Posted: Mon Jul 02, 2007 2:31 pm Post subject: One coated Labrador
I wasn't sure which area to post this in, but over the weekend I was giving Zonks a bath (in anticipation of his new Kyruba kit ) when I noticed that he's got his double Labbie coat along his top side, ruff and shoulders but he has only got the fluffy Labbie under coat on his side and hind quatres.
I thought it was odd but then I was wondering whether not having the top 'oily' coat on his side and hind quarters is something that would cause him problems if he goes swimming?
My Chelsea would go swimming virtually until the river froze over but she was a pure Lab with a proper Labbie coat where as Zonks is a Lab cross (we don't know what with) but he doesn't seem to mind the water but we haven't really taken him swimming just wading only.
It's probably a silly question but should I treat his coat with anything before he goes swimming?
Last edited by wonder on Mon Jul 02, 2007 4:30 pm; edited 1 time in total
It's probably a silly question but should I treat his coat with anything before he goes swimming?
No, just make sure you rub him dry with a towel on cold days, as he will probably be wet through to the skin and you may find as he gets older he'll need a coat on bitterly cold days.
Never really considered this before, Meg is lab/springer and is never dry given half a chance she is allways in water somewhere. So plenty of damp towels
When we go in our caravan which is situated on the river she is in her element. Never really thought of her coat, even though she is a cross she looks very labbie (if you know what I mean) maybe slightly longer in length round her bottom and tail so will watch this with interest!
Ruby is single coated - she hasnt got an undercoat - she just gets a little colder than other labbies - I take towels with me and make sure she keeps on the move (not hard with Ruby though as she isnt often still) when the weather is a bit cool and she is wet
Well now I've learned something new today with VJH's post I didn't know you could have single coated Labs - my mum probably would have made us trade in Chelsea if she knew that as she was always complaining about Chels shedding it was always hollow complaints through because she adored Chelsea as much as I did
Zonks does seem to like the water but he does feel the cold - before this weekend's bath I just put it down to him being from the tropics of Costa Rica originally but now I think it might also be his coat. He does love a fuss and towelling down so no fear of him going cold the spoiled boy
Lucky Cow..... < Says she who has just pushed the hoover around for the second time today, as she has black and white hairs blowing off the dogs as they walk. >
My house is like a dustbowl atm with dog hair blowing around pretending to be tumbleweed -- Yeeehaaahhh!!!!
Double coat is the 'standard' for labradors - though many do not have this and it is seen as a genetic fault. Something they do or do not have, it cannot be 'made', by supplements or other means. My Rosie has a single coat, she is from FT lines and I do believe quite a few working dogs do posess single coats.
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) when I noticed that he's got his double Labbie coat along his top side, ruff and shoulders but he has only got the fluffy Labbie under coat on his side and hind quatres.
given half a chance she is allways in water somewhere. So plenty of damp towels 
so will watch this with interest!
as she was always complaining about Chels shedding 
it was always hollow complaints through because she adored Chelsea as much as I did 
