Thursday, July 30, 2009

Dogs and fur?

My friend yelled at me for saying hair when I was referring to a dog's coat. He said that dogs didn't have "hair" they had "fur." I said, well then what do you call a single "fur?" What is a single piece of fur called? Is it a fur, or what?



Dogs and fur?

All mammals have some sort of hair covering some, much, or virtually all of their bodies. The hair on some animals, particularly those traditionally trapped for their pelage, is known as fur, but it's all the same no matter the name.



Hair is made of the protein keratin and dead epidermal or skin cells 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, become horns, fingernails, and toenails.



Human follicles each give rise to 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 has an oil or sebaceous gland to keep skin and hair smooth and elastic. Dog breeds developed to work in water generally have a high oil content in their coat so that water runs of the guard hairs and does not penetrate to the skin.



Dogs 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.



Dog 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. Sassy may be slightly uncomfortable during shedding as the dead hairs can cause her skin to itch. Her owners can help relieve that slight discomfort by brushing her coat.



Shedding seems to be connected to seasonal temperature, but it is actually governed by photoperiod or day length. Dogs that live outside usually shed heavily as days lengthen in spring, but those that live mostly indoors often seem to shed at least a bit all year. Loss of the winter undercoat helps the dog stay cooler in warm, humid weather, a necessity for an animal whose only sweat glands are in the pads of his paws. Female dogs often drop their coats after a heat cycle or after whelping and most dogs will also shed after undergoing anesthesia.



It is in winter that the dog's coat does its job. Muscles in the skin allow Bear to fluff his coat up, thus trapping a layer of air warmed by his body temperature between the skin and the environment. Thus shielded, Bear can choose a spot out of the wind, curl up in a ball, tuck legs under his body, cover nose with tail, and sleep outside in below-zero temperatures.



Hair also protects Sassy from injury to feet, eyes, and ears. Northern breeds tend to have hairy paws to protect their pads from ice and snow. Some breeds have hair inside their ears or across their eyes to protect those tender parts from debris.



Dogs and fur?

dogs have fur, but a single strand is called a hair...



Dogs and fur?

Your friend yelled at you for that? Does he/she have any real problems?



It is both fur and hair. I don't see how it matters anyway.



Dogs and fur?

just a single strain of fur it is called hair.



And some dogs have HAIR not FUR. Hair is when a dog doesnt shed, And fur is when the dog sheds



Dogs and fur?

All dogs have something different. Like my dog has hair, which means it doesn't shed. My friends dog has fur, which means it does shed.



Dogs and fur?

why would your friend yell at you for that? Why does it matter? I think it can be both, and a sing piece of fur is a hair. But I think dogs can have hair or fur. Unless you are taking some kind of test or something I don't see why it would matter. Tell your friend to stop yelling at you for little, stupid things.



Dogs and fur?

i have a poodle.she doesn't shed so she has hair.if they shed it is fur.

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