Winston has an unbelievably soft coat for a Doberman, and he's the only Dobie that I'm not allergic to - it is a fault though. Dobermans are supposed to have harsh coats. Red and dilutes are often coarser than the black, but yes, they're all pretty coarse. I hive out all the time when I Dober-sit. Bathing frequently can help a bit. I'm not sure about Labs, but I think their top-coat is moderately coarse.