Jack's coat seems to be changing
I have noticed Jack who is 17 months now is shedding a lot of his black fur and what is left is a shorter denser gray coat left. I have noticed it starting more at the rump which is almost full gray now to his shoulders that still have mostly black long hair. It seems to be a difference of about 3-4 inches in length between the gray and black hair. I have read before that a sheepdog sometimes blows the puppy coat twice. Is this what they are talking about? Has anyone else experienced this hair change? Thank you. Stormi and co. |
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| This does happen - but not to all dogs. I've had some that just gradually grow out into their adult/gray coat (Sydney). Presley on the other hand blew her entire coat (like she was going bald!) - when she was just 5-6 months old! NOT NORMAL!!!! Her fur underneath was short (like it had been shaved) and silver!
I would assume that Jack is getting his adult coat! I thought it happened before 17 months - but each dog may be different in their development! I had one (Dudley) who stayed black forever! Kristen |
Thanks Kristen!  He did go through a coat change around 9-10 months, but it wasn't this noticable. It seemed like the black was slowly turning gray from the roots out. He has had about 1-2 inches of gray turning black. Then he would lose a few clumps, but most of his hair came out in brushing him.
This time he is losing black clumps more frequently. His rump now has about 4 inches of hair now, but it is all varying shades of gray. As I go forward on his body there is some short gray and some long black and toward his shoulder blades there is very little gray and it is about 8-9 inches long. The weather is slowly changing here...last week we were in the low 90's and this week we will be in the mid 80's. I thought this might affect the coat in some way. I was starting to think Jack was going to stay black forever. Annabelle is slowly turning gray, quicker than Jack, but a lot slower than most. It is fun to see them change from puppy's to adult coat. Jack has decided to make it fun for longer. LOL 
Stormi and co. |
| That sounds like what happened to Presley - but she was only 5 months old - it was very strange! It must be his adult coat coming in - I think I remember people talking about how they weren't able to show their dog during that stage - so I'm sure it's normal development! It's been a while since I had a "normal" sheepie from puppyhood - so I don't remember what it was like.
Kristen |
| You know, after the mention of the coat, I looked at Mopsey and she has grey colored hair at the roots, and black on the surface! LOL She is 5 months now. Can you believe it!!! LOL |
| I was hoping a show was in the near future, but seeing his coat, I think we are going to have to wait. Since it only happens to a few sheepies, was it something we did or didn't do. Annabelle is 14 months and seems to have the exact coat as Jack. It is black all over and a couple of inches of gray roots, but so far it is keeping its length.
Marley, it took Jack close to a year to start changing. Annie was a little earlier, but she still seems to be changing slower than a lot that I have seen. Thanks again, Kristen. Stormi and co. |
| Stormi,
I don't think it's anything you did or didn't do! I think it depends on their genetics and possibly the environment. It's not abnormal and I think they go through it quickly (it is just awkward looking for a short time). Kristen |
marley wrote: You know, after the mention of the coat, I looked at Mopsey and she has grey colored hair at the roots, and black on the surface! LOL She is 5 months now. Can you believe it!!! LOL
Marley - I wish I could figure out how to upload pictures - I'd show you a picture of Presley at 5 months. You wouldn't even know she was an OES. She looked like she had been through chemotherapy treatments!
Based on Mopsey's picture - I would say that she'll gradually change over to gray - but not loose her coat completely. Kristen |
I am glad to hear it will get better with time. I was worried there for a bit. I guess he decided I needed to have an easier time of grooming for a bit. 
Stormi |
| Some puppers take several "sessions" to develop their final coat. Just enjoy the color and texture change.....well, color change. The texture change can be a royal pain! |
| Sometimes an adult gray sheepie will darken again. My Oliver had this happen. He had a circle of gray hair on top of his butt it was like a family crest we his Uncle Spot and he had the best crest. |
| My first oes was about 6 months when I noticed the gray at the roots, but she wasn't completely gray until she was over a year. Dancer started changing at the root at only 4-5 months old, and because we shaved her at 7 months as soon as we shaved off the black it was her adult coat underneath, no black except one small part of her ear. Sky hasn't started changing at all yet, but she is only 13 or 14 weeks now. |
| I read somewhere online that OES are considered puppies until they are 2 years old! So I suppose it might take that long for the adult coat to come in! Just guessing. LOL |
| Thanks guys, you have made me feel a lot better.
I do enjoy seeing them change. It seems like every bath time their coat changes just a little. It was seeming they would stay in a black coat forever. They must of liked their puppy look. LOL Stormi and co. |
| I am now finding little clumps of black fur after Mopsey gets up. It is great to see them grow and change, isn't it! Mopsey is so funny! She really makes us laugh every day! LOL |
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