black and tan smoothie is showing some wire hairs?

[deannalew]

Hi,
Our 4 mo. old puppy is a black and tan smooth hair.

Yesterday when I was combing Patch's hair outside in the sunlight, I kept noticing some kinky white/gray hairs intersperced with his black coat. Are these wire hairs?
I have never seen this kind of coat before on a smooth, but I am no expert.

Can someone tell me what these hairs are?
There are several of them on his shoulders, down his sides closer to his belly area and in the rear. His back and head are pure black.

These white hairs are not too noticible but there are a lot of them. I really noticed them when I "back brushed" on his shoulders (he loves me to back brush him....kinda like scratching his back... )

Any explaination is appreciated.

Oh, when I got him, we knew he would not be "show quality", but for a pet, so if this just means an imperfect coat for him, that's ok with me. I just wonder if this is common or what?

Thanks for your help.
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[Cindi]

Do you know the types/variety of dogs in his pedigree/background? Having wirehairs, I doubt if what you are seeing has anything to do with your dog having true 'wire hairs' http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif I would imagine that many smooths have the occasional white hair but what you are describing is different from what I have seen. Do they come out easily? And, being a puppy coat, you may see many strange things http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif)

[deannalew]

Well, I do know his litter mate was a long hair red. His father and mother are black and tan smooths. He does have some long hair in his back ground, but I don't know about wire hair. I do not have his pedigree, but do have information to have him AKC registered. I don't know if I am going to do this since he is scheduled for neutering. Obviously I do not plan on breeding him.

Back to Patch's coat.... some of the white kinky hairs will come out easily, but some do not. There are a lot of them and are best seen when he is back brushed (an undercoat???) but can be seen if I am looking for them.

Who knows....I am still puzzled about it and would love some additional input. Curiousity...

[Cindi]

Since neither parent is a wire he cannot be exhibiting wire coat because wire cannot be carried recessively....unlike longhair which CAN be carried recessively by smooths.
And since all varieties are supposed to be double coated, yes it could be part of his undercoat http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif

[deannalew]

Thanks for your information! Now I know that these hairs are part of the undercoat and are not wire hairs.

I wonder what they are?

Do you think he will lose them since he is just a 4 mo old pup?

Should I get one of those brushes designed for dogs with undercoats? Hmmm....

or maybe I should just let it be and not worry about it.... http://dachsie.org/ubb/smilies/smile.gif