Do Goldendoodle Coats Change Color? Explained With Images

Goldendoodles come in a variety of colors; when getting Goldendoodles, we all seem to have a certain color in mind but do we actually guarantee that this color will remain the same as they grow? Many Goldendoodle owners have reported that their pup’s coat color seemed to change as they grow older

So, Do Goldendoodle coats change color? Goldendoodle coats change color over the years; Goldendoodles usually follow in the footsteps of their Poodle parents and become lighter as they get older. Because the Golden Retriever genetics for fur is recessive, a properly bred Goldendoodle will never get darker in color.

If you want to know why do Goldendoodles change coat color and how will your Goldendoodle look as they grow, continue reading this article.

Do Goldendoodles Coat Change Color? 

Goldendoodles’ coats gradually lighten as they matured into adults; coat colors may fade or lighten as they mature. Even the coat of a deep, dark Goldendoodle puppy can lighten or fade over time. 

Surprisingly, their ears and tails can sometimes maintain the same hue while their bodies lighten over time. 

Poodles’ fur is known to change color as they mature. By the time a Poodle reaches the age of three, he will have developed his mature fur color. Poodles go through a process called clearing where darker Poodles will become lighter as they age.

A black Poodle puppy may end up more of a blue or grey color. It is also conceivable for a Poodle to maintain color in specific spots while it grows lighter in others. This partial color holding notably happens in thicker regions like the ears. You can check out my guide to why Goldendoodles change color to grey here for more on this point.

In some cases, a Poodle will retain its original color and never go through the clearing process. White Poodles and pure black Poodles can both be held in this manner. Most other colors go through a fading or clearing phase as the Poodle grows. With so many color variants, you will need to have a very educated breeder to know what hues to anticipate of a Poodle.

This is a natural and expected part of the breed’s development. Because the Poodle genes are the main component in fur color, this “clearing” can also be handed along to Goldendoodle offspring. Talk to your breeder if you have your heart set on a certain color Goldendoodle.

The case is quite different for the Golden Retriever side as their fur usually gets darker with age, and you can learn about why golden retrievers’ coats get darker with age here where I also discuss what you can expect to happen to your golden retriever puppy, but because the genes of golden retrievers are recessive, this is not what happens to Goldendoodles, as explained earlier.

The colors of Goldendoodle coats [with pictures] 

Goldendoodles come in a wide range of coat colors and patterns, including solid apricot and beige, solid chocolate, phantoms, merle, partis, sables, and color combinations. Brown eyes are common in puppies with dark features, while champagne and chocolate have hazel eyes.

When picking a puppy, keep in mind that the breed, not the color, is the most important consideration. Spend some time researching which doodle breed is best for you based on temperament, breed history, and other factors, and then look for a breeder that produces that breed in the color you like.

Another point worth mentioning is that, while Poodles come in a wide range of colors, they also have a “fading gene.” Without delving into a long explanation of genetics, this implies that your puppy’s color may lighten or perhaps change altogether by the time they reach adulthood! This is especially true for Doodles/Poodles with black/silver, red, or sable coats.

Many Black Doodles, for example, may mature into a lovely silver color as they reach age. Although not all black doodles fade to silver, silver doodles nearly always start as black before fading. In the meanwhile, your Red Goldendoodle’s coat will likely lighten to a copper hue over time.

Sable is one of the most unique hues, and it makes for a fun color-changing experience with your dog! Sable poodles are born black or brown and gradually lighten as they get older.

Apricot Goldendoodle

Red Goldendoodle

Cream Goldendoodle

I love Cream Goldendoodles by the way, I have a complete guide on English Cream Goldendoodles here that you should definitely check out to know why they are quite special indeed.

Golden/Caramel Goldendoodle

Dark Brown (Chocolate) Goldendoodle

Black Goldendoodle

Gray Goldendoodle

White Goldendoodle

What do different color patterns mean? 

Here are the most common color patterns and what they mean:

• Brindle: This pattern, which resembles a tiger stripe, is created by dark stripes on a light coat.
• Unpigmented patches (white) on a pigmented backdrop of hair, with colored skin below.
• Merle: A solid or piebald coat with mottled color patches.
• Harlequins have a white base color with black spots all over their body.

The MC1R gene (Melanocortin 1 receptor) is found on chromosome 5 of the canine genome [29,31] and regulates pigment synthesis in melanocytes (Figure 3; O-S). Melanocytes are responsible for the color of a dog’s coat. The gene’s wild-type dominant allele, which generates eumelanin, is E. (black pigment). 

The most prevalent cause of color changes in dogs is the natural aging process, which involves a lack or reduction in melanin synthesis, which is responsible for coat and eye pigmentation.

Furthermore, because dogs’ coats lighten as they age, mature and senior canines have lighter colored coats than puppies. Dogs, like people, get gray hair as they age.

When do Goldendoodles’ coats change color? 

Goldendoodle puppies’ coats alter between the ages of 5-8 months usually, and it’s different from one dog to another. It might happen quickly or gradually. The softness of the fur can alter dramatically over time. Some owners claim to have gone unnoticed.

