Your Goldendoodle puppy has the most delightful fluffy, soft baby coat that you just can’t resist running your fingers through!
Unfortunately, that teddy bear cuteness can’t last forever, and eventually, your puppy will begin changing his coat, and that can take new Goldendoodle parents by surprise if you’re not prepared for it.
Read this guide to learn everything you need to know about the Goldendoodle Puppy Coat Transition and how to sail through the change without a hitch!
Table of Contents
When Do Goldendoodle Puppies Shed Their Coat?
To cut to the chase, you can expect your puppy to transition from puppy coat to adult coat when he’s between five to eight months of age.
The change can be sudden or gradual, and sometimes the texture of the coat will change completely. Often, the puppy will have an adult coat that’s totally different from his puppy fur. However, every puppy grows an adult coat that’s stiffer and thicker than his puppy hair.
Goldendoodle Coat Types
Even if you know what coat types your puppy’s parents have, it’s extremely difficult to predict how your furbaby’s fur will turn out, especially if you have a multigenerational puppy.
There are three Goldendoodle common coat types:
- Curly coat
- Wavy hair
- Straight hair
Curly Coat
Curly-coated Goldendoodles take mostly after their Poodle parent. The fur grows in dense curls that can be tight, kinky curls, or loose barrel curls.
Generally, curly coats have virtually no doggy odor and are usually very low shedding.
Wavy Coat
English Goldendoodles have wavy coats that are also sometimes referred to as fleece coats. This coat type is typically very low shedding, but it does need plenty of regular grooming to prevent matting.
Straight Coat
Goldendoodles with straight coats take mostly after the Golden retriever parent. These Doodles are the heaviest shedders, making them unsuitable for life in a home with allergy sufferers.
These coat types tend to need a little less brushing than the curly or wavy coated types, and they are slightly less prone to tangling and matting.
What Adult Coat Type Will My Goldendoodle Puppy Have?
It’s virtually impossible to predict what adult coat type your Doodle puppy will finish up with. That’s what makes owning one of these amazing dogs such a fun thing!
To make matters even more interesting, Goldendoodles commonly change coat colors or get a brighter coat as they age, so it really is a total lottery!
What Is A Goldendoodle Puppy Coat?
Goldendoodle puppies have a fantastic coat! Your puppy’s coat is soft, silky, and fluffy, making these cute little bundles of fun so adorable and cuddly!
For their first few months, your puppy’s coat is extremely easy to look after. You don’t really need to worry too much about matting, so you won’t have to brush a very young puppy every day.
But don’t be lulled into a false sense of security!
Uh Oh, What’s That Mat?!
Suddenly, mats appear in your puppy’s beautiful soft coat!
When the puppy’s coat begins transitioning, you’ll discover a few mats starting to form. The usual areas where mats form are underneath the puppy’s armpits, under his ears, and beneath his collar.
If you’ve not owned a Goldendoodle before, you’ll be amazed just how much hair your puppy loses when he’s getting his adult coat. Brushing your puppy removes loose, dead hair that would otherwise turn into immovable mats.
So, even though one of the reasons that Goldendoodles are so popular is that they are extremely low-shedding, they do shed. For that reason, you will need to brush your puppy as soon as you spot that he’s begun to change his coat.
Do All Goldendoodles Get Puppy Coats?
Regardless of what size or generation of Goldendoodle you have, all these puppies will change their coats.
However, in many breeders’ experience, F1, F1B, or F2 Doodle puppies can show a pretty subtle change. These generations typically have soft adult fur, so when the puppies do change their coats, it’s often not especially obvious, and many Goldendoodle parents don’t even notice the change!
Often, Goldendoodles that enjoy swimming and generally get grubby so that they need regular bathing can often lose their puppy coat almost invisibly.
What’s The Difference Between Puppy And Adult Coats?
Generally, when Goldendoodle puppies change their coats, the mature adult coat they grow is denser and stiffer than the puppy fur. The coat quality will vary pretty widely between dogs, and you won’t know what that quality will be like until your puppy’s adult coat is fully in.
When you’re choosing your Goldendoodle puppy, ask the breeder to learn more about the coat characteristics of the generation of puppy you’re taking. The breeder should be able to give you a good idea of what you can expect during the coat transition period.
