Cha-cha-cha changes...coat changes, that is

[Binny P]

Hi all,

Our sweet Burt Reynolds is going on 7 months old. I'm curious about coat changes. We haven't actually seen much change in his coat since 8 weeks. He has gotten a bit curlier, but other than that, pretty consistent. He does not shed and never seems to mat -- I had expected to have to do much more consistent coat grooming than we really have to so far. 

I've read that some (or all?) doodles go through a coat change as they get older. When does that typically happen? Does it always happen? 

He hasn't had a hair cut since we got him, with the exception of his surgery belly shave down and trims to his eyebrows (which would completely cover his eyes if we didn't trim them up). I'm wondering if/when we do a "puppy cut" and whether I should expect some major change soon??

[Lindsey Holt]

Oh Lord he is so cute, freaking adorable.

I just have no words.

There end.

[Lindsey Holt]

And my previous post was of no help at all...

Jake is about 18 months and he really didn't go through much of a coat change.

He has fleece coat with waves, and he sheds a little, but not much (I find doggie tumbleweeds rolling around).

We live in the desert and so I shave him down about every 3 months otherwise he gets filthy.

[Binny P]

Thank you!! We also find the occasional tumbleweed, but I am amazed -- I've never had a dog shed so little!! 

[Nancy, Ned, Clancy, and Charlie]

The coat change doesn't always result in a different coat, but often they get curlier and while that change is going on, they tend to mat.  Perhaps you are one of the lucky ones who's doodle goes through this stage easily.  He sure is cute.

[Binny P]

Ah, that makes sense! Thank you! (And fingers crossed!)

[Laurie, Wally & Charlotte]

My two started to get mats in earnest at about 8 months and it lasted for about three months. I remember that it seemed like I would finish brushing and combing them in the morning and by the afternoon there were more. It's really important to use a steel comb and get right down to the skin, as that's where the mats seemed to start. I combed and brushed them every day -- no exaggeration! I also brought them to the groomer early on so that they could get used to being there. I also started to comb and brush them from the time I brought them home.

[Binny P]

Thank you -- helpful to know that we should still keep an eye out for changes! We have also tried to introduce combing and brushing early on and he is mostly unfazed by it (though he does always desperately want to eat the comb). We should do it more though -- once we realized he didn't seem to mat, we started to slack off. Probably good to keep up just so that he gets as comfortable as possible with all of it..

[Lucy & AnnaBelle's Mom]

I think you will notice a difference when he gets a hair cut.  It appears the hair closer to the skin is curlier and the ends are a little straighter.  That is the transition happening.  As others mention, you are prime time for the matting to occur.  I would keep a really close eye on him with the comb in the coming months.  Behind the ears, the collar area, the armpits.  these are all areas where the mats can happen quickly.  He is adorable and I'm sure you don't want to have to shave him down.

[Binny P]

Thank you! Good suggestion -- we will be extra vigilant! 

[Cathy and Daisy and Harper]

Mine is 7 months old too with no coat change yet. Everyone tells me 8 months is a big change so we shall see. My dogs hair has grown like crazy though and she has already been to the groomers 3 times!

[c zoomer]

Hi there.  In the same boat, waiting for the coat to change from puppy to adult.  I'm not seeing any loss of hair, but Dinah had huge mats at the bottoms of her ear leather.  The groomer was keeping the inside/head coat trimmed below the ear canal for "air". Mats started at 9.5 months around her collar.  I think the areas that are extra fine and fluffy mat first.  Ears are the most difficult to brush because she wiggles her head so much and the hair is very fine.

Be prepared to "have a new dog" when/if you get a puppy cut.  They look so different,(and they're not nearly as cute) but in a month it's not so bad.  I hated the trim straight across the eye area that was done for the first puppy cut.  For the second one I asked for a "widows peak" like the OLD Steiff teddy bears--so it dips just a little between the eyes. I liked it better and might use it as a solution when I need to trim around her face so she can see better.  I don't plan on puppy cuts in the adult years...unless there's a summer heat issue or her coat mats when we go camping.

[Wendy and Myla]

I have had two doodles - one from a backyard breeder, who unfortunately died at the age of five and my Myla (from a very good breeder).  Both of them F1 standard doodles and both of them non-shedding and non-matting.  I absolutely know from all of the posts on this website that this is very unusual but there you have it.  Neither one of them had a coat change.  We do keep Myla clipped short as she is a swimmer and we find that when her hair is longer, the swimming seems to twirl the fine hairs under her legs and sort of mats.  We never brush Myla as she absolutely hates it so we clip her about every 10-12 weeks.  I know we are very lucky and I very seldom post this as I know it's unusual and I hate to have people think that this is the norm and buy a doodle for this reason.  I was not on this website with Zak, my first doodle and found Doodlekisses while waiting for Myla to come home so I was totally waiting for the coat change.  Myla's coat is a wavy fleece and curls up a lot when wet.  She has gotten darker as she ages (she is now five) and honestly, my heart dog!