darkening and white hairs

[Apricot and Red Doodles]

Is anyone else's doodle getting darker? I thought Noah was fading, but now at 7 months, his adult coat is nearly in and he's getting really dark. Some one asked me today if I dyed Noah's hair because he had never seen a dog with such a rich red/orange color. Also, Noah has a few random white hairs that I've been pulling out - is that bad to do?

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Look at Ruby on Pam and Ruby's page. Ruby is dark red but has a white tip on her tail. I heard that the reds usually face. I thought Ned (apricot) was fading until I looked at his puppy pictures. His ears seemed darker then but actually his body fur has "reddened" up some.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Duh. FADE not face. Guess I don't proof my work very well!

[fergie11]

Jane - you're so lucky. I really wish my doodles wouldn't fade but Fergie did and I'm assuming Lucy will to. Oh well, their temperament is much more important.

[HANNAH 8/2/07 & HONEY 7/2/08]

Hannah was much darker when I first got her, after her hair cut is when she started going lighter, and I'm not sure about Honey, although she has a white patch on her chest, some on her paws and a tad right under her chin. I really hope she gets darker, but it seems she is getting lighter...her ears and tail are still darker though.

[Pam & Ruby]

Hi Jane, Ruby is 14 months and hasn't darkened or lightened since we got her at 4 months. I've been told it's common for them to lighten, but since she hadn't at 4 months, the breeder thought she'd hold her color. Noah's color in the pictures look a lot like Ruby!

[Noble Vestal Labradoodles]

there is a gene that controls wether a dog will get darker or lighter. The white hairs you mentioned are called Kemp.

[Teresa (TuscanRidgeLabradoodes)]

My reds get darker starting around 5 months of age. A darker coat comes thru. Once the puppy coat is cut.....the new coat is redder. They go thru another coat change around 11 months of age. The red will fade however when the get to be around 2 - 2 1/2 years of age just like my husband who was a flaming red head as a child and is now a strawberry blond.

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

There is always spray paint and "jello" dye. LOL

[Charles Rocheville]

That is what my wife used to do. Pulling out white hairs. Now she has given up on that process.

Chas

[Lily]

Lily is only 11 weeks old and is already fading! She is quickly getting blonder and blonder, especially around the nose. I love Noah's colouring, it is just beautiful! I love red doodles and I'm a little bummed that Lily is fading, but somehow she does still manage to get cuter and cuter every day. =)

[Tiffany Todd]

Yes, my Cody who is red now was born a blond and was apricot when I picked him up, he is dark red now. I just posted new pictures of him on my page. We were at Kendra's house and she snapped a few shots of him but I think her flash went off so he might look lighter than he actually is.