Goldendoodles have soft and silky coats when they’re puppies. As they grow older, their coats will change to become stiffer, denser, and curlier.
However, this is not always the case as your Goldendoodle’s coat might turn out to be wavy or straight. It’s not always easy to determine the kind of coat your dog will have when it grows older.
So, why is your Goldendoodle not curly? Your Goldendoodle is not curly because it did not inherit the gene that’s responsible for curly hair from its parents. When Goldendoodles shed their puppy coat, they will grow their final adult coat which can be curly, wavy, or straight. This will mainly depend on the dog’s genetics.
Keep reading to learn more about when Goldendoodle’s change their coats, the main kinds of coats they can have, and how to determine if your Goldendoodle’s coat will be curly when it grows up.
When Do Goldendoodle Change Their Coats?
Goldendoodle change their coats when they are about 6 months of age. They will shed their puppy coat, and by the time they’re about 8 months of age or older, they will grow their final adult coat.
They can grow different kinds of final adult coats which will be different from their silky puppy coats as they will have varying degrees of curliness and they will also be stiffer and denser.
What Are the Main Kinds of Goldendoodle Coats?
There are three main kinds of Goldendoodle coats which are wavy, curly, or straight. The kind of coat your Goldendoodle will have will mainly depend on the genes it inherited from its parents.
Now, let’s take a closer look at the characteristics of these three kinds of Goldendoodle coats:
Wavy Coat
The wavy coat, also referred to as the fleece coat, is considered the most common kind of coat for Goldendoodles.
This kind of coat is not very dense compared and doesn’t shed frequently, so it’s very easy to maintain.
It’s recommended to brush it at least once a week. If it’s not brushed, it will be prone to developing tangles and knots that will be difficult to remove.
Curly Coat
The curly coat, also referred to as the teddy coat, is the most sought-after kind of coat for Goldendoodles as it’s considered the most similar in appearance to that of a purebred Poodle.
This kind of coat is the densest compared to the other kinds of coats and although it doesn’t shed frequently, it still requires a lot of effort to maintain.
It’s recommended to brush it daily otherwise it will become severely tangled and might develop mats. It’s also recommended to get it professionally shaved 2 or 3 times a year.
Straight Coats
The straight coat, also referred to as the loose coat or the flat coat, is the least common kind of coat for golden doodles and it’s considered the most similar to that of a purebred golden retriever.
This kind of is moderately dense and sheds more frequently compared to the other kinds of coats, so it still requires some effort to maintain
It’s recommended to brush it once or twice a week to remove the loose hairs that were shed to prevent them from clumping and forming mats.
How to Determine If Your Goldendoodle’s Coat Will Be Curly?
As mentioned before, the kind of coat your Goldendoodle will have mainly depends on the genes it inherited from its parents.
The gene that determines whether your dog will have a curly coat is called Cu locus and it typically comes from the Poodle parent because this breed is known to have extremely curly coats.
You can get a DNA test to check whether your dog has inherited this gene, so you’ll be able to determine if its coat will be curly. I recommend checking out Embark’s Dog DNA test here (Amazon Link), it’s easily the best one available especially considering the price.
The presence of this Cu locus gene prevents the keratin in the genetic structure of your dog’s hair from binding together which causes it to curl. Meanwhile, the absence of the Cu locus genes means that the genetic structure of your dog will have keratin which causes it to remain straight.
It can be difficult to determine if your dog will be curly without a DNA test because crossbreeding dogs can give unpredictable results with the puppies usually taking more after one parent than the other.
Yet, some breeders and owners discovered a method to determine the kind of coat their puppy will have by inspecting the area around its muzzle.
- If the puppy has an excess amount of hair on top of its muzzle that gives a mustache-like appearance, then this usually indicates that the dog will have a curly coat when it grows.
- If the puppy has an excess amount of hair around its muzzle that gives a shaggy beard-like appearance, then this usually indicates that the dog will have a wavy coat
- If the puppy has a small amount of hair around its muzzle that’s short and neat in appearance, then this usually indicates that the dog will have a straight coat.
However, you need to keep in mind that this method is not an exact science and it will not always be as accurate as a DNA test.
Related Questions
Do You Need to Shave Your Goldendoodle’s Coat?
You need to shave your Goldendoodle’s coat if it has a curly coat with long hair. That is because this kind of coat is more prone to developing tangles and getting matted. So, it’s usually recommended to get your Goldendoodle’s coat shaved by a professional groomer when their coats get too thick. Your vet and groomer should be able to advise you on when your Goldendoodle needs a haircut.
You can also learn how to prevent your Goldendoodle’s coat from getting mats here. It’s also important to note that Goldendoodles are different from other dogs because they are a designer breed. So while you should never shave your golden retriever unless absolutely necessary (and it’s the vet’s decision), you have more flexibility with a Goldendoodle and sometimes you really do need to shave their coats to allow them to better adapt to the warmer weather.
You can learn why you should not shave a golden retriever here.
How to Properly Brush Your Goldendoodle’s Coat?
To properly brush your Goldendoodle’s coat, you need to divide its hair into small sections, then work through each section slowly and brush in the direction of hair growth. Make sure that your dog is completely dry before brushing it and that you’re using the right kind of brush for its coat type.
Will A Goldendoodle’s Coat Change Color?
A Goldendoodle’s coat will change color as it grows older. When Goldendoodles shed their puppy coat, they will grow their final adult coat which can be slightly lighter or darker in color. The change of coat color will not be drastic and it might even go unnoticed.
Helpful Resources
Living with a Retriever: Recommendations and Sources
- Want the best diet for your dog? Check out the best and healthiest foods for golden retrievers at every age here – Dry, Wet, Homemade Recipes, and Treats!
- Looking for new toys? These toys will prove to be fun, engaging, and will stand their heavy chewing.
- Make them look GLAMOROUS with the best shampoos and conditioners and the best brushes here.
- Taking a walk? These are the best leashes, collars, and harnesses for the buck that you can find.
- Find my list of recommendations here.
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