Loss of color after grooming?

[Samantha Randall]

I think I'm making up this worry in my head but Hamilton has not been to the groomer's yet. He has a straight coat so he hasn't needed to (He's 10 months) and I am going to take him in for a bath and trim (I don't even want him to get trimmed but feel like he should around his paws and back legs) and I have this worry that his deep red color might not be as prominent after his first groom? Has anyone experienced this? Again I could be just making it up because I'm such an over-bearing protective dog mom! 

Photo for reference and because his face is just too much! "Seat's taken." 

[Lori, Winnie, Bob and Indie]

Great question! In addition to grooming my 3, I have a little side grooming business. Whether or not a coat color looks different after a grooming depends on what color the coat is at the base of the hair. For instance, some puppies have more of a lighter coat coming in when their coat changes to the adult coat. And, some adult dogs have longer "guard" hairs that are either lighter or darker than the other hairs. So, if they are trimmed off, the whole coat will look different.

I would guess, based on your picture, that Hamilton won't look any different, especially if you are just having him "neatened up" around the feet and legs. He looks like he is a very dark rich color overall. And, it has been my experience that it's the fluffier/curlier doodles that tend to have some color variance throughout their coat. His coat may lighten as he gets older, though.

Handsome fella!

[Karen, Jasper and Jackdoodle]

Unless both parents were that same deep dark red, there is no question that his coat is going to lighten when he's older.

[Samantha Randall]

I figured he'd lighten up a bit but what's crazy is he's even darker than his mom, who he got the color from. His mom is pictured below and his dad is a very blonde golden retriever. As he got older, he's darkened up as you can see from the picture when he was 6 weeks. 

[Samantha Randall]

Lori, thank you so much! This was super helpful :) 

[Christine]

Hey Samantha!

Love the pic!  I have to send you a pic of Nala doing that same face.  Lol. We don’t take Miss Nala to the groomers because she sheds and there isn’t a need.  We do trim her hair by her butt because it gets way too long. I bought safety scissors for grooming and she lets me do it. She doesn’t really need it elsewhere.  Love Hamilton’s dark red color :) good luck at the groomers :)

christine

[Samantha Randall]

Thank you! :-) Would love to see the picture of Nala! 

[Christine]

Hey!

I have been having trouble uploading pics to DK.  I will try.  It is a pic of Nala with a rock (she is obsessed). And she has the same face as Hamilton....lol. Her eyes say...there is no way u r taking my rock!

how do you put your pics on the post?

chris 

[Samantha Randall]

When you reply, click the icon second from left to insert an image from your computer. When you scroll over it, it will say 'image' so you know it's the right one :) 

[Christine]

[Christine]

This wasn’t the picture I was thinking of.  This is more of the look Nala does when she knows she is doing something she shouldn’t be. In this case biting a napkin or something.  Lol

[Samantha Randall]

oh my goodness she is sooo cute! 

[Christine]

Thanks so much Samantha! And thanks for teaching me how to put the picture on :)