glatthaar

Glatthaar is a German term used to describe a coat type in mammals, especially dogs, meaning smooth-haired. The word combines glatt, meaning smooth, with haar, meaning hair. In dog breed terminology, glatthaar denotes a short, close-fitting, smooth coat that lies flat against the body.

Characteristics of a glatthaar coat include being relatively short and even in length, with a sleek appearance. The coat is typically dense enough to provide weather protection, while the hair does not form long or prominent guard hairs as seen in longer-coated breeds. Some varieties may have a light undercoat, but the overall look is compact and low-profile. Color patterns vary by breed, and coat texture is generally easy to maintain compared with longer or wire-haired varieties.

In German-speaking kennel and hunting-dog contexts, glatthaar is used to distinguish smooth-coated varieties from other coat types such as drahthaar (wire-haired) and langhaar (long-haired). It is not a separate breed but a coat classification that can apply to several breeds, including those developed for pointing and versatile hunting work. The German Shorthaired Pointer (Deutsch Kurzhaar) is often associated with a glatthaar coat, though formal breed standards focus on overall build and function as well as coat type.

Care for glatthaar coats typically involves regular brushing to remove loose hair, periodic bathing as needed, and targeted grooming to manage shedding. The coat generally requires less maintenance than long or heavily undercoated types.

See also: coat types, German Shorthaired Pointer, drahthaar, langhaar.