Kind of reminded me of Drezzie. |
| and i love his nose! |
| I'm so happy he has a new home!!! My two (senior) foster girls hardly have an undercoat at all. I was actually curious about it when they first came - I assumed it was their age. Mopsey has more coat then Prissy and she's a year younger?! They both have more coat along their chest and upper neck than their bellies or backs. |
| It could be many things, breeding, age, stripped vs not stripped, a skin condition, thyroid problems, food quality throughout the dogs life etc.
I did notice my first oes had an easier to manage coat as she got older. It was very easy to groom by the time she was 5 or 6 years old. |
Kelsey has no undercoat, I stripped her completly out 2 years ago. Being nearly 11 and can't take the hours on the grooming table. She has the long hair look but without all the work. Takes just a quick brush through once a week to keep her knot free. Bath time and she is only up on the table for a smidge of the time to dry her too. Did that with my last sheepie at 14 she still had the look of a long coat without all the work. It is nice for the oldies if you don't want the shaved to the skin look, as they are easier to maintain.  |
Sorry... I have no idea about Senior coats...but sounds like it gets easier with age.... 
I just had to say that Charlie is a cutie.... That nose 
He does have a very sweet aura about him. |
Annie's Mom wrote: You know, I'm not so sure what an undercoat actually is. All of our long haired dogs always went to the groomer so I think they may strip the undercoat out. When I comb Annie between baths, she isn't hard to comb (her coat is the longest we've let it go at the moment approx 5-6 inches. Her hair barely mats either.
grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr...  I spent hours - at least 3-4 hours a week to keep rufie's coat mat free! But as of today, I'm brush-free! He's at the groomers now, getting shaved down!
Michelle |
Charlie is SO adorable, I'm so glad he's found a furever home!  He does sorta remind me of Drezzie, too, with the smiles. My happy girl, no matter what! 
Chris |
| MO came at age 8 months and now at 7 years, she's yet to have an undercoat. Also she is small. I hadn't thought about thyroid, but with her energy, I doubt that's a problem. Most likely breeding. |
| I don't think it's a senior thing, I think it's just the type of coat she has. Not all dogs have an undercoat. Rebecca's is much thinner compared to Frank's and our first sheepdog seemed to not have much of a harsh outer coat. |
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