[hope68]

My standard poodle coat color is changing and he is only 8 months. He is chocolate brown but he is getting gray hair on the top of his head and down his back. Is this normal?

 

[Dechi]

You should post a picture so members can see.

 

[hope68]

 

[twyla]

I need a picture of his face in day light

 

[hope68]

He doesn’t have the gray on his face, just the top of his body.

 

[twyla]

I understand but if your pup is clearing or lightening up to Cafe au lait, it is subtle but noticeable in the face. Otherwise it is just guard hairs.
I can just see a subtle difference on his muzzle.

Deep Chocolate brown to coffee with cream color, Beatrice started to very slowly lighten up at 8 months on

 

[hope68]

What are guard hairs? His mom was black and his dad was brown but to me it’s a light brown. Attached is his dad.

 

[twyla]

Guard hairs are hairs that grow longer than the rest of their coat and are coarse.
The sire is lighter, it is rare poodles stay that deep dark brown puppy color. My Bea started her color change around 8 months in earnest at 18 months but it took 3 years to fully lighten.

 

[hope68]

Oh man, that’s disappointing! I hope he doesn’t change too much. I love his dark brown color. Thank you for your help!

 

[twyla]

There is nothing disappointing in color change, your poodle will still be who he is.

 

[PeggyTheParti]

How old is your poodle's sire in that photo? He appears to be in the process of lightening, too.

 

[hope68]

How old is your poodle's sire in that photo? He appears to be in the process of lightening, too.

I’m not sure. I got him from a breeder.

 

[Poodlesandbeagles]

The majority of brown poodles do fade over time. Most of the brown poodles I have seen also had the grey guard hairs as adults.

 

[PeggyTheParti]

I’m not sure. I got him from a breeder.

Your breeder will be able to tell you his age.

 

[Porkchop]

Besides the red and apricot family of colors, brown seems to be a color that almost always fades a lot as poodles grow up. True dark brown poodles aren’t very common. Seeing that you’re already seeing lighter hairs at 8 months in that quantity, it is almost certain your sweet boy will lighten. I think it becomes most apparent by age 2, and by age 5 you’ll see the true color he’ll lighten to. He might ending up having lots of different shades of brown. If he has lots of blacks in his pedigree, it helps a bit to hold some of the darker color. I am confident that in time you will grow to LOVE whatever color he becomes.