Dog blowing summer coat, winter coat seems shorter and thinner!

Question
We have a rescue dog we adopted in July of 2006. He is part Chow, and we aren't sure what else (possibly husky but thats a very uneducated guess, so probably wrong). He had a thick long coat when we got him, and he was an outside only dog. he is 1-2 years old. He has been blowing his summer coat like crazy the past few weeks, but now that most of it is out, it seems that his new coat is shorter and lighter! We bring him in for a few hours each day twice a day, but he stays outside every night and for a good part of the day. Is this normal? is bringing him in for a few hours each day throwing off his body clock somehow? He is our first dog here in Alaska. We aren't sure if we should be worried. He eats only Iams dry dog food and some bones with meat and a few table scraps (eggs, meat, etc.) I do try to brush him but he has low tolerance for sitting still to be brushed.
What do you think about this coat that seems lighter and shorter than the one he had this summer?
Thanks for your time!
Joanna

Answer
Hi Joanna,  It sounds like he was blowing his puppy coat, which happens around a year of age.  It is a thicker coat than any coat they will ever produce.  He probably will get a thicker coat as winter keeps progressing.  Unless we are going to have a light winter.  If he is staying outside, then his body will naturally compensate and adjust.  Hope this helps,

Dawn