Coat Changes

[Azure & Muppet]

Our puppy's coat appears to have started changing recently. We noticed it starting to change at about 4 months old when he developed a stripe with a part down the middle of his back that was a different color and texture. The hair in this area is shorter and appears to be new growth. It started out very distinct, but has started to blend more over the last couple weeks as the area has become wider across his back and shoulders. It seems this must be his adult coat coming in and replacing his puppy coat. He is now almost 5 months old (his parents are Tula & Micah). Does this sound similar to what happened with your dog as a puppy at this age?

There are a couple of things that are a little surprising about the way his coat is changing. The biggest surprise is that the new hair appears to be coming in a shade darker (it's still a beautiful color, just different). And he also sheds a lot more than I expected. Is the amount of shedding due to the transition from puppy to adult coat? Will the shedding decrease so he sheds less after his coat is done changing?

I'm interested in other Almond Blossom doodle owners' experiences with their pups during this growth stage.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Lucca 's hair started changing at around 6 months? It's funny how you forget the exact time frame as they get older. He seemed to have a darker stripe down his back and soft waves. His legs were denser with alot more undercoat. They say their adult hair comes in by 8 months or so. He did shed a little, but not alot. His hair lightened as it grew but now (at almost 11 months).. I am noticing the back is darkening again. It is still finer on top and denser on the rest of the body. But..very easy to care for and so beautiful. He does look scraggly most of the time, even after brushing. Cute look:)
When I met up with Joyce and Mochi around 3 weeks ago I noticed Mochi has very fine hair also. I looked at photos when I got home of Lucca at that age and he had the same thing. We're meeting at the dog park this Monday. I'll let you know how he looks now.
I think the first year or so their hair goes through many changes. I'm sure Debbie (Toby) or Liza (Kachi) can confirm that.

[3vy32i3wcjo1x]

YES. Our Hadley is 6 months now and he has the exact same changes in his coat hair...we did notice that he does shed a little more than we expected, but it's not a huge amount. We brush him every week but his hair always goes back to that scraggly "rastafarian" look, which we love :)
The one thing we started noticing is he's starting to mat in some places, especially underneath. Just have to make sure you comb often.

Also -- I'd love to get Hadley to the dog park and meet all of you! Please let me know the next time you all get together and we'll try and be there.

[Carla, Lucca and Izzy]

Azure
I saw Mochi today. His hair is still short and fuzzy but he has a darker undergrowth on top. It hasn't gotten thick yet. He is so cute and has a really long tail!!!

[1wodg1xp1wi8u]

Sydney is from Tula/Micah also. She is about 4 1/2 months and hasn't gone through any real coat changes yet. There is a small patch on her shoulder blades that is a little darker now, but that's about it. I'm glad you started the discussion so I know what to expect. Her puppy coat is very fine and very soft. Her legs have have thicker hair.

[Liza, Halle and Finn]

Kachi, when he was younger (probably around 4 - 6 months of age) also developed a stripe of coarser, slightly darker, fur right down the middle of his back. But, it completely went away, except at the very base of his tail (where it attaches to his back). This has remained coarse. In fact, his entire tail has remained very 'golden retriever'ish in texture. It's really the only part of him that sheds. But as for the rest of his coat, I thought it was changing when he developed that stripe, but it did not. As he has gotten older, his coat has gotten lighter in color, and is very, very soft, and the stripe disappeared!! He does appear to be curlier now, but that may be because he swims everyday, and he just air dries!

[Joyce,David"Mochi,Latte,Popcorn"]

Mochi's also going through all these changes you and others mentioned here, his new hair colors are much darker, and wavier too.

You can spend some time going through older siblings' puppy pictures and see which one Muppet looks like the most. That's what I did, and I think Mochi will look like Lucca the most (the coat type, not the size, he'll get much bigger than Lucca). We'll see if my prediction is right in a couple months =)

[Joyce,David"Mochi,Latte,Popcorn"]

Mochi doesn't shed anymore, at least for now.

[Kathie and the gang]

HI, Winston is from Hank/Estee litter 10/10/09. He had a stripe down is back from the first; at 10 months it started to fade. Now at almost a year and with the lst hair cut it is almost gone. The only remaning carmel color is on his tail, at the base of his tail and the tips of his ears. Otherwise he is cream to white in color and fluffy. In fact he looks heavier than he is because he has so much hear. But he is big at 74 pounds.