When Will Your Goldendoodle Puppy Shed His Coat?
Some Doodle owners refer to the process of your puppy shedding his coat as a “coat change” or a “coat transition.” However, most breeders use the term “blowing the coat.”
Although it’s impossible to exactly predict when your puppy will shed his coat, Goldendoodle puppies typically blow their coats anywhere between four and eight months old. That said, the process of healthy coat transition can last for as long as two years.
What Happens When Your Puppy Blows His Coat?
When your puppy starts growing his adult coat, his silky, soft puppy fur is shed. You need to be alert to that process starting!
All puppies are born with a single coat. Goldendoodle puppy fur doesn’t simply drop off and end up on your carpets; it tends to become tangled up in the emerging adult coat. That creates tangles, which quickly become mats if you don’t brush the tangled fur out properly.
As mentioned earlier in our guide, depending on your puppy’s coat type, you might not even notice that your puppy’s coat is changing. You might not notice any change at all, whereas other Goldendoodle parents see a massive amount of matting appearing from out of nowhere.
Where Do Mats Form?
Mats generally form in areas of friction. Particular hotspots include:
- Under the collar
- Under the armpits
- Under the ears
- Around the base of the tail
- Around the dog’s rear end
- The back of the elbows, haunches, and legs
Although these areas are prime candidates for mats to form, you must check all over your puppy for tangles and remove them before mats can form.
When Should You Begin Brushing Your Goldendoodle Puppy?
It’s never too soon to begin brushing your Goldendoodle puppy!
Although at first, your puppy’s fur is so silky and soft, it might not seem necessary to brush him, but the sooner you begin brushing him, the sooner your puppy will become acclimated to the grooming experience.
Goldendoodle Puppy Brushing Tips
Here are a few tips on how to introduce your Goldendoodle puppy to being brushed.
Make Brushing Fun!
Wait until you have plenty of time to brush your puppy. Every step should be taken slowly. Be patient, use plenty of praise, treats, and fuss so that your furbaby learns that brushing is a fun, enjoyable experience.
Gentle Brushing
Start by running your fingers through your puppy’s coat, gently teasing away any tangles, and taking great care not to pull at the hair.
If you encounter any stubborn tangles or mats, use a detangler spray or some cornstarch to soften the hair, and then gently comb the hair out.
Goldendoodles are naturally curious pups, so allow your dog to sniff all your grooming supplies and tools before you begin using them on him. Use a soft brush to gently brush your puppy’s coat, taking care not to press too hard and scratch your pup’s skin.
Handle Your Puppy’s Paws
A regular part of being groomed is nail clipping. Many dogs hate having their nails clipped, so the earlier you can introduce your pup to having his feet handled, the easier it will be to clip his toenails.
Take each of your puppy’s paws and gently massage them so that your furry friend learns to accept and enjoy the experience.
Arrange A Visit To The Groomer
As an adult, your Goldendoodle puppy will need to visit the professional groomer every four to six weeks to have his coat clipped, nails trimmed, ears cleared, and be bathed.
A lack of grooming or improper grooming can cause your canine companion some nasty health problems, including skin infections. For that reason, it’s a good idea to take your youngster along to the groomer for a social visit so that he’s not stressed when the time comes for a “for real” grooming session.
Generally, your puppy won’t need clipping until he has blown his coat. But if you’re not sure when to take him for his first grooming session, ask your local professional groomer.
In Conclusion
I hope you found our guide to Goldendoodle puppy coat transition helpful. If you loved it, remember that sharing is caring!
Goldendoodles shed or blow their puppy coats when they’re between four and eight months of age, although some might take longer than that. The transition can be sudden and blatantly obvious or gradual and barely noticeable. Ask your puppy’s breeder to learn more about the type of coat your pet will most likely have as an adult.
How did you cope when your Goldendoodle went through his puppy coat transition? Tell us in the comments box below.
Oh my goodness! Thank you for this post! Our golden doodles are 7 months old and have been blowing their coats like crazy! I had recently changed foods gradually. So at first, I thought it might be an allergy to the new food and I went back to their previous food. They weren’t scratching or anything and the hair just kept coming out. Now I know why thanks to your post! Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. A trip to the vet was next on my list.