I think it's quite a common thing just depends on the breed.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coat_(dog)
My dog doesn't have one (I think) which is why he seems to feel the cold in the winter alhough he's lovely and warm to sit next to.
I googled gsps and reckon that it stands for german shorthaird pointer woofgang?
One of my heinz rescue mutts has very dubious origin/pedigree but she has no undercoat and in fact is nearly completely bald on her chest and belly - just some very fine whispy hair. When she swims she is literally soaked to the skin ie as wet as a human head would be under a shower (but with less hair). I thought that if I knew breeds that don't have an undercoat then it might help me suss out a bit of her parentage!
Don't think my Jack Russell has an undercoat, not that I've noticed anyway!
He has very fine hair on his chest/belly too, and under his "armpits" is almost bald!
Like your dog he gets literally soaked to the skin after being in water, and yet his fur takes ages to dry, even though he is short haired.
What's a sighthound Pasta? Excuse my ignorance but until a few weeks ago I thought that lurchers were a distinct breed, then it was explained to me that they are greyhound crossed with another breed, is that right?
My Hamish had chest hair, but none on his belly. He was always too hot and I forked out a fortune for a cool bed for him. He absolutely hated hot weather and loved the snow. He was half Norfolk Terrier, but there was no indication as to what his other half was - maybe it was husky. Only kidding!
A lurcher is (loosely) a dog crossed with a sighthound such as a grey or a whippet....or even a deerhound. It's not a breed as such. My Sally is supposed to be a whippetX-with what I don't know...and she is the size of a small grey. So she could be a whippet/greyX.
Aah, thanks for that Pasta, so a lurcher could be different sizes depending on its parentage? I know someone who has recently got a greyhound/blue merle collie cross, she is gorgeous, with long legs that she doesn't seem to have full control over yet!
Slinky - Bella definitely feels the cold and would tunnel down under our duvet if she could - even on the hottest days of the year. Also, she dries out in no time from being completely soaked through.