This is what is happening to my chocolate Doodle...

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Bev, what I know about this you could put in a thimble.  I have read, the change happens between 1 and 3 years.  The cause is a dilution gene.  The chocolates that are born almost black sometimes stay chocolate.  The lighter brown often lighten up to cafe, or lavender or parchment, and I am assuming a mixture of these is possible because Seda has chocolate, parchment and cafe colors.  Her mother is being called parchment/lavender.  Her dad looks almost white, all over.  Her grandpa retained the chocolate color on his legs, and ears--as best  I can tell.  Anything seems to be possible.  OH, and if there are black nosed poodles in the family tree, the chocolate color may stay chocolate?  I think I read that.   I guess I should do some research on this.  Don't we have a genetics expert on DK?

[Bev and Tess]

Thanks Linda, Tess was dark brown but not really the almost black that I have seen. Her ears and nose area have tuned a reddish brown, while she has a lot of lighter brown coming in .....but near her skin (her roots) it gets dark again. Even where she got the whitish gray hairs she is darker again near her skin. Just a wait and see I guess.

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Silver and blue poodles can take three years to 'clear' to their true color.

[Bev and Tess]

Now is that true with a ALD?

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Seda is an ALD so I am guessing yes.

[Linda, Webber and Seda]

Here is some interesting stuff on colors of chocolate doodles:http://www.sunsethills.biz/Labradoodle%20Colors/colours_of_the_labr...

[Bev and Tess]

Thanks!!!!

[Traci -Bexter & Maggie]

Beautiful!

[Jennifer,Chloe & Myla]

This is neat! I didn't know they change that much!