Shes Bald!

Belgians (the long haired varities) have coats similar to collies.  Dess did not really put in coat until 4 years old. It is not uncommon to have coat develop over years.  Coat changes significantly after spaying and neutering.  This is noticable in young dogs who are altered prior to reaching sexual maturaty as well.  Dess's coat has never been as plush or full as some of the dogs who are primarily conformation dogs.  However, Dess's coat is correct.  It has a harsh over coat and a dense undercoat.  The only time a matt has ever occurred has been during the drying process of grooming.  And those come right out with a comb or other tool.  I can bring him home from herding with mud to his eye brows; once he is dry, he brushes clean enough for the house in under twenty minutes.  Many of the belgians with long plush coats have soft coats.  That means far more coat care due to matting.  The collies in this area from working lines (those that actually herd) have coats that are more like Dess's.  The same is true of shelties.  The conformation dogs have thick, plush, incorrect coat from a working, all weather standpoint. In Belgians there has been an improvement in coat with the importing of European dogs; to bad they had straight shoulders too.