First is to have the animal checked to insure there is no underlying disease that is the root of why the coat is not growing.  Anemia, thyroid etc. are all instantly recognized through reflection in the coat. 

Also, many of the commercial foods are too high in proteins for our typical canine, even those under stress of being shown. And yes those  stresses can affect the canine coat as well :-)) Don't think it is only humans that feel stress and respond through poor hair! 

Since earliest primitive times people have connected the sheen of their animal's coats with good dietary practices and health. Changes in an animal's hair or fur almost always signalled nutritional deficiencies or disease. 

The coat hair is the external manifestation of how and what they eat. External hair beauty is a direct reflection of internal health.  Popping daily vitamins and minerals is a wonderful way to strengthen and enhance growing hair follicles. Unfortunately vitamin   supplements may not be enough.  It's essential to get proper nutrients directly from the foods that we eat. Hair is 98% Protein The best advice is to feed well-balanced diets that incorporate healthy proteins along with foods high in vitamin B, C, E, A and K.  Hair instantly responds to the addition of protein rich foods such as  meats, eggs, cheese, seeds and nuts. Fish packs a double punch of protein combined with health building essential fatty acids and natural oils. 

Vitamin B Scientific studies have shown B vitamin deficiencies in the diet can lead to hair problems ranging from mild to severe. A supplement plan to incorporating B complex food choices.   Jumpstart hair health by chowing down on green vegetables, beans, sunflower seeds, nuts and peas. These foods are all high in the B complex family which includes thiamin, riboflavin, niacin, niacinamide, pyridoxine, and pantothenic acid, cobalamin, folic acid, biotin, choline, inositol and para-aminobenxoic acid. Although less popular, raw wheat germ, brewers yeast, kelp and desiccated liver are fabulous hair foods that offer a great source of rich vitamin B. 

Vitamin C Vitamin C is a great antioxidant promoting tissue and cell repair and growth. It also strengthens the overall immune system, and assists in metabolizing B vitamins and amino acids into the body.  Citrus fruits like oranges, lemons, limes, melons and berries (including black currants) are power packed sources of C. Brussels sprouts, red peppers, kale, cauliflower, tomatoes and cucumbers are additional choices for adding vitamin C foods to the diet. Care must be given to any canine having or known to have bladder or urinary problems such as stones which can be exasperated by the addition of vitamin c. 

Vitamin A - Bugs Bunny Had It Right Bugs Bunny was on the right track with his lust for carrots. Load up on these orange beauty aides for super shiny tresses.  There is nothing better than a sweet mix of freshly squeezed carrot juice mixed with a little lemon or grapefruit juice to cut the sweetness. Whether you feed them raw or juiced, carrots are low in calories and chock full of great cell building Vitamin A.  If you'd rather leave all the orange goodies for that famous cartoon rabbit, you can substitute other Vitamin A rich foods such as sweet potatoes, squash, broccoli, cantaloupe or apricots. 

Vitamin E Vitamin E is known as the "heart healthy" vitamin. It also provides lots of benefits for growing vibrant hair.  Add E to the diet by consuming foods like avocados, rice bran, nuts, dark green vegetables, legumes and whole grains. 

Vitamin K This lesser known vitamin helps to maintain healthy bones, teeth, gums, hair and muscles. Food sources of Vitamin K include seafood, dairy foods, figs, brewer yeast, asparagus, broccoli, lettuce, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, dark green leafy vegetables, egg yolks, oatmeal, rye, soybeans, liver, wheat and yoghurt. 

Iron Healthy hair requires a balanced source of iron in the body. Acquire iron naturally by eating eggs, fish, liver, oysters, meat, poultry, whole grains, green leafy vegetables and blackstrap molasses. 

Magnesium Magnesium deficiencies have been linked to hair problems. Incorporate a proper supply of this important mineral by eating foods that include dairy, meat, fish, fruits, nuts, brewer's yeast, whole grains and green-leafy vegetables. 

