 |
This is our 3 year old stud, Felix Gumshoe, in the 'grey suit'. The bottom large pic shows Felix in the back with Betty, who is 6 1/2 years old in the forefront. Betty is black, Felix is charcoal grey. He is still 'turning' and reminds me of a piece of cooled charcoal - pretty much grey in the middle with 'edges' still black but slowly becoming ash-like.
I finally got to see him today to determine if he was a Blue, Silver or a Grey. The differences are unique for each color: To be a 'Blue' the doodle must have blue skin and a deep blue-grey nose; puppies that will be Silver will show that color by 8 weeks of age - the 'grey' gene is totally different. It has it own 'timeclock' for becoming grey. Some dogs just have grey hairs along their top line or saddle area and the color does not continue to to spread; others continue the grey coloration throughout their entire body but it can take as long as five years to complete. It is a striking color and the dilution that takes place is akin to when the chocolate colored puppies in a litter become Lavenders or cafe` at maturity. What an array of colors our Labradoodles have!
I finally got to see him today to determine if he was a Blue, Silver or a Grey. The differences are unique for each color: To be a 'Blue' the doodle must have blue skin and a deep blue-grey nose; puppies that will be Silver will show that color by 8 weeks of age - the 'grey' gene is totally different. It has it own 'timeclock' for becoming grey. Some dogs just have grey hairs along their top line or saddle area and the color does not continue to to spread; others continue the grey coloration throughout their entire body but it can take as long as five years to complete. It is a striking color and the dilution that takes place is akin to when the chocolate colored puppies in a litter become Lavenders or cafe` at maturity. What an array of colors our Labradoodles have!
You have such a way with words Joyce! I am still laughing. The charcoal analogy is perfect. It was great to see you as always and a nice treat to meet sweet Betty. So glad we were finally able to get together for you to see Felix's true color. Thanks again for lunch.
ReplyDeleteIt was my pleasure! I was thankful it did not downpour but it would have been nicer if the weather was warmer. Felix and Betty walked so well together even though she did not want to play with Felix, who did his best to entice her.
ReplyDeleteFelix really has such a unique color and please give Tom my congrats on doing a very good job with clipping! :+)
I LOVE how Felix is clipped! I'm going to borrow that style. He's adorable :-)
DeleteThanks. He appreciates that. He clips and I tell him how I want Felix to look per how you suggest. It is quite funny. It is our bonding time in the basement with Felix on some staging and a bathmat. No grey ties involved. Haha. On the first few cuts I would refer to your pictures of your dogs on your website. The face/mustache is the hardest part as I am trying to tell him how you comb it in a circle. What I would have paid for a video of how to do that the way you do. I am so lucky that I have a husband that is so handy. I will need to be more appreciative as I am usually saying, I want the hair on the legs to be longer and flare out more at the bottom.
DeleteI'll have to hear some time what "comb it in a circle" means. Sounds like there's a secret to the universe hidden somewhere in this technique ;-)
DeleteJoyce could it explain it better, but she showed me once how to comb up the mustache on top to cut it. She kind of combed it in a circle that fanned out around his snout. I know I am not describing it well.
DeleteThanks Deb! I kind of get what you mean. I'll play around with it a bit. Albert is such a goofy dog that, no matter how I cut him (read: no matter how ridiculous he looks), it seems to suit him, and highlight his goofy nature :-)
DeleteI would agree with Deb...Joyce you have a way with words hah! I too blush! Felix is a handsome boy. I too love his haircut...well done.
ReplyDeletePats to Betty ...fingers crossed that she finds her happy forever home. Kudos to you Joyce for your love of these wonderful babies!
Roxann
Thank you for the info, Joyce. It sounds as if Barney is a grey also. He is a dark smoky color, but not a blue or silver. His color is especially noticable next to Sundog who is a black.
ReplyDeleteFelix is adorable and I love his coloring and his comformation. What a looker!
What litter is Barney from? Was he black to begin with as well? I love the charcoal description. It is a really neat color.
DeleteBarney is not an ADNE dog. I would feel much better if he were. We know Joyce from other venues.
DeleteBarney was solid black as a puppy, except for a very small patch of white on his chest. I always knew he wasn't a silver, but neither was he a deep dark black. He really does look like a dark charcoal color now at 7+ years old, especially against his black sister (half-sister). His father was supposedly a blue.
I think it is a very attractive color as well. Greys take a very long time to 'clear' which is why so many dogs are difficult to determine which one they are. The silvers, however, show up pretty darn quick - before they leave the breeder. Blues are based on skin and nose color for the most part and seem more 'brown/black' than black.
ReplyDeleteIt has taken me a long time to finally get this straight!! :+)