Bella's hair

[Shawn & Bella]

I am starting to get concerned about her coat along the back of her spine it is appearing that she is losing that hair while she is long and fluffy everywhere else is this common also?  I guess that i may just being paranoid......

 

Thanks

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Is she losing the softer puppy fur and leaving the coarser fur or is the fur actually getting sparse on her back? In your pictures, she looks fine to me. And she sure is a cutie.

[Shawn & Bella]

She is still really soft everywhere the streak down her back is just a little coarse like wise on her legs?

[Adina P]

Sounds pretty normal. Something I'd never noticed about labs before is that they often have a darker streak on their back. Rosco's back hair started changing to coarser darker hair too.

[Fred, Sheila and Baxter]

Baxter has a streak of coarse hair down his back. I guess it is the change in coat.

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

My neighbor has a 6 month old Goldendoodle and she is doing the exact same thing. It is just the coat change. This has been going on for over a month and it started where the tail attaches. It is now moving up the back to the neck. The hair is darker red (she is an apricot) and tighter and coarser. I believe she is an F1B so that would explain the tighter hair. She looks very silly right now with all the crazy whispy hair poking out on the sides and legs. The owner knows zero about Doodles so I have been guiding her through this. She is so worried that something is wrong. She also doesn't know anything about "brushing/combing" a Doodle. And...she is having her first "human" baby in September!!! Ohhhhh, things are going to be crazy. I think Bindi the Doodle may be coming across the street to hang out with Gracie Doodle for a while after the baby is born!

[Shawn & Bella]

lol well I have alot to learn about Bella.....I can give advice about the baby I have a 21 year old daughter.....I will take all the advice with Bella that you have to give....I am glad to hear this is all normal she is looking a lil silly and scruffy at this time I will keep posting pic's so you can see the progress..... Have a wonderful day.....

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Shawn...something I was just thinking about. If you have not had Bella to a groomer yet you might want to start taking her. At least, if you plan to have them groom her in the future. It is much easier when they are little puppies to introduce them to groomers and get them use to the tools, noise, smells, etc. Gracie went to a groomer for the first 2 years but I now do it myself. She hates to go because of the barking dogs and noise. She doesn't like to be around dogs that bark. But, because she has been disciplined for grooming from the groomer, she is very easy for me to work with. She holds beautifully when you ask her to...especially when I have to use the scissors. I took Gracie to just get a touch up starting around 4 months old. If you do that your Bella won't look so scruffy all the time. Just tell them to "clean her up" or "even her up" a bit. Just a full on puppy clean up cut. I had my neighbor do that to hers.

I think I will also be advising her on her baby if asked. I have three grandsons 6, 4, 2 and one on the way in December. Though they live in Boston and I in San Diego, I do go back there all the time. I know all about the diapers, bathing, feeding...you name it. My kids are 32 and 35!!!! Plus I have a 1 year old grand pup who I am up in San Jose dog sitting for a week right now. She is my daughter's Rhodesian Ridgeback Luna. She and her husband are back in NYC/CT for a wedding (they lived in NYC for 10 years). I am just an "all around Grandma" I guess!! Post pictures of little Bella!

[Shawn & Bella]

Thanks you don't think she is two young for the groomer? I sure hope I can find a good one I live in Augusta GA doodles are not very popular just yet! It is disappointing I have no doods for her to romp with looks like Atlanta will be the closest romp for us!!! Have you checked out Bella's lastest pics from last week?

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

Yes, I just went and looked at your page. Very cute little girl! Have you done a member search for Augusta? Somehow I feel I have seen and greeted members from that area in the past. Just be sure to take a picture to who ever the groomer is. If they are not familiar with Doodles and how they should look, you could get a Poodle back or a Bichion or something looking different than a Doodle. Find a picture that you like that has the type hair that Bella has and print it out and take it with you. You have to be extremely specific as to what you want and don't want. As a first time Doodle owner you end up learning the hard way. But the good thing is, it all grows back. I have always used the same groomer and you would think she would automatically know what my likes/dislikes are. Noooooo, sometimes I get Gracie back with a shaved butt!! Not acceptable. I always now ask for a mini-sanitary and I emphasize that I don't want to see any skin. I like her fluffy butt. Have you checked out all the conversations i the Grooming Group? You can spend hours and hours there reading about the stories and questions. Have fun!!

[Shawn & Bella]

Sorry wasn't sure if you think Bella is too young for the groomer?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

We took Ned to the groomer at 3 1/2 months. They don't need to cut their hair necessarily but they can bath and get them used to going to a groomer.

[Shawn & Bella]

Ok I will for sure take her then!