Any coat longer than one inch at the withers is called a 'bear-coat' and is not considered the breed standard, as it occurs only when both the male and female carry recessive coat genes. This coat length resembles the coat of the Chow Chow and was probably inherited from that breed. The personality of the bear-coat is very much like that of the brush-coat. The personality of the bear-coat is very much like that of the brush-coat. Some people may experience a sensitivity to the harshness of the coat of either length. This is a mild, short-lived rash that can develop on skin that has been in contact with the coat, most commonly on the forearms.