Most people are familiar with the basic dog coats – long and short. But did you know some dogs have curly coats? Wavy coats? What about the dogs with cords or hair that never stops growing? Here we’ll take a peek at some of the breeds with the most unique coats we’ve ever seen!
#1 – Bergamasco
The Bergamasco is an Italian herding dog known for its long matted coat. They have an oily undercoat, a mid-layer of dense goat-like hair and a woolly topcoat. All of this helps create the matts that resemble felt when finally grown out.
#2 – Old English Sheepdog
The Old English Sheepdog is immediately recognizable by its long, fluffy coat and unique white and grey coloring. It is noted that the breed resembles a bear or panda more closely than a dog. Oddly enough, their coats only shed when brushed.
#3 – Puli
The Puli is a Hungarian herding breed with a long, corded coat. The coat is the outcome of a controlled matting process that is desirable by enthusiasts. Although the coat can be trimmed down for easy maintenance, many people admire the process it takes to create the thin, rope-like cords.
#4 – Thai Ridgeback
The Thai Ridgeback is one of three ridged breeds. These unique ridges are created by a strip of hair that grows in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat. This is a very ancient breed that is still relatively rare outside of its home country.
#5 – Xoloitzcuintli
The Xoloitzcuintli is a Mexican breed that comes in a variety with no coat at all. Also known as the Mexican Hairless Dog, it comes most often in the hairless version while the coated breed looks like any typical short-coated dog.
#6 – Curly Coated Retriever
The Curly Coated Retriever’s name says it all – it’s a retriever with a curly coat. Bred in England for retrieving feathered game, the breed is very active on land and in water.
#7 – Bedlington Terrier
The Bedlington Terrier was originally bred to eliminate vermin in mines, although it looks far more like a lamb than a dog. The breed has the nickname “linty-haired terrier,” as many enthusiasts think their coat feels more like lint than fur.
#8 – Chinese Crested
The Chinese Crested dog comes in both a hairless and coated variety, but neither have a regular dog-like fur coat. Instead they have long hair that is very soft and silky.
#9 – Shar-Pei
The Chinese Shar-Pei has a very unique coat in that it’s almost horselike. Very rough and rigid, it can actually cause irritation to some who pet the dogs. Although some are softer than others, their coats are still relatively prickly.
#10 – Komondor
The Komondor is a very large livestock guardian dog from Hungary. It is known for its long, corded coat that look like dreadlocks. Although some grooming is needed to keep the cords from forming one large matt, the breed is relatively low-maintenance.
#11 – Rhodesian Ridgeback
The Rhodesian Ridgeback is one of two other ridged breeds, with the ridge on its back being formed by hair growing in the opposite direction of the rest of the coat. The Rhodesian is a large, powerful dog originally bred for hunting wild pigs and lions in Africa.
#12 – Mudi
The Mudi is a small herding breed from Hungary. It has a fairly long, wavy coat that comes in a variety of colors and some especially striking merle patterns. It is a versatile breed that excels at sports like obedience and agility.