The fur of poodles is known to change color as they get older. A Poodle’s mature fur color will have evolved by the time he reaches the age of three. As Poodles get older, they go through a clearing process in which darker Poodles become lighter. 

A black Poodle puppy’s coat may become blue or grey in the end. It’s also possible for a Poodle to keep its color in certain areas while losing it in others. This partial color retention is more noticeable in thicker areas, such as the ears.

Can you tell what color your Goldendoodle will look like as an adult? 

Even within the same breed (like the Goldendoodle), there can be significant differences in color, structure, and size. A good breeder should be ready to spend the time necessary to determine which litter will produce puppies that are most similar to your choices as a parent.

A professional breeder can show you previous litters with the parents and how they cleared over time. They’ll be able to predict which puppies will clear as they get older.

A Goldendoodle may keep its original color and never go through the cleaning procedure in rare situations. This method may be used to hold both white and pure black doodles. Most other hues go through a fading or clearing phase as the Poodle matures. With so many color varieties, you will need to have a very knowledgeable breeder to know what colors to anticipate of a Poodle.

Adult coats are frequently a different hue than puppy coats, which may aid other dogs in distinguishing between adolescents and adults. On a biological level, however, the shift in hue is due to an increase or reduction in melanin synthesis.

At six months, most dogs will have shed their last traces of puppy hair. Even yet, precise time differs across species. Because Goldendoodles are a mix of two well-known breeds, determining an exact age when they shed their newborn fur is difficult.

As a result, puppies’ physical and mental traits, such as fur color, form, and length, can vary greatly.

Because Goldendoodles are a mixed breed, it’s difficult to say with certainty what to expect from their genetics. It’s difficult to predict how your Goldendoodle will appear when fully developed because one parent is known to lighten and the other to darken.

Goldendoodles usually follow in the footsteps of their Poodle ancestors and become lighter as they get older. A black puppy’s coat may become silver or blue, and golden puppies may turn cream-colored. 

Because the Golden Retriever DNA for fur is recessive, a properly baked Goldendoodle will never become darker in color. If you choose a Goldendoodle specifically for its color, it will almost always fade as it grows older.

When many generations of Goldendoodles are mated together, the genetic hybrid gets even more complex. When two Goldendoodles are bred together, Goldendoodle puppies are produced. However, determining which coat types and colors you will receive becomes even more difficult. That is because you have two sets of Golden Retriever genealogy and two sets of Poodle lineage. Almost all of these litters are unexpected.

It’s difficult to predict which genes they’ll inherit from each parent, as it is with all mixed breeds. If you are intent on having a Goldendoodle of a certain hue, there are several things you can do to help. However, this does not ensure that your puppy’s color will not change.

If you have a golden retriever, this should all be quite familiar to you, and you can always check out my guide here on how to know what your Golden Retriever puppy’s coat color is going to be.

Do Goldendoodles get lighter or darker? 

Goldendoodle coats get lighter, not darker with age, following in the traditions of their Poodle forefathers. A properly baked Goldendoodle will never become darker in color since the Golden Retriever’s fur genetics is recessive. Even the coat of a deep, dark Goldendoodle puppy can lighten or fade over time. 

The genetics of the Poodle parents often impact the puppies’ ultimate fur colors. It’s important to remember that blonde and red hair are typically recessive genetically.

Breeders who desire light-colored Goldendoodles should use a Golden Retriever and a blonde, white, or light-brown Poodle.

In addition, a dog’s mature coat might be a different hue from its puppy coat. This implies you might acquire a red Goldendoodle puppy who will eventually grow up to be a brown or blonde Goldendoodle.

The fading gene is most commonly found in Poodles, although it can affect any color other than white. The color of a young poodle will usually lighten with time.

By the time they are two years old, they have developed their adult color. Most Poodles (and doodles) have this fading gene, although the amount of fading is typically determined by the color of the dog and the genetics in their family tree.

Poodle or doodle puppies in black have a higher chance of fading than any other hue. A puppy who is pitch black at birth might turn into a charming light silver color by his second birthday and appear to be a completely different dog.

Related Questions 

Why did my Goldendoodle change color? 

Goldendoodle puppies change color because they’re derived from Poodles, and Poodles come in a broad spectrum of hues. Hair and fur color are the product of numerous distinct genes, commonly called phenotypic genes.

Do Goldendoodles’ coats get darker with age?

Goldendoodle doesn’t get darker with age but lighter, following in the traditions of their Poodle forefathers. A properly baked Goldendoodle will never become darker in color since the Golden Retriever’s fur genetics is recessive. Even the coat of a deep, dark Goldendoodle puppy can lighten or fade over time. 

At what age do Goldendoodles’ coats change color? 

Goldendoodle puppies’ coats alter between the ages of 5-8 months, according to breeders and owners. It might happen quickly or gradually. The softness of the fur can alter dramatically over time. Some owners claim to have gone unnoticed.

Helpful Resources 

Genetics of Pigmentation in Dogs and Cats

Dog Coat Colour Genetics: A Review – Rashid Saif, Ali Iftekhar, Fatima Asif, Mohammad Suliman Alghanem

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