Puppies change color? - Pet forum for dogs cats and humans

mirtilo · #1 January 6th, 2011, 05:49 AM

Hello everyone!

First of all, I'm very happy to report that Lucky is in perfect health! The vet supported your theories about her calming down with age and even being influenced by the new, dominant puppy. He said we shouldn't worry, but I'll probably still be a little careful to give her extra hugs when I can, because she thrives on affection and I wouldn't want her to think she's being replaced

My question is about the puppy. He was a dark dark black when he got him, but then his fur started dulling out a bit and looking less inky. Then he started getting a few grey furs in his beard, and now they've pretty much taken over his face and neck. I've googled it and people say it might indicate an allergy or infection, but his fur only started changing recently and his diet hasn't changed :/

He's a mini poodle/Lhasa Apso mix, and almost 7 months old.

Here's a timeline of his cute little face.

I just wanted to get your personal opinions on the matter, since you guys know better than anyone else on the internet!

Longblades · #2 January 6th, 2011, 03:14 PM

Honestly, I don't know, but I do caution against the run to label what seems to be everything an allergy these days. To be sure ask your Vet or your breeder.

I do know for sure, for sure that some breeds DO change colour. There was a breeder of Chow Chows near us and I was in just as the puppies were changing. It is the NEATEST thing. Everybody knows this breed has a blue tongue. But they don't start out blue, they start out pink and change around 12 weeks of age, which the puppies were when I saw them. AND, their coats change colour too.

These puppies were born black but they were turning red. The breeder knew they would have red coats. It's as if their coats and tongues switch colour. They were both, coats and tongues, quite motley when I saw them. And SO CUTE. It's a wonder I got out of there without one snuck under my coat. Black Chow Chows are born black.

Lucky is awfully cute no matter the colour.

rainbow · #3 January 6th, 2011, 03:24 PM

It is perfectly normal for puppies to change colour as they get older. With some breeds it's very subtle while other breeds are have more obvious changes.

BenMax · #4 January 6th, 2011, 03:59 PM

Very normal. Don't worry.

Goldfields · #5 January 6th, 2011, 06:59 PM

Longblades, a niece of mine has two Chow Chows, so they must be cute.

Mirtilo, you'd get a bigger surprise if your pup was a cattle dog. They are born white, then change to either blue/black and tan, or red speckled.

mirtilo · #6 January 7th, 2011, 05:23 AM

Thanks so much, everyone! Means the world to me, knowing that my dogs are okay

Burkie · #7 January 10th, 2011, 02:32 PM

Something similar hass been happening to my Jack. she's black and white and she's been getting a lot of stray white hairs growing into her black areas. She's around 3 and a half and it has really been coming in over the last year and a half. it's particularly noticable on her face and makes her look old

.

chico2 · #8 January 10th, 2011, 05:13 PM

Mirtilo,I can only say,that he is awfully cute and I am certain his color-change is perfectly normal

mirtilo · #9 January 12th, 2011, 06:25 PM

Thanks a lot, chico2! It's very reassuring to hear all these responses

Burkie, you could always get it checked out by a vet, since 3 and half isn't really in the puppy stages anymore? Just to be safe?

Floppy Dog · #10 January 12th, 2011, 06:48 PM

For what it's worth, my Cocker Spaniel started with a teeny little white goatee when she was 5 months. Now, at 3, she is distinctly white around the muzzle. I met another Cocker Spaniel that at 4 years was white almost to the eyebrows. So it's possible that dogs go prematurely grey too! I would suspect that this is more likely with pure bred dogs than "mutts". No offence to all the owners of mixed breed dogs.

Marty11 · #11 January 13th, 2011, 09:44 AM

My girlfriend got a pure black mixed poodle puppy at about 10 weeks and it is now a lovely shade of pure grey. Pretty dog either way. Don't worry.

mirtilo · #12 January 15th, 2011, 03:03 PM

Thanks a lot, Marty!

Soundy · #13 February 1st, 2011, 12:10 PM

Totally normal... and even more common, I think, with mixes. Our Dusty, for example, is a Pom x Yorkie cross, showing mostly Pom fluff but with long Yorkie hairs in between. The Yorkie hair is mostly black while the Pom hair is more beige/blonde. When he was a pup, the long Yorkie hair kinda covered him like a shell, but after a while it started to grow out, and after his first grooming and cut, the two are the same length so the Yorkie hair doesn't cover the Pom hair.

He also had a thick black "beard" as a pup, that's now grown out and long gone.

This is Dusty at three months:

And at five months:

And just recently, at 17 months:

Melinda · #14 February 1st, 2011, 12:13 PM

siamese kittens are also born pure white and change quickly

ownedbycats · #15 February 1st, 2011, 12:52 PM

I don't have pictures easily available, but our sunshine changed collour as she got older. She started off pale gold with darker, reddish gold ears. By the time she was a year old, the fur on her back had darkened to almost match her ears and her sides had darkened as well, though not quite as much.