Preliminary study of guard hair morphology in four dog breeds.

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Morphological differences between mammalian hair types are useful for species distinction. Differences in animal hair structure are observed between species, whereas there may be breed differences within a species. HYPOTHESIS: Guard hair structure may vary between different dog breeds. ANIMALS: Hair samples were collected from 73 dogs of four breed types (wire-haired Dachshund, Labrador retriever, German shepherd dog and Yorkshire terrier). METHODS: Hair was measured and analysed by scanning electron microscopy. The following were evaluated: hair thickness; medulla to hair cross-sectional area ratio; scale density, pattern and margins; and medulla shape, composition and structure. RESULTS: There were significant differences in all measured parameters between breeds. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: These study findings may be useful for the study of classifying dog breeds and for forensic identification of a dog breed through hair sampling.