Why do beagle's black spots turn brown when they get older?

mandyy4

Just curious...







EDIT -- I meant beagles'...

ScentHound

I never really thought very hard about it. Cleo's head was entirely black when she was a pup. Her head turned brown and is now fading to more white.

Weird...

Alba

IMO its just like people, as you get old, your hair turns color. When dogs get older, their hair turns to. I dont know if thats true but thats what I always thought.

MySoulmateEmmy

that would make sense i think

~MSE

mandyy4

But why doesn't it happen to other breeds? It seems like all dogs get a gray beard (and sometimes feet) when they get old. Beagles get that too, but they also get brown hairs all over their black markings, and it doesn't seem to happen to any other breeds... except basset hounds and similar breeds.

So... Why brown instead of white? And why all over the body instead of just the face and legs?

fawkese1

i don't know, but other breeds change colors too, like many great pyranees are born spotted but as they get older the spots fade and the dog looks white...

Mikey

I had no idea they did that!! So I'm no help But I'd imagine it's similar to people going gray ?

rubyred92

It is pretty true about the hair color fading with age. I see many black dogs with gray muzzles due to their age. However it's not always that. My dog has little white hairs throughout her red fur, possibly because she has so many albino family members.


One quick, dumb question...what does IMO stand for?

TashaHope

IMO is In My Opinion. Not a dumb question if you don't know what it is. :P

Alba

It happends to rat terriers and pretty much any breed that has "liver spots".