13 month old GD now shedding

[Valarie]

We got Sophie 3 weeks ago.  She is a 13 month old goldendoodle we rehomed from a bad situation where she had been an inside dog but unfortunately had been put outside. This was during a very cold part of winter here.   When she first came to our house she had very little shedding.  Now I've noticed quite a lot of shedding in the last week or so.  Is this a reaction to stress, or to moving back inside, or the time of the year or is she just going to be a shedder?  Obviously, non-shedding would be great but I can handle the shedding if she is okay.  I am just worried that maybe it's something we are doing or her change in environment that is causing the shedding.  Can anyone "shed" some light on this??  Couldn't resist that.

[Valarie]

Right you are - most of our neighbors do a pretty good job despite the fact that we are in a very rural area with no regulations for this type of issue.

[1xar0x2rcx0li]

Who guessed it? ME! She will be in heat in 2 or 3 weeks after she started shedding noticably more than normal. Check for swelling down and tell the vet. Some wont spay during a heat.

[Valarie]

Thanks Todd. I did mention to the vet last week that we had noticed some signs. So she is aware of the possibility. Thanks for your help!!

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

I am not an expert, but trying to shed a little light on the situation!
Peri is an f1 also - she is 11 months old and her adult hair is still coming in. She sheds VERY minimally right now - she did not shed before this coat change was occuring. I think her hair looks like Sophie's (check out my photos). Could possibly be the coat change still (some DK folks say it is over by that point, some say their experience has lasted longer). To cut down on the shedding, get a really good brush or comb and comb her out DAILY. This will help significantly, trust me. We use a Les Poochs brush and a steel comb.
Now, I also agree that stress causes more shedding. Whenever I take Peri to the vet, I notice she sheds much more - I mean, I have a blackish rug at home and I rarely see ONE hair on it from Peri. AT the vet, they are all over the place. Same thing with Taquito (chihuahua, but he sheds anyway) - he has a vet appt today and I guarantee you he will shed like crazy. So I do think the whole change may be contributing to Sophie's shedding, but it is probably a coat change also. Or she may just always lightly shed. I don't think there is one big answer to your question, but keep us posted on how everything goes! And start combing her out, it will help pull out those older, puppy hairs.

[Allyson, Peri & Taquito]

Valarie, here is a discussion we had in the Grooming Group about adult hair coming in. It may/may not apply to you, but it is interesting:
http://www.doodlekisses.com/group/doodlegrooming/forum/topics/curio...

[Valarie]

Thanks so much for all the responses. I do brush her daily not due to the shedding but because she loves it and so do it. It is such a soothing thing for me to do and I feel very connected with her. She lets me brush everywhere. She will lift her little legs so I can get to her tummy and she lets me roll her over so I can get to the other side. My husband is quite entertained by it all. Initially there was just a few hairs in the brush and on my clothes. Now the brush is full of hair and my clothes have quite a few also. I will check out the discussion in the grooming group asap. I am still not totally clear on the "coat change" thing. If this is what's going on, will she get more wirey or more curly? I will review the discussions on this also. Thanks again.

[Denise & Hunter!!!]

I am not really clear on the coat changing either...... Hunter is 13 months old to and I will say that she had shed like a you know what since she was 6 months old. I figure I just got the luck of the draw with the shedding doodle! I wasn't sold on the nonshedding to begin with so its not a big deal. I am going to check out the grooming group too.

How did her spaying go today? Is she doing ok? I felt terrible when I had to leave Hunter for it!