Cream doods and their "dirty" beards!

[K Frey]

Hey all. I really love the look of the lighter, creamy colored doodles. But it seems like they always have a dirty beard. Is there any way to avoid that? And how about their paws? Do they stain just as much?

Just a thought....
Thanks!

Kristin

[Ginny Nightingale]

Funny story about that. As my cream colored doodle was getting her adult coat, i scrubbed her chin and feet to get them white. I then realized that she has apricot "points"--all the hair around her mouth and between her toes is apricot like her ears! So, maybe they aren't dirty after all!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Part of the beard staining is due to enzymes in the saliva, and there's not much you can do about that, short of shaving them. It happens with all dogs that have longer hair around their mouths, but on the reds, chocolates, and golden-colored dogs, you don't see it as much. You'll notice that a lot of black doodles, poodles, & the like also have rusty colored fur around their mouths & on their beards. Dirt can be brushed out in-between baths.
The fur on the paws will stain from saliva, too, if the dog licks them, but if your dog is licking his paws enough to stain them, you have a bigger problem...paw licking is a sign of allergies. Normal dirt on the feet or anywhere else can be washed or brushed off.

[Adina P]

Isn't some of it genetic like the staining around eyes for cream/white dogs? I'd read somewhere that some lines don't have that staining and I think it must be true as I've seen some white doodles with horribly stained faces and others that always look 'clean'.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

I don't know, that's one I haven't heard. Will have to look around for some info on the eye staining; but the enzymes in the saliva should be pretty standard, aside from disease or dietary issues, shouldn't it?

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Here's some info:
Tear staining can be a chronic problem in the Maltese, Lhasa Apso, Shih Tzu and other dogs with a medium to long length white or light colored coat. The first step to removing tear stains or even preventing tear staining involves understanding why a dog's tear stains occur.
A dog's tear staining occurs due to several factors, which include tearing and the growth of bacteria and red yeast in the fur around the dog's eyes.
Dog Allergies, Canine Genetics and Excess Tearing in Dogs
Genetic and environmental factors can cause the dog's eyes to tear excessively
Environmental factors come into play with tear staining in the case of a dog with allergies. Dogs can suffer from seasonal allergies and irritants like pollen; a dog may also have allergies to dust or other similar allergens that irritate the eyes, causing the dog's eyes to tear.
Some dogs are genetically predisposed to excessive tearing. And dog genetics will also determine the dog's coat type. A dog with long hair, like the Maltese, Shih Tzu and Lhasa Apso, can experience eye irritation from long fur on the face that comes in contact with the eyes, leading to tearing and ultimately, tear staining.
Dog breeds with bulging "bug" eyes, like the Shih Tzu and Pug, are also prone to excessive tearing, as the eyes are more exposed and therefore, more prone to irritation.
How Do a Dog's Tear Stains Form? What Causes Tear Staining?
Excessive tearing will moisten the fur around the dog's eyes. The warm, moist fur is prone to bacteria growth and yeast growth, especially the growth of "red yeast."
Red yeast causes tear staining that's reddish brown in color. The red yeast that grows in the fur may be associated with an odor as well. In fact, some other breeds of dogs, like Pugs, may have tear staining on their cheeks due to a growth of red yeast.
Dog owners can remove a dog's tear stains by controlling the growth of yeast in the fur around the dog's eyes.
What Causes Fur Staining Around My Dog's Mouth?In some cases, moisture can lead to a build-up of red yeast around the mouth. But more commonly, dog owners will see a Maltese, Shih Tzu, West Highland White Terrier or Lhasa Apso with discolored fur around the mouth, beard and even on the chest and front legs, as a result of minerals present in the dog's drinking water.
Purified drinking water can help minimize beard staining and staining of fur around the dog's mouth. Dog owners should also be sure to find a dog food without artificial coloring, as dyes in pet foods and treats can stain white dog fur.

Eye Problems and Eye Infections in Dogs With Tear Staining
Dogs who are prone to tear staining are also more prone to eye infections.

Bacteria will grow in the moist, tear stained fur around the dog's eyes; the bacteria then travels into the eye, causing an eye infection. Symptoms of an eye infection include eye redness, eye discharge (often thick, and yellow or green in color), squinting, pawing at the eyes and other signs of eye discomfort.

The moist fur on the dog's face can also cause facial yeast infections. Symptoms of a yeast infection on a dog's face include red, swollen skin, crusting and oozing skin, intense itching and a distinct odor. The yeast infection can also spread to the dog's ears or to the dog's paws, particularly if the dog is pawing or scratching the face.

http://pet-diseases.suite101.com/article.cfm/what_causes_tear_staining_in_dogs

[Kathie and the gang]

My boy seems to go from ok to not so great. Not sure why there would be a difference from one day to the next. I do try to keep his chin as dry as I can wen I'm home. Vet said that dogs with beards can have skin problems from the moisture.

[Tammy & Gracie]

My Gracie has a lightly stained beard and feet. I just live with it. Sometimes though, I vow that my next dog will be the same color as dirt!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

That's how I choose carpeting, too!

[Nancy - Opal, Meadow & Tariki]

My cream dood stains worse in the winter,,, but I believe this is due to the fact that she digs in our field in the summer and the clay removes the staining. Occassionaly I also use Pink Solution to remove or lighten staining and it works really well andis not harnful to the dog. Opal only stains on her chin, woohoo and deep in her paws. The vet told me it is just moisture - water or saliva.

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

"woohoo", hahaha!! ;) What is the Pink Solution?

[Sharon, Boo & Cricket]

Our doods have the red staining, but I've seen some doodles on this forum with perfectly white muzzles. Not sure what their secret is though! :)

[Denise, Winnie, and AngelAbby]

I agree with Ginny as far as Abby is concerned - Abby was much more apricot as a pup. She has really lightened up but her ears - eyelashes - muzzle - between the toes - and under the tail (to be nice) is much more apricot. I don't think it is staining, just apricot points as Ginny puts it. Her muzzle is darker tho when it's wet. (which is most of the time) She has some apricot hair on the backs of her back legs too. Her coloring is definitely her own. lol