How do I know if my dog has a double coat?

Part the hair and look at the base. If you can see a soft, dense underlayer beneath the longer surface coat, your dog has a double coat. You can also run your hand against the direction of growth — a double coat will feel noticeably thick and fluffy underneath.

Can you shave a double-coated dog?

In most cases, no. Shaving a double-coated dog disrupts the natural function of both coat layers and can permanently change the coat's texture and ability to regulate temperature. It also doesn't reduce shedding in the long term. A professional deshedding treatment is usually the better approach. That said, there are exceptions — if a vet has recommended shaving for a medical reason, or if severe matting has caused skin issues like hotspots that need to be treated, a shave-down may be the right call. Your groomer can advise based on your dog's specific situation.

Why does my Cavoodle mat so quickly?

Curly coats trap shed hair within the curl rather than releasing it. Over time, this builds up and tangles from the inside out — which is why Cavoodles and other Oodle breeds need brushing every 2–3 days and professional grooming every 6–8 weeks to stay mat-free.

All dogs shed to some degree, but the amount and frequency varies significantly by coat type. Double-coated breeds shed heavily, particularly during seasonal coat blows in autumn and spring. Single and curly-coated breeds shed minimally — but their coat keeps growing, which creates its own grooming demands.

What coat type is easiest to maintain?

Short single coats (like a Greyhound or Whippet) require the least maintenance. Short double coats (like a Labrador) are relatively low-maintenance between grooms but shed heavily. Curly coats are generally the most demanding in terms of home brushing and professional grooming frequency.

Does keeping your dog's coat long actually keep them warmer in winter?

18 June

Written By Frederica Heacock

TL;DR: No, a longer coat doesn't meaningfully improve warmth in curly-coated dog breeds like cavoodles, spoodles, and groodles — and a matted, overgrown coat actively makes things worse. Here's the science, and what actually helps.

Every winter, our clients tell us they’ve been growing their dog’s coat out to keep them warmer - which is a completely understandable instinct!

You would think longer coat = more warmth. But we’re here to bust the myth! This is actually not how dog coats work — especially for curly and wavy-coated breeds. Here's what the science says.

‍

Warmth comes from structure, not length

The insulating properties of a dog's coat don't come from how long the fur is. They come from the air trapped within the coat's structure.

According to research cited by thermoregulation specialist Dr David Marlin, the insulative value of a coat is more a property of the air held within its layers than the coat fibres themselves. Still air close to the skin acts as a thermal barrier — and it's the density and architecture of the coat that determines how effectively that air is trapped, not the length of the individual hairs.

This is backed up by comparative biology research: hair length is actually unimportant in thermoregulation. Some tropical mammals have the same fur length as arctic mammals but with far less insulation — what differs is the denseness of the coat, not how long it grows.

So when a Cavoodle's coat grows from 10mm to 30mm, the extra length isn't creating extra insulation. It's just creating extra coat.

Curly-coated breeds don't have an insulating undercoat

Here's where it gets more specific to the breeds we see most at WOOOF.

Double-coated dogs — think Huskies, Golden Retrievers, Bernese Mountain Dogs — have two distinct layers: a coarser topcoat that repels the elements, and a dense, woolly undercoat that acts as insulation. It's the undercoat that does the thermal work in cold weather.

Poodles, and most poodle-cross breeds, don't have this system. Poodles have a single-layer coat of curly hair that grows continuously, with no true undercoat. (Poodle Club; Poodle Center) Most Oodles inherit primarily curly guard hairs from the poodle parent, and at most a minimal amount of woolly undercoat from the other parent — not a full functioning double coat.

This matters because growing the coat longer doesn't replicate what a double coat does. The insulating mechanism simply isn't present in the same way. A Groodle with a 5cm coat isn't the equivalent of a Husky — it's just a Groodle with a 5cm coat!

Matting destroys whatever insulation the coat does have

If the goal is warmth, letting the coat grow unchecked is counterproductive — because long, ungroomed coats mat, and matted coats don't insulate.