Potassium Bananas are the best source for potassium which is important in nutrient transfer through cell membranes and is essential in hormone secretion. Potassium is found in dairy, fish, meat, poultry, dulse, kelp, blackstrap molasses, oranges and Tortula yeast. 

Water Chemicals, pollutants and toxins all get trapped in the body. Water helps all chemical wastes, pollutants, toxins and other impurities be whisked out of the body. When you keep your dog well hydrated and clear of toxins, your live is free to help process all the proper nutrients that your body needs. Hydration is one of the reasons for not using water bottles on a continual basis with your coated canines, let them have some real drinks. Most canines using only water bottles for drinking are found to be somewhat dehydrated. 

Essential Fats (EFAs) Along with proper diet healthy hair needs two essential fatty acids, omega-3 and omega-6, that are not produced naturally by the canine. Omega-3 fats are found mostly in algae, cold-water fish, dark-green vegetables, hemp oil and pumpkin seed oil. Flax oil is consider the most concentrated source of omega-3 found in nature. Omega-6 fats include borage, evening primrose oil, safflower oil, sunflower seeds, hemp seeds, corn and pumpkin seeds. Other foods rich in essential fatty acids include English walnuts, kidney beans, navy beans, soybeans, and evening primrose oil. 

Cold-pressed vegetable oils are also essential to a hair/coat healthy diet. Lack of these oils causes dull, lifeless hair along with parched, rough skin. Add a teaspoon to the food daily and the coat will instantly benefit. 

Knowing What To Feed Combing a well balanced protein based diet with fresh seasonal fruits and veggies is a great insurance policy for growing fabulous coat.  Most seasonal fruits and vegetables cover the full range of vitamins, minerals and trace elements needed for good health and great hair. Consuming foods rich in copper, zinc and other natural food elements is also helpful. Raw nuts, seed and grains are the safest foods to select for maintaining and growing healthy hair. They furnish hormones, enzymes, vitamins, minerals, many of which are not contained in cooked and processed foods. 

Conclusion While popping daily hair vitamins and minerals is a great way to help strengthen and enhance hair follicles, it is also important to eat hair healthy foods. Protein rich foods succulent fresh fruits and vegetables as well as other live foods like wheat germ, honey, molasses and yogurt instantly crank up the health and shine on your mane. 

It is also important to include B-6, biotin, inositol and folic acid in the supplemental program. It has been found that certain minerals including magnesium, sulfur, silica and zinc are also very important toward maintaining healthy hair. 

Beta-carotene is also important to hair growth. This is because beta-carotene is converted to vitamin A as the body needs it, helps maintain normal growth and bone development, protective sheathing around nerve fibers, as well as promoting healthy skin, hair and nails. Beta-carotene is found in green and yellow vegetables and fruits. 

Protein Is Important Since hair is protein, a diet that is too low in protein may cause a thinning in hair or a retardation in the growth cycle. The converse is true, If you eat a protein-rich diet it will often result in improved hair growth. 

Some nutritional experts suggest the dietary utilization of calves liver, brewer's yeast, wheat germ and a daily dose of two tablespoons of granulated lecithin to maximize hair growth, strength and beauty. Other good food sources for protein include fish, eggs, beans and yogurt. Soy protein has also been found to be helpful in stimulating hair growth. One study of the results of soy on the hair found that it not only strengthened the hair but caused it to grow. A great source of soy is tofu. 

List of Supplements Again, if one reads the ingredients of Mirra-coat and Lixatonic as included in the "Hair On a Doornob" recipe the following will be found: Vitamin B-complex - (including folate, biotin and inositol) Vitamin B-6 Vitamin C with bioflavonoids Vitamin E Beta-Carotene Magnesium Sulfur Zinc Silica (horsetail) Nettle Flaxseed oil Beta-Carotene 

Coat Growing Tips Here are some other hair growing tips: 
1. Feed a healthy diet. Avoid foods that are high in sugar or fat. 
2. Treat the coat like a piece of fine old lace. Treat it carefully avoiding any unnecessary brushing, combing or handling. 
3. Avoid use of hot water, hot blow dryers or other hair care tools that may stress the hair. 
4. Have a weekly hot oil coat massage to provide stimulation to the hair follicles and protect the hair's shaft. 
5. Have regular trims of long coats to eliminate split ends and allow the coat to look and feel healthier. 
6. Do NOT clog up the follicular pores with oils or other products. 

