Any dog can have sensitive skin, but some breeds tend to have more sensitive skin than others. If your dog has a white or light-colored coat and pink skin, a very sparse coat or no coat, he may be more sensitive to everything: dry air, wind, sun, and irritation from products such as shampoos and conditioners. Breeds that may have more sensitive skin include:
Afghans
Basset Hounds
Bichons Frise
Boston Terrier
Bulldogs
Chinese Cresteds
Cocker Spaniels
Dalmatians
English Bulldogs
English Springer Spaniels
French Bulldog
Golden Retrievers
Great Pyrenees
Italian Greyhounds
Komondor
Manchester Terrier
Pekingese
Pembroke Welsh Corgi
Pugs
Saint Bernard
Saluki
Sharpei
Tibetan Terriers
Tibetan Terriers
West Highland White Terriers
Whippets
White Poodles
Yellow Labrador Retrievers
That’s not to say that every pink-skinned or light-coated individual will have sensitive skin, or that your black Lab won’t have sensitive skin. An injury or a flea infestation can cause any dog to develop skin problems. But for those breeds with sensitive skin, take extra care to proceed gently so as not to aggravate the skin.
Excerpted from The Simple Guide to Grooming Your Dog, published by TFH Publications. Used with permission.
