Puppy Shedding- Coat Change?

[Annie]

Our 4 1/2 month old F1b Goldendoodle Ralphie has been leaving little puppy tumbleweeds all over the house for about three weeks now. When we got him, his coat was thick and fleecy, and almost reminded me of a shearling rug. Now, he seems to be losing that downy hair, and there is a stripe of apricot-colored coarse hair growing in along his back (most noticeable by his tail). The long downy hairs that are still left are kind of sparse, and although the short hairs are growing in, he has the appearance of a balding man. This, coupled with his new teenager body and huge feet makes him look so funny and awkward! :)

I am wondering if he is just starting to go through a coat change, requiring that he blow his puppy coat, or if I have exacerbated the problem by using the Oster Shedzilla (a curved-blade furminator knockoff).
Could I have damaged his coat? I have stopped using the Shedzilla, and notice that he is still shedding as much as before, so I am led to believe that this is something natural.

How long will this continue like this before he gets his grown-up coat? Will he shed all of his life? What will his coat look like when he is grown?

Sorry for all of the questions. I have always had Scotties, so I am in uncharted waters here!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Furminators are for dogs with undercoats. If your doodle doesn't have an undercoat then you have pulled out too much hair. I would never use a furminator on either of my doodles - one is multigenerational and definitely does not have an undercoat but a very thick poodley coat. The other one is a rescue with loose curls. I tried an undercoat rake on him and even with that I pulled out too much hair. I think that 4 1/2 months seems really young for the coat change but the appearance of different hair does sound like the mature hair coming in - many doodles have the stripe.
I am sure that you will hear from other more experienced in grooming but I would definitely stop using the furminator type thing unless you KNOW it is ok.

[Deb, Connor & Simon]

I would not use a furminator any more...or even a rake. I think they might be too harsh for his coat. I use a slicker brush and a metal comb on both of my doodles. If your baby is shedding puppy coat, you just need to comb him from the base of the coat out to the ends. Part the hair in horizontal sections, and brush and comb from the skin out. If you are using a slicker brush, brush in short strokes similar to beating egg whites. I first comb my boys, then go back over with the slicker. If your dog's hair is matting in places, that is a good indication of coat change. If it is just some fluffy shedding, you might want to brush or comb more often. You can do this while you're watching Tv or talking on the phone. Doodles can go through several color and texture changes before the adult coat settles in. Your breeder might be able to answer your questions, too.
There are many groomers and breeders more experienced than me here on DK who can probably give better answers. :-)

[Nancie & Gracie Doodle]

My neighbor across the street has an F1B who is almost 6 months old but has for the last month been doing exactly what your baby is doing. She was apricot but the new under coat which started on the top back by the tail is much redder and tighter and coarser hair. This has worked it's way toward the collar but not down the sides yet. It will be interesting to see how she ends up but she is definitely blowing her puppy coat. Just brush and comb it. There is really nothing you can do about it but by brushing and combing you can prevent the matting. An F1B should not shed when finally done. But, there are no guarantees!

[Carol and Banjo]

Banjo is 5 1/2 months now and is doing the exact same thing. That stripe has now gone from his tail area to almost his neck and spread down his sides. His belly, legs, chest and head are still the fluffy puppy coat and I've noticed that the coarser darker fur on his back is beginning to get redder, longer and wavier. I just love the fluffy coat - especially on his legs as it gives him that teddy bear look...his paws look so big with all that fur!!! I was also using the furminator for a while and have since put it away. I don't know if he has and 'undercoat' or not but don't want to do any damage. With all this said - I'm puzzled about where all his fur is going as we really don't see any fur around. A month or so ago we'd see some fur on our clothing and a little bit on the carpeting - not what we'd expect to see given the changes in his coat. So far matting hasn't been a problem....just one small mat under one ear.

[Annie]

Ralphie hasn't matted at all. He just leaves tumbleweeds all over the house. I wonder what his coat would look like if I hadn't furminated. I was trying to be proactive with the shedding, but I wonder if the fluffy baby fur would be less sparse if I hadn't. He does look kind of silly.

[BG and Gavin]

Gavin had the dark coarser stripe thing too at that age. Now at 10 months old and after two trims, his coat is softer and lighter coloured again. It looks completely different - less curly and more wavy and thicker with the roots appearing darker and the tips lighter. He sheds a bit too (mostly in the brush and the occasional doodle bunny in the corner as well as a few hairs left behind on my black pants) and does not mat.

[Annie]

I am so glad to hear that. I have been so discouraged with his current coat. It is good to know that there is a good chance that he will be fluffy again!

[Jessica]

so glad to see this thread as this is exactly what Marley coat is doing...and I have never furminated her so I dont think you caused this at all...I look forward to the coarsness going away...I want my fluffy girl back!

[Sally loves Maple & Lucky]

5 weeks without a single mat!!! Do you think that Maple is over the dreadlocks phase? It was 6 months of doodle bunnies and mats getting progressively worse to the point where they had to be cut out. The poor girl looked like a bag of chocolate coated popcorn... all lumpiness.
Since her professional grooming July 1st, she hasn't produce a a single mat. I brush her once a week and every morning I feel all over for mats (she loves her early morning massage!). We are happy happy! Hope I'm not being fooled by the short cut!

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

Maple is beautiful and she may be done with the coat change. Ned took forever, but then my children took forever to get teeth too. Late bloomers all.

[Lisa {Zoe's Mom]]

Zoe started blowing her coat and I used the furminator I have for trouble. Thought it would help get ri of some unwanted hair already flying around. Holy Moly! The next day
I had rally class and my black pants were more white than black, no lie. I couldn't believe just exatly how much hair was there. I thought she would be bald!

No more furminator for her. I trimmed very close under her ear to her neck and it got curly [she's fleece, except for atop of her head]. looked okay. The last week I've been working on combing her out and today, I couldn't believe how many itty bitty mats I missed. It wasn't that many but to me it was. Finally bath time. Chamois dry and a scissor cut. Not much just about a half inch to an inch. Looks pretty good, though I need to touch a few spots. Her hair got that corkscrew wave back and I didn't cut any hair on her face except around the mouth where she gets her normal trim. Her apricot stripe down the back is almost invisible, though were it was, the hair is coarser.

Does anyone have a doodle with 3 types of hair?

[Toni McCann]

Teddy started shedding and he is 6 months old. He also has a golden stripe down his back. I am so glad I read all the posts about other doodles shedding at this age. I brush him about every other day. How long before the adult hair comes in?