Course 16 · Curly and Doodle Coats · Lesson 2 of 12

How do you tell a curly, wavy and fleece coat apart?

Published 29 October 2026 · Updated 29 October 2026 · About 6 minutes · General information only. This lesson does not diagnose or treat any condition.

You can tell curly, wavy, and fleece coats apart by looking at curl shape, feeling the texture, and watching how the coat behaves when it is dry, damp, and freshly combed. A curly coat forms tight spirals or ringlets. A wavy coat forms loose bends and soft waves. A fleece coat feels soft and silky, often with loose waves or loose curls, and it may look fluffy rather than tightly curled. The label matters less than the pattern you can see and feel on your own dog.

What does a curly coat look and feel like?

A curly coat has distinct, repeating curls that spring back after combing. The hair may form corkscrew shapes, tight loops, or dense ringlets, and the coat often stands away from the body rather than lying flat. When dry, it can look full and textured. When wet, the curls usually tighten and the coat looks shorter. The texture can range from soft to coarse, and density varies a great deal. Dense curly coats hide mats easily, because the surface can look even while the base is tangled. A useful test is to part the coat and watch how quickly the curl pattern returns. In a truly curly coat, the pattern returns promptly and holds its shape without product. Combing should reach the skin, because a curly coat that is only brushed on the surface will still mat at the base. Length also changes the appearance. A short curly coat may look neat and springy, while a longer version of the same coat looks fuller and needs more frequent combing.

What does a wavy coat look and feel like?

A wavy coat has gentle, open bends rather than tight spirals. It may fall in soft S shapes, lie closer to the body, and look less dense than a curly coat of the same length. Some wavy coats look almost straight when freshly brushed and then regain a wave as the day goes on, especially in damp air. The hair often feels smoother between the fingers, and loose hair may slide out more readily than in a tight curl. That does not mean a wavy coat is mat free. Wavy coats still tangle at friction points, and longer wavy hair can knot behind the ears and under the legs. The difference is one of degree and speed. Tangles in a wavy coat are often looser and easier to work through early, but they still tighten if they are left, bathed over, or rubbed with a towel. Wavy coats also show partings and feathering more clearly, so uneven lengths and missed patches are easier to see after a trim. Checking the coat when it is fully dry gives the clearest picture of its true wave and length.

What does a fleece coat look and feel like?

A fleece coat is best recognised by touch. The hair feels very soft, silky, and fine, almost like a soft textile, and it may have a loose wave or a soft curl that does not hold a tight spiral. Fleece coats often look fluffy and light, and they can appear longer than they feel because the hair is fine and airy. The softness is appealing, but fine hair can tangle readily, especially when it is long, damp, or rubbed by a collar. Fleece coats may also change with age, clipping, and seasons, so a puppy coat and an adult coat on the same dog can behave differently. Do not judge a fleece coat by softness alone. Part it, comb it to the skin, and note whether the hair clumps, separates cleanly, or forms small knots at the base. A fleece coat that separates cleanly after combing and stays separated is easier to maintain. One that clumps again quickly will need shorter intervals between combing sessions and a shorter maintainable length.

How can you record what coat your dog has?

Coat labels from breeders or sellers are a starting point, not a diagnosis. Mixed coats are common, and one dog can have a curly chest, a wavy back, and a softer fleece texture on the legs. A simple record helps you choose a routine and explain the coat to a groomer. Use this checklist during a calm check when the coat is clean and dry:

• Curl shape: tight spirals, loose waves, or soft and fluffy with little curl.
• Texture: coarse, medium, soft, or very fine and silky.
• Density: sparse, medium, or dense when you part the coat to the skin.
• Behaviour when wet: curls tighten, waves deepen, or coat lies flat.
• Behaviour after combing: pattern springs back, stays smooth, or clumps again.
• Tangle spots: chest, ears, armpits, belly, legs, collar line, or harness line.
• Length you can maintain: the length that stays mat free with your real routine.

Photograph the coat in daylight from the side and from above, and note the date and whether the coat was freshly combed. Over a few weeks, the pattern becomes clear, and changes after clipping or seasonal shedding are easier to track.

What are the limits of home coat identification?

Home identification describes a pattern. It does not diagnose a skin condition, explain sudden hair loss, or predict how a coat will change after illness, diet change, or medication. Sudden changes in coat texture, patchy loss, redness, flaking, sores, or a strong smell need vet advice, not a grooming adjustment. If the coat is matted to the skin, identification should wait until a groomer has assessed it safely. Do not force a comb through a dense mat to prove a curl type. Note also that coat names vary between breeders, groomers, and owners, so the same dog may be described differently by different people. Use your own observations, the checklist above, and the groomer’s description together, and keep the routine matched to what you actually find.

Learning to name the pattern on your own dog makes every later lesson easier to apply. A tight curl needs the closest combing routine, a wave needs regular checks at friction points, and a fleece coat needs gentle handling because fine hair tangles quietly. Start with what you can see and feel, record it simply, and let the routine follow the coat in front of you.

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