Characteristics of Doberman’s hair, undercoat, the cycle of growth and shedding – why the dog shed and can it be prevented?

Main characteristics of Dobies skin and coat:

The main role of dog’s skin is multiple and Doberman’s coat plays an important role in preserving the vitality of the skin, as the largest organ of the dog’s body.

The role of skin:

• Protective barrier against mechanical, radiological, chemical and biological influences
• Maintaining homeostasis by preventing evaporation of tissue under the skin and providing constancy of composition of the internal environment
• The sensory organ for pressure, pain, heat and cold
• Depositary for water, minerals, vitamins, blood and blood fats
• Temperature control
• Secretion of the skin: sweat, fat, milk
• Metabolic role in the synthesis of vitamin D
• Role in the metabolism of Ca
• Immunological Protection

Dog’s skin is completely covered with hair, which is about 1 -1.5 cm at Dobermans and it is very hard. These characteristics determine the hair growth cycle and its lifetime, which is basis for understanding the phenomenon of decline and replacement of hair, called shedding.

In Doberman’s skin, located on a whole body, are over 5 billion hair follicles that produce hair, which as a whole represents a furry layer. Hair is renewed in period of about 21-30 days. Appearance of  “the constant shedding” is the fact that not all hair follicles, which create hair, are formed and began producing hair at the same time. Thus, we can say that more or less each of the 5 billion follicles has its own cycle, so the impression is that the dog is constantly shedding.

Doberman hair through the development of the dog goes through certain stages.  Thus, on the body of a puppy and young dog we find some softer hair, which is slightly longer than that which would be on ideal Doberman. The reason for this is the activity of the organism in the use of composite materials that are part of the hair in other processes of maturation. Although an important factor for body, hair is a secondary in growth period, so that the dog does not finish its complete physical maturation, the hair will not be a “quality”. So, as long as the hair is soft and longer we know that the dog develops, develops skeleton, muscle mass, teeth. The moment when the dog has matured completely, the hair is changed; it becomes harder, because it speeds up the growth cycle, and hardens because the body begins with the production of high quality hair.

In some of the literature we may find inaccurate information that there is no undercoat on body of a Doberman. However, it exists in greater or lesser degree and may be found on his neck, hips, at the root of the tail and thighs. Soft and woolly undercoat structure is more intense at puppies, but it occurs at adult dogs too. It has grayish or light brown color, photosensitive, and is subject to color change under the influence of sunlight. This phenomenon may occur in the summer, when we notice that dog has suddenly changed its color, “he blushed“.  As soon as the undercoat, with the help of appropriate accessories, is removed from the dog’s body, redness “miraculously ” disappears.

Regular hair brushing helps in removing dead hair from the body of a dog or one that is near the end of its life cycle. Such treatment is needed in order to reduce shedding.

On the other hand, brushing stimulates the secretion of lanolin – natural oils. Excessive amounts of lanolin and quality of lanolin on the hair will improve the adhesion of dirt to the hair. The hair becomes shiny immediately after brushing, but also a lot dirtier, depending on the conditions in which the dog lives.

This will be the basis for determining the treatment that is best for your Doberman, and cosmetics, tools and proper routine, for both, you and your pet to enjoy maximum performance of life, not burdened by “ordinary” problems.