Cocker Spaniels

Aliases: American Cocker Spaniel

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My cocker puppy premature graying???

My almost 1-year old cocker spaniel seems to have gray hairs in some areas.

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maciesmom

New Member

Posts: 1

Joined: 1/18/2009

Posted: 4:44:53 PM 1/18/2009

I have an almost one-year old cocker spaniel, Macie. She is beautiful! She is black and tan and has the prettiest coat. After her last trip to the groomer, I noticed that she has some gray/silver hair on her sides. It's mainly on her "feathers." Surely she can't be graying already.... she's not even one yet! Does anyone know what this possibly could be? Any answers would be great! Thanks!

Illusionminis

Senior Member

Posts: 761

Joined: 10/30/2007

Posted: 5:12:48 PM 1/18/2009

It is possible that she is graying. Just becuase we see a certain color, doesn't mean that dog is that color. There are 2 types of color DNA. I am probably going to misspell them, sorry.

Genotype-is the color in the dogs DNA gene

phenotype-is the color in which we see

it is possible that she has a graying or blueing gene that will progress as she gets older. We see it alot in black poodles, yorkies, schnouzers(sorry misspelled), and some other breeds. As dog ages, the black hair turns to a grey or blue(very dk grey). What color where her parents, somtimes that can contribute to the change in color.

My boss has a dog that looks red, but his genotype is blk. Almost all the puppies he produces are blk or gray. Hope that helps.

BIG HEARTS IN A SMALL PACKAGE

maciesmom

New Member

Posts: 2

Joined: 1/18/2009

Posted: 11:16:02 PM 1/19/2009

Thanks for the response! Her mom was blonde and her dad was chocolate. She's black and tan, I don't how though :). She has two brothers and a sister. One brother is dark blonde and the other is black and tan. Her sister is black and tan. I know the family who owns the other black and tan female and they said they haven't seen this in their dog. It's really weird. I noticed it's coming in thicker as her hair grows longer.

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