Cotton coat and I want silky!

[WannaBe]

I know this has been discussed a million times before. Gunner has a cotton coat and tons of it. Can you tell when they are babies what kind of coat you will get? Since Gunner turned 5 months his coat is impossible to take care of. Each time he goes out in the snow he gets another tangle. I'm constantly brushing and combing him (he hates it). Eventually I would like to get him a playmate, but I'm terrified to get one with hair like his. I can't wait for summer so I can cut it all off! When my poodle died, I saw all the yorkies in our campground condo assoc. with all the beautiful hair and I wanted one. My old Girls coat was hard to take care of, so I thought a yorkie would be easier, boy was I wrong. Takes much more work with him. I love the way a full coated yorkie looks, but he looks nothing like them. Don't get me wrong, I love him till death, he will always be my smoochie face! But, if I ever get him a friend, I don't want one that has coat like his.
Can you tell if a pup will have cotton or silkie coat?
Gunners parents were one of each, I think.

[BlueBelle]

Welcome to my world. My adored Sophie is nicely squared and has a gorgeous face BUT she is the dreaded cottony coat. I have been keeping her pretty well shaved on her body and leave the legs & a skirt. Even with that she can get matty quickly. I just didn't think it was fair to either of us to fight the battle of trying to have a long coat, which was never going to be silky.

[gracielove]

Since the adult coat does not come in until around 8 or 9 months it is difficult to know just what you will be dealing with. Your best chance is to find a good breeder that has been consistently breeding dogs with good coats as well as other good attributes. If the breeder has a line that is pretty consistent at producing silky coats and does not breed dogs with cotton coats you have a much better chance.

Breeders that do not really know much about the history of the dogs they breed can produce just about anything.

[red98vett]

I have one that is cottony - she is in my avatar with the long braid -

She is now SHORT cut lol - Way way easier But I still have her long topknot

Cheri her sister is silky and very easy to keep up with unless wearing her nightie or something - I use Chris Christenson Ice on Ice for both of them - it really helps with tangles

good luck - cottony or silky we gotta love em right?

[Draco]

I agree with gracielove. It's all in finding an expert breeder that's been breeding long enough to know the history of the lines and types of pups that could be produced. Also you could just wait and get them for a better chance. Like get a pup that's 4 months. At least by then the breeder will have more sure when it comes to the size, coat type, and most basics about your pup.

[joyce evans]

Originally Posted by red98vett

I have one that is cottony - she is in my avatar with the long braid -

She is now SHORT cut lol - Way way easier But I still have her long topknot

Cheri her sister is silky and very easy to keep up with unless wearing her nightie or something - I use Chris Christenson Ice on Ice for both of them - it really helps with tangles

good luck - cottony or silky we gotta love em right?

Love the long braid!!

[Patti]

My Pixie has a silky coat. I got her at 13 months so I knew she had a silky coat and the look I wanted. Roxie is from the same breeder but has a more cottony coat. Pixie's coat is a breeze to take care of.

[WannaBe]

I love my breeder, she did such a great job with Gunner! She is very reputable so I don't want anyone thinking I am not happy with her! I'm just so frustrated with his hair right now. He goes outside in the snow and he is all knotted up again! I think my next boy will be a traditional color so I know I will get a silky coat? Or, does that not matter? I will be buying from her again, if I ever get another... so much work.

[Lovetodream88]

You can cut them short in winter just buy a few shirts for him but at 5 months doesn't he still have a puppy coat. Callie's puppy coat was terrible but when he adult hair came in it was way different and silky and never tangles.

[WannaBe]

Originally Posted by Lovetodream88

You can cut them short in winter just buy a few shirts for him but at 5 months doesn't he still have a puppy coat. Callie's puppy coat was terrible but when he adult hair came in it was way different and silky and never tangles.

Gunner just turned 7 months. If what you say is true...he may change?

[Sunnydayz]

How long does it take for the coat to change texture? Gizmo seems cottony on his body except right between his shoulders. His tail and face are very silky, his legs seem in between, so I too am wondering how old when the coat changes completely from puppy to adult ? Sorry to hijack lol.

[mimimomo]

Food makes a HUGE difference in their hair. Momo has very soft cotton like thick poofy hair. No shine to it, tangles easily so I kept him in a puppy cut, but his hair grows like a weed! He also stayed black & tan (they're usu soft coated). He's been eating premade raw food for the last year (& the year b4 that on & off) & his hair has gotten so much...silkier! Yes, I can't believe it. He hardly gets any tangles. His hair is still soft & fluffy, but somehow it's much healthier looking. I think it has to do w/the fat content in raw food, they use it for energy. It's also got all the essential amino acids.

Maybe supplementing w/a good omega3 will help. A member here (TY Cathy!) suggested unsalted sardines in spring water from trader joes. It's paked w/omega 3's. They LOVE it! I also give them BEAMS from the honest kitchen to chew on b4 bath time. It's dehydrated cat fish skins. PolkaDog also makes a dehydrated fish skin chew made out of Cod.

[WannaBe]

Originally Posted by Sunnydayz

How long does it take for the coat to change texture? Gizmo seems cottony on his body except right between his shoulders. His tail and face are very silky, his legs seem in between, so I too am wondering how old when the coat changes completely from puppy to adult ? Sorry to hijack lol.

No problem, I would like to know the answer to this too. Gunner is 7 months old and still changing.

[WannaBe]

Originally Posted by mimimomo

Food makes a HUGE difference in their hair. Momo has very soft cotton like thick poofy hair. No shine to it, tangles easily so I kept him in a puppy cut, but his hair grows like a weed! He also stayed black & tan (they're usu soft coated). He's been eating premade raw food for the last year (& the year b4 that on & off) & his hair has gotten so much...silkier! Yes, I can't believe it. He hardly gets any tangles. His hair is still soft & fluffy, but somehow it's much healthier looking. I think it has to do w/the fat content in raw food, they use it for energy. It's also got all the essential amino acids.

Maybe supplementing w/a good omega3 will help. A member here (TY Cathy!) suggested unsalted sardines in spring water from trader joes. It's paked w/omega 3's. They LOVE it! I also give them BEAMS from the honest kitchen to chew on b4 bath time. It's dehydrated cat fish skins. PolkaDog also makes a dehydrated fish skin chew made out of Cod.

I tried to feed him premade raw, he just doesn't like it as much as his kibble. I give him wellness small bite puppy. He also gets a squirt of salmon oil on his food daily, which he loves. I leave the raw for him at night, sometimes he will eat it, most times not. But, it is so dry in our house (even with the humidifier on high), that both our hair is frizzy.

[mimimomo]

Originally Posted by WannaBe

I tried to feed him premade raw, he just doesn't like it as much as his kibble. I give him wellness small bite puppy. He also gets a squirt of salmon oil on his food daily, which he loves. I leave the raw for him at night, sometimes he will eat it, most times not. But, it is so dry in our house (even with the humidifier on high), that both our hair is frizzy.

Mimi & Turbo doesn't like the frozen raw either...even tho they loved it @ 1st. So I switched theirs' to freeze dried, add water to it. They whine & beg while I'm preparing it, they LOVE it!

Oh yeah, the winter can be so harsh on human & dog skin & hair. Esp if you have the heater running. Do you use a good conditioner for Gunner? Espree products are great, it has coconut based cleansers, aloe vera & jojoba to soften, condition & make hair shine.

I've read that Maltese goes through final puppy coat blowing phase @ around 9 months. So I would think after that, the adult hair should come in nicely.