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Fur color change

43K views 13 replies 10 participants last post by  bioteach 
#1 ·
I have noticed that since we have gotten Milla her color has changed. When we first got her she was pretty light and now her fur is getting more red. I dont know what her dad looked like, but her mom was a pretty red. I cant post pics from where I am at right now, but here is a link to my first post with pics of her. http://www.goldenretrieverforum.com/golden-retriever-puppy-up-1-year/124230-pics-my-little-girl.html

As you can see in my 2nd SIG pic, she is much more red now. The first SIG pic is slightly altered (although only a little bit) and from about a month ago, so dont go by that one.

Is it normal for their fur to get darker with age?
 
#4 ·
I've always heard that they darken a little with age. One thing that I've noticed with Cookie is that her coat color seems to vary so much depending on the environment - for example, she looks almost dark red when we are outside in the snow, but much lighter she she is laying on the our hardwood floor.
 
#8 · (Edited)
yup it's normal from my experience.

I forgot when this one was taken but I think he was about 5mo:



Here's his fur color today:



Had anyone told me his fur would end up as dark and golden as it is now I wouldn't have believed you. Also their eyes change color as well. It's hard to see but in his puppy pic his eyes were almost all black, now he has a brown iris.
 
#14 ·
When we brought Nugget home at 9 weeks his breeder had registered him as "golden". I thought that she was in error because he was almost white. Now at age 2 1/2 he absolutely gold with a light reddish tint.

I remember my mother telling me that when I was born I had light blue eyes and when I turned 6 months old they turned the dark brown that they are today.

Now that I teach genetics I understand the mechanism of how genes (such as those for producing pigment) are switched on at the appropriate stage of development. The bottom line - pups darken as they mature.
 
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