A coat with only one layer of hair — no separate undercoat. Found in Poodles, Yorkshire Terriers, Maltese, and Soft Coated Wheaten Terriers. Hair grows continuously rather than shedding seasonally.
Single coats mat differently than double coats — tangles form in the hair shaft itself rather than from trapped undercoat. They require more frequent trimming.
Single-coated breeds need professional grooming every 4–6 weeks because hair grows continuously like human hair.