When do faces start going white?

[KatysPal]

I tried to search for old threads addressing this, but couldn't master the search engine, mea culpa...

Is there a 'typical' age goldens' faces start to turn white, and if so, what is it? All the markedly white-faced dogs I've seen have been at least 8, but my Katy is just 4 and I've noticed white hairs around her eyes, as well as some whitening of the muzzle, already. Is it a really slow process? I feel, absurdly, like Old Age Approaches for my girl, but I'm sure that's not necessarily true. She's very puppy-like in her energy, I have no health concerns, I was just surprised since for some reason I hadn't expected this to start yet.

I've also been told this is one of those areas where the reds & creams differ, in that redheads tend to go white more than blondes. True?

Anne

[Jo Ellen]

Daisy is 2 and I noticed quite some time ago that she's got white "fuzz" on her muzzle, mostly her bottom jaw area. Daisy is not red but she's not a real light-coated golden either.

[Goldenheart]

<span style="font-family:georgia; color:blue;">Bi's not even 2 yet and I noticed just this morning while outside with her that around her eyes looks like it is getting white<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/frown.gif" />

I was wondering then the same question.<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/smile.gif" /></span>

[Swampcollie]

The age at which a golden will start to gray, will vary depending upon many factors, genetics, stress, medications, feeding, overall general health, and general wear and tear.

Some goldens will start to gray at 2. Others will show very little gray at 12. As far as coat color goes, the first strands of gray will show up more readily against a dark coat, and will tend to be hidden amongst a blonde coat.

[ChicagoCanine]

It really depends on the dog and the lines the dog is from.
Ginger started getting white hairs on her face when she was about 4 yrs. At first, despite how dark her color is, the white was almost invisible. I'd tell people she was 'prematurely grey'.
Ginger is now about 6 1/2 and here is a photo showing how much it has progressed. Ginger is the one on the left.
Some Goldens never get white faces.

http://www.chicagocanine.com/dogtemp/ginjen2sm.JPG

[KCGoldens]

We first started noticing white hair in Cayennes face when she was around four. She is almost 8 now and she has moderate white in her face, but not alot, the rest of her is still red golden with no white. Her biggest change is her nose, it has gone pink.

[DaveLA2]

I don't know about our two puppies, but I have noticed a lot of gray hair on my head since we brought them home two weeks ago
Dave

[Goldenheart]

<span style="font-family:georgia; color:green;"><img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/laugh.gif" />And its only just begun<img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/roll.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/roll.gif" /><img border=0 src="http://www.ezboard.com/intl/aenglish/images/emoticons/roll.gif" /></span>

[sweetdreams1963]

I Tell everyone when Toby & Zoe start turning gray, I'm calling miss clairol....:029

[kencubilo]

The dog on the right in the picture is a ringer for our Bailie Girl our last Golden we had. She was 7 when we had to have her put down but the only grey she had was a couple of wild hairs in her cheek area. Wow its been almost a Year since we had her but still miss her so. The other day I saw a Golden that was 15 years old she was grey/white all over but in spite of her age she was getting around fine. I hope with our new pups that they can have that quality of life. Goldens sure can grow on you.

[every76years]

Haley started getting white hairs on her face at about 8. Now at 10, she's pretty white faced. A friends golden was completely white faced at 2!!!!! I think there's a lot of factors influencing this.

[Acamarr]

Riki's a blond anyway, so her white face isn't readily apparent. I'd say she started getting whiter around 11 or 12.

[Rascals Memory]

My Rasal was about 3 when he started getting white around the eyes nose area. He still played and acted like up puppy until his last day at 10. Although he did get the white face (not completely), he still was my beautiful golden boy. (FYI - he had the reddish color)

[catsdogskids67]

Hi,
I'm pretty new here, have posted a couple of times.
I was wondering what causes the white face on some goldens I have seen? Is it old age? if so, does it happen to all goldens as they age or only sometimes? females more than males?
thanks! :)

[ash]

Yes it is due to old age. Some Goldens will get lighter or whiter faces early on 6 or 7 and some keep the face color and do not look white at 10. It depends on the dog and varies.

Ash

[CanadianGolden]

Some dogs will also go white very young, by 2 or 3. When the dog goes white is generally determined genetically.

[Jo Ellen]

Is going white so young (2 or 3) a sign of early aging and possibly a shorter life?

[CanadianGolden]

No. It's just like how some humans go gray at a very young age (20 years). Happens to be a genetic thing specifically related to the hair.

[Dogrunner]

Shaker is 6 (hard to believe!) and is going white around her eyes and nose. It's noticeable now, but she started getting grey around her mouth when she was 3. Berr's now 3 and has no grey hair at all. Maybe only the :angel1 's go grey early....

[JsMom]

Jake started somewhere between 3 & 5 with a bit of white in his muzzle area - as the years went by it spread to his entire face leaving him that Harlequin look. :D

3-5 ....................................... 16 1/2
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/aragog62/JakeChristmas.jpghttp://img.photobucket.com/albums/v390/aragog62/AuggieDoggieFall043.jpg

[Jo Ellen]

Thank you, JsMom :kiss1

[Tink_019]

I was just curious but why is it when a golden gets older u can tell because they usually have white on their face?

[baileythings]

Mr Bailey has really gone grey over the last year. His muzzle and eyes are now a dusty white against his blonde. It does concern me, because as with all of your sweet babies, he has promised to live forever!!! :D
Bailey's Mamma

[Soda]

Tally is five and is starting to get lighter around the eyes. Rusty is two and a half and I'm seeing some gray around his eyes, whiskers and a coupld of grays on his muzzle. I think it's more notable on the darker dogs.

[baileythings]

JsMom, Goodness Jake is adorable! My Mr. Bailey started around 4yrs old, now at 5 he has about 1/2 the face. They just get more and more adorable as they go!! :032