Rievaulx Yorkshire Terriers:  http://rievaulx.org/
 

... a clean coat is a good start ... 
 

HOW DOES THE DOG'S COAT GROW? 

The  hair  of  a dog does not grow continuously, but in cycles, similar to our eyebrows.  Anagen  is the first phase, in which the hair is produced. It grows along side the old hair which is subsequently lost. Catagen is an intermediate stage  in the cycle, and telogen is the resting phase in which the follicle is basically  dormant.  The  hair  follicles are not all in the same phase at the same time, which is why we do not see a lot of bald dogs! 

A dog's coat has several functions:- thermal insulation;- protection against injuries, UV sunlight;- social role for the dog (that raises its hackles when there is a conflict), and for the owner, very sensitive to the aspect and the beauty of his dog. 

Any alteration of the coat should be taken as an alarming sign, but this sign is not specific at all. The hair is told to be “the health's mirror. Dull or brittle hair can be caused by a dietary unbalance, but also by various diseases from digestive, hepatic, renal, thyroidal, immune, or parasitic origin. These alterations appear rather late in the course of the disease, as hair growth is rather slow. It is the same for the dietary supplements that aim at improving the aspect of the coat: 4 weeks at least are necessary before their effects become obvious. Let's study some data about anatomy and physiology of the hair. 

In dogs, follicles are compound ones. There is 1 central follicle that produces primary hair or guard hair. There are 2 lateral ones, that produce 5 to 25 secondary hair each, also called under hair. 

Cyclic activity of the hair follicle The cellular renewing starts in the hair bulb. The hair matrix cells are actively dividing and differentiating along their vertical migration. The cells from the exterior part of the hair contain pigments, responsible for the hair pigmentation. 
30 % of the daily proteic requirement of an adult dog would be used for the renewal of the skin and the hair. 

There are 3 steps in the cyclic activity of the hair follicle: - a growth phase; - an intermediate phase; - a resting phase. 

The duration of the growth phase is determined genetically, and varies according to the hair length, i.e. according to the breeds and the individuals. The longer the coat, the slower the growth is. 

During the intermediate phase, the matrix cells stop multiplying. Pigments synthesis stops and the upper part of the hair becomes white. 

During the resting phase the hair is still there, but only anchored by a keratin internal root sheath. It will fall when the follicle comes back to the growth phase; then, a new hair will push the old one out. 

In Dog as in Man, the follicle activity is independent from its neighbour ones, so the coat renewal takes place imperceptibly. However, the proportions of the hair in the different phases vary considerably, from one season to another. At spring (May-June), and at fall (November-December), 90 % of the hairs are in growth phase. When a new hair push an old one out, it is shedding time. At fall, shedding gives birth to a longer, thicker coat. On the contrary, at spring, lots of follicles get atrophied after hair fall. 

The determinism of the follicular cycle Of course, health and beauty of the hair rely on the balance of the diet: proteins (rich in sulfurated amino-acids), essential fatty acids, cupper, B vitamins intake must be regular and sufficient. But other elements are also very important. 

More than temperature fluctuations, the duration of daylight has got much influence: probably through secretion of melatonine by the hypothalamus. 

Other hormonal factors can interfere: - thyroidic hormones and growth hormone stimulate the activity of the hair follicles, whereas corticoids and sexual hormones slow it down; - when the prolactine level stays high in the blood (hormone produced by lactating bitches), the coat looks like the summer one, rather thin and sparse. 

Conclusion At last, any stress is likely to put all the follicles in resting phase. Then, abnormal shedding is observed 2 to 3 months after the stressful event (disease, anesthesia, drug administration), when the follicles start to be active again.

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