When a coat mats, the fibres tangle and compress. The air pockets that provide thermal protection collapse. The coat stops functioning as insulation and starts functioning as a moisture trap. According to Petstock Australia's Master Groomer Emily Myatt: "If the longer, thicker coat gets matted, the coat will no longer act as effective insulation against the cold. Dogs with matted fur also frequently develop skin infections because moisture is held against the skin rather than falling away." (Petstock.com.au)

UK grooming specialists Groomers Online put it plainly: mats pull uncomfortably on the skin and prevent the coat from insulating correctly. A severely matted coat can make a dog susceptible to both the cold and the discomfort of skin problems. (Groomers Online, 2025)

So the choice isn't between "long coat = warm" and "groomed coat = cold." It's between a well-maintained coat that functions as intended, and a matted coat that fails at its job while also causing skin issues.

‍

What about Canberra winters specifically?‍ ‍

Our Manuka salon clients will know that Canberra winters are genuinely cold — average daytime temperatures of 1–12°C, regularly dropping below zero overnight with heavy frosts.

Dogs that are built for these conditions are Arctic and double-coated breeds: Alaskan Malamutes, Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, Bernese Mountain Dogs — breeds with that functioning undercoat system that evolved over generations in cold climates.

Curly-coated breeds don't have the same physiological equipment. And importantly, a dog that spends most of its winter life indoors — which most Australian suburban dogs do — has far less thermoregulatory demand from their coat than the temperature outdoors might suggest.

For genuine cold-weather protection, a well-fitting dog jacket or coat is actually a more practical and controllable solution for curly-coated breeds than letting their own coat grow out. It provides real warmth, can be put on and taken off, and doesn't carry the matting and skin risks of an overgrown coat.

‍ ‍

What does actually help your dog stay comfortable in winter‍ ‍

Regular grooming every 6–8 weeks — keeps the coat clean, mat-free, and functioning properly
A well-fitted dog coat or jacket for cold morning walks and frosty mornings
A warm, dry sleeping area off cold floors
Monitoring skin condition — indoor heating dries the skin, and ungroomed coats can trap moisture against it, both of which cause irritation and hotspots
Keeping groom length sensible — at WOOOF, we recommend staying within a range that allows us to properly work through the coat, check the skin, and avoid shave-downs

‍

The spring shave-down problem

One more thing worth flagging: the dogs that come in most distressed in September and October are almost always the ones whose grooms were put off all winter "to keep them warm." By that point, the coat is typically so matted that there's no alternative but a short shave-down — which leaves them far more exposed heading into spring than a consistent winter groom schedule ever would have.

The kindest thing for your dog's coat — and skin — is a consistent groom every 6–8 weeks, year-round. A trimmed, healthy coat at a sensible length will always outperform a long, matted one.

‍ ‍

FAQ

Does a longer coat keep a poodle or oodle warmer in winter? Not meaningfully. Warmth comes from air trapped within the coat's structure, particularly in a dense undercoat. Poodles and most oodle breeds don't have a true undercoat, so growing the coat longer doesn't add thermal insulation in the way it would for a double-coated breed.

‍ ‍

Is it okay to keep my dog's coat slightly longer in winter? A modest increase in coat length is fine and won't cause problems. The issue is skipping grooms altogether and allowing the coat to mat. A groomed coat at a sensible length will always insulate better than a long, matted one.

‍ ‍

What actually keeps curly-coated dogs warm in winter? A clean, mat-free, well-maintained coat — combined with practical measures like a dog jacket for cold walks, a warm sleeping spot, and keeping them comfortable indoors. Regular professional grooming is the foundation.

‍ ‍

How often should I groom my cavoodle, spoodle or groodle in winter? Every 6–8 weeks, the same as the rest of the year. Curly and wavy coats continue growing regardless of season, and winter conditions (mud, wet, indoor heating) actually make regular grooming more important, not less.

‍ ‍

Should I put a jacket on my dog in winter? For curly-coated single-layer breeds in cooler climates like Canberra, a well-fitted jacket on cold mornings is a practical and effective warmth measure. It can be used when needed and removed indoors — something a dog's own coat can't do.‍ ‍

WOOOF is a professional dog grooming studio with locations in Redfern (Sydney) and Manuka (Canberra). Our groomers work with curly, wavy, and single-layer coats every day. Book your next appointment now.

Frederica Heacock