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Canine hair, fur or coat is made of the protein keratin and it grows from follicles in the dermis or inner layer of the skin. Some hairs are densely packed into stiff, fibrous outgrowths that, depending on species and location on the body and become toenails.
Human follicles each turn into a single hair, but animals that depend on fur coats for temperature regulation often have several or many hairs per follicle. The diameter of individual hairs decreases as the number of hairs per follicle increases.
Each follicle on a dog’s skin has an oil or sebaceous gland to keep the skin and hair smooth and elastic. Dog breeds bred to work in water, for example generally have a high oil content in their coat so that water runs of the guard hairs and does not penetrate down to the skin.
Canines 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.
Your dog’s hair grows in cycles; when it reaches a certain length determined by the individual dog's genetic makeup, it stops growing, then dies. That's when shedding begins. Your dog may be slightly uncomfortable during shedding as the dead hairs can cause her skin to itch. You can help relieve that slight discomfort by brushing her coat.
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