Puppy coat...will his coarse hair get softer?

[Rachel Humphrey]

We have an 18 week f2 miniature golden doodle called Wilson who is just the most lovely little dog. At the moment we think he is going through one of his many coat changes as he matures. We call him "scraggle pup" at the moment because, well he looks like a scraggly mess (that said in the most loving way of course!) He has very soft hair on his head, chest, legs. But his back seems to be mainly coarse darker hair with a few tufts of softer lighter hair. He was a lot softer all over when we first got him at 9 weeks. He is cream in colour with patches of apricot. Sometimes he looks lighter and sometimes darker - depending on the light. Just wondering if this coarse hair is likely to dissapear and get softer? Has anyone else experienced coarse hair with their pup, if so how did it turn out? Also, i'd be interested to know what others think his coat will turn out like. I guess we were hoping for a cream, soft to touch, light curly / shaggy coat but at the moment we are not sure how it will turn out! I know it's really hard to tell for sure but it would be interesting to know what other doodle owners think. They certainly keep you guessing that's for sure!!

Thanks doodle lovers! :-) 

Wilson at 9 weeks 

Wilson at 14 weeks

Wilson at 17 weeks

 More puppy pics can be seen on my page.

[Joanne ~ Spud*]

Okay, wow. He certainly is going through a coat change. Lots of them. So, who knows? Certainly, this will be a wait and see.  You should know around 2-3 years old maybe?

I adore this little guy. CUTE.  I'm thinking his character fits his coat??  :)

I'm so sorry because I have no idea. No two doodles have the same coat since really, they are not a breed and can inherit a gamut of genes.

He reminds me of a very famous dog but I just can't place the name or where from. Anyone know what dog I am thinking about?

[Rachel Humphrey]

Thanks for the reply - yes he is very cute and pretty cheeky so maybe his coat will fit his character! ;)

I'd be interested to know which famous dog he reminds you of, let me know if you remember!

[Kaytlin and Cooper]

oh he is sooo cute!

i have a standard Australian labradoodle and she has soft fur apart from her back which is coarser. ... i think its quite common

[Elizabeth & Cosmo]

I think he is very cute, indeed. He reminds me of Little Orphan Annie's dog, Sandy!

[Bonnie and Kona]

Wilson is going down the same track of multiple coat changes that our Owen went through. Owen had, what we referred to as, "bunny fur" as well coarse hair down his back at one point. He went through multiple coat changes. The coarse hair down his back has softened and the bunny fur has disappeared. He does have a variety of textures all over his body. He is 2 years old. If you have ever seen baby blankets made out of minky dots that is what his fur feels like now when he is clipped. He has areas of straight silky fur on his underside and wavy fleece on the rest of him. He sheds a very little bit. Owen is an F1. I could not have predicted what his coat would turn out like during the first year. Enjoy the ride. Wilson is a cutie! 

[Camilla and Darwin]

He's adorable! Darwin's coat did change from straight to more curly, but it stayed about the same softness. 

[Carol and Banjo]

Oh my gosh Wilson is sure a cutie pie!   I can't help you with what the "finished product" will be....but heck....I'm betting cute as can be.    Banjo developed a course darkening of hair down his spine that gradually widen around nearly to his belly....but eventually the hair softened.   His first year he looked a bit like a patchwork quilt of different hair textures and lengths.

[Rachel Humphrey]

Banjo is very cute - I was looking at pictures of him earlier! I like your description of his coat being like a patchwork quilt as that's exactly what Wilsons is like at the moment!!

[Ginny Nightingale]

Adorable!! And that tail! Not all doodles have a tail that curls up but I have one with that and I love it! I can't say for sure what will happen to his coat, but usually they become more curly and more coarse--but there is really no pattern. Coarser means less mats, dries faster and easier to maintain, so do not be dismayed! Two of my ALDs pups had a very similar look and here they are at a year old. Wilson really reminds me of the first pup--his name is UCHU.

[Rachel Humphrey]

Thanks Ginny.....My husband thinks his tail will eventually fall with the weight of the hair.....but I guess time will tell! I think he does look like Uchu, I could see him turning out like him. Do you know how much Uchu weighs? This is another thing we are curious about. Wilson seems to be quite small so I think he will probably get to about 25lbs. He is around 15lbs at the moment and is 18 weeks. I guess this is another discussion! :)

[charlotte bednarsh]

Hi,

Paz (who is now 2 3/4 yrs old, had very long shaggy hair until he was about 1 year and then his coat changed entirely.  He now has a very soft, fleece, curly coat which looks really cute and he doesn't shed at all.  I do have to brush him frequently to make sure he doesn't mat, and I wash him weekly because he is a working dog, and has to be bathed frequently.  It takes a while, but eventually their coat stabilizes, so to speak.  I use shampoo & conditioner from "Royal Pet Club" which smells great and is very gentle (Try the Mediterranean Sea Breeze as it smells amazing).

[Cara]

Hi Rachel! In the process of getting a puppy who has a coarse coat similar to Wilson. Any chance for an update photo of the little guy?