Coat comparison: 8 mons vs 13 mons

[BG and Gavin]

A few weeks ago someone posted asking about coat change and how their golden doodle had coarse hair on their back and wondered if it would take on a different look over time.   I just couldn't locate it in a search so I am posting a before and after photo of Gavin.  As you can see his coat has changed alot in colour, style and texture.  Only one problem...it's matting like crazy right now.  How long does the matting stage last :( ??

 

Gavin at 8 months

 

Gavin at 13 months

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

WOW! Now that is a huge difference! I am so excited to see what will happen with Owen's coat. Kona just did not have the same situation at all. Although his coat changed dramatically it didn't happen until he was almost two and finished when he was 3. He also never shed, ever. You are so thoughtful to share this! Thank you very much.

[Bonnie and Kona]

I just went on your page Brucegirl and I think Gavin is just gorgeous! If Owen comes out half that cute we are gonna be proud doodle owners! I see in his baby pictures that Gavin has the same baby downy hair... the fluff looks much the same as Owen's current foof that is shedding all over the place. It's like a powderpuff.

[Barb @ Gemstone Labradoodles]

Food and grooming products make a huge difference in the coat. I'm not saying your dog is on the wrong food or you are using the wrong products. It is just something for you to think about. You could experiment with this. I was feeding a young dog of mine a chicken based diet. Her coat changed to shedding and coarse on her back at 4 months. I switched her to a turkey based diet and now at 8 months, I see the coat coming in is much softer and finer.

 

The colour is in the DNA. Many doodles and poodles fade with time. That is called the greying gene. It is denoted by Gg. If the dog has a 'G' they will grey or turn lighter and if they have 2 copies of 'g' they will stay dark. Dark coats are recessive. Unfortunatly we cannot test for this gene.

After the coat change is finished, it gets better. But.... and this is a big but...you have to let the coat mat a bit so you have some way to pull the puppy coat out. This is best done at about 2 inches. Any shorter and you might not get enough matting and any more and it gets away from you. If the coat never mats, then you IMO you cannot solve the problem. Shaving is always a short term resolution because those puppy coat hairs are still in there waiting to grow and mat in with the adult coat.

[Bonnie and Kona]

Well, we have been feeding Orijen so I think that might be as good as we can do without cooking for the dogs. I am thinking of changing to Natural Balance Duck based food because of the dry winter air in the house. That, and it is about $25 cheaper/bag than I am currently paying for the Orijen! I see that it is on the recommended food list so assume it is safe. Owen started the coat change at 14 weeks. That appears to be unheard of here. I know nothing! I should have documented all of Kona's coat stuff but that was BDK (before DoodleKisses). Maybe I should use some kind of spray on them during the winter???

[Toni McCann]

It is hard to believe it is the same doodle. Teddy started out all white and fluffy. Now his back is the same color and texture as Gavin at 8 months. I was wondering if he will be the same color as Gavin at 8 months. Teddy is now 8 months so I guess it is a wait and see. Gavin coat is beautiful in both pictures!

[BG and Gavin]

The first hair cut (which would have been shortly after the first picture was taken) revealed the change in coat.  By the second hair cut, that is what we were left with.  It looks the same now (although a bit longer for the winter) but is not matting as much.  Also I have been trimming his head and face hair, but his body hair hasn't seemed to be getting much longer in the past couple of months.

Gavin was kind enough to pose for a couple of updated photos  (17 months old now).  The background isn't as good but...

 

 

[Bonnie and Kona]

Just beautiful!

[Debbie and Lexie]

what a difference.  his coat and coloring is very similiar to Lexie's.

[BG and Gavin]

Barb, what type of grooming products would you recommend for a coat like Gavin's?  Do you use some type of finishing spray or anything or do you just let things go natural?

[Shelby and Kev]

Wow!  That is a big color change.. Shelby didnt have  it like this but Gavin has a wonderful coat!  Matting is just has to do with brushing with a sliker brush.  Shelbs gets brushed out by her daddy everynight!  Regular brushing makes it such less a pain with all the long hair.  It is a chore but I dont mind doing it at all...

[Camilla and Darwin]

Wow, that is a big change. He looks lighter and more curly...