Will a black coat lighten with time?

[Lili]

Hum, I have a silly question... 

I was wondering if a black cocker spaniel's coat will get lighter with age? My previous dog, a Doberman, started to have a few grey hair around her nose when she reached 10 years of age, but it was not that noticeable. Basically, I'm wondering if a black cocker would become "back and grey" with time... Or will it mostly keep it's solid black coat. Genes must have a lot to do with that I gather...

Just curious! 

[AnnieM]

My two year old black girl has started to get the odd white hair, but they are only very few and far between.  Whe the girls went for their first injection at the vets, there was a lady in there with a VERY fat cocker who was extremely grey, I sad to her what a lovely old lady (the dog) she was, to which the woman replied she was only 2 1/2    I then covered my tracks by saying oh sorry I didn't realise she was a blue roan......... no she is a solid black!!!  poor baby looked about 13 years old and about as fit!!! 

I suppose it is like people some go grey, some don't and at varying ages. 

[minimoo]

a friend of ours brought his black cocker round to visit and we hadnt seen him for a very long time and hes 5 now but he is starting to get almost dark roan on him,he was a proper black puppy, but i know hes got roan in his family because its the same person who bred kizzy, my light roan so it in his genes ,i expect some coats will change and others wont

[Claire83]

Roxy is solid black and although at 11 months old she has no grey or lightening (thank goodness) her coat has changed slightly in that she does have a slight reddish brown colour to the ends of some of her feathering. I have heard that is is dead hair?? but i wondered if this was genetic also because her father was a gold/red?

[Cazzie]

Yes it goes grey after too many washes    No but seriously the black coated dogs do get the ocassional white hairs, some more than others 

[Cob-Web]

I don't know how true it is but I have heard that black hair that is clipped short (such as inside the ears, on the muzzle etc) is more likely to go grey.....Molo's black ears are definitely showing signs of greyness where they have been repeatedly clipped 

[spanielcrazy]

I don't know how true it is but I have heard that black hair that is clipped short (such as inside the ears, on the muzzle etc) is more likely to go grey.....Molo's black ears are definitely showing signs of greyness where they have been repeatedly clipped 

True. I remember one black show bitch in particular, a well known champion who produced many champions, who had the most gorgeous silver ears as she got older 

[badgeralbert]

Badger is blue roan and his ears were jet black in his younger days.  His ears have now gone grey  but the black parts on him have stayed black.  Doesnt answer your question, I know, but I thought I'd share with you 

[Beth]

  I shouldn't have read this thread, i just discovered a white hair on Jarvis' back. His mum was a parti though, so hopefully its not a sign of old age quite yet.

[spanielcrazy]

I shouldn't have read this thread, i just discovered a white hair on Jarvis' back. His mum was a parti though, so hopefully its not a sign of old age quite yet.

It's generally just muzzles and ears that go grey on older dogs, not the body coat 

[joanne_v]

Lily has been going grey since she was born I think! Has a lot of white hairs on her snout and chest and has never been clipped. Just one of those things.

[Wendy G]

I had a black cocker, Badger who lived to 14, he only went grey round his
muzzle.

[louis mum]

My last boy was solid black until he reached about 8 - 9yrs old, then got very grey around his muzzle.  He later developed silver stripes down his sides. 

[mezzamo]

Romeo is Blue Roan but have noticed a brown tinge to some of his black which is more noticeable since coming back from the groomer..also he has developed tan streaks on his feet..may have always been there but never noticed them previously and they are now quite prominent and I keep thinking he's cut his paw  As he is a Rescue dog I do not know his genetics.

[Emily]

Roxy is solid black and although at 11 months old she has no grey or lightening (thank goodness) her coat has changed slightly in that she does have a slight reddish brown colour to the ends of some of her feathering. I have heard that is is dead hair?? but i wondered if this was genetic also because her father was a gold/red?

This brown stuff is also sun bleach caused by laying/playing in the sun, there is shampoo you can get for it