Dog Facts - Do dogs have hair or fur?

An awkward, stupid moment the other day talking with the owners of the cutest little poodle. They said something about her fur and I, like Cliff Claven, corrected them that dogs have hair not fur. They were kind of impatient, like "whatever...", which was o.k. because they would have been justified in calling me an idiot... Dogs have hair but sometimes it can be called fur. All fur is hair. Some animals are known for their "fur" however, a word that conveys something about softness or density, warmth, etc. but actually all coats are just hair.

There is a distincition in how the hair grows. In some animals more than one hair grows out of a single follicle. In those cases the hairs are finer, but the coat overall would be denser, hence more fur-like.

All dogs have three types of hair: soft downy undercoat that is especially abundant in northern breeds but exists in most breeds that developed in cool or cold climates; stiffer and often longer guard hairs that form a protective layer to protect undercoat and skin from harsh weather and cold water; and whiskers, those specialized hairs that grow in clumps on the face.

Photos are from the Shih Tzu Fanciers of Southern California webiste.

category: Dog Facts