Quick answer: Most puppies start losing their soft puppy coat at 4 to 6 months and finish the change to the adult coat by 8 to 12 months. The change is gradual. You will see more loose hair, mat-prone areas, and sometimes a colour change. Brush more often during the change (2 to 3 times a week). Book the first full groom at 5 to 6 months, when the adult coat is starting to come in but the puppy is still small enough to be manageable.
What is the puppy coat change
Every puppy is born with a soft, single-layer puppy coat. It is fine, fluffy, and designed to keep the puppy warm. Between 4 and 8 months, the puppy coat starts to fall out and the adult coat grows in. The adult coat has a different texture, often a different colour, and (for many breeds) an undercoat.
The change is gradual, not a single event. Most puppies go through 2 to 3 months of what groomers call "the uglies", where the coat looks patchy, dull, and mat-prone. The adult coat comes in underneath and the puppy coat drops out.
What you will see
Three signs the coat change is happening.
1. More loose hair than usual. A sharp increase in hair around the house, on your clothes, and in the brush. This is the puppy coat dropping out.
2. New mat-prone areas. Behind the ears, in the armpits, around the trouser area, and along the chest. The matting is because the new adult coat is growing in underneath the puppy coat, and the two layers catch on each other.
3. A colour or texture change. A black puppy may develop brown undertones; a smooth coat may develop waves; a straight coat may develop curls. The adult coat often has a different colour, especially in breeds with multiple coat colours.
When the change happens, by breed
The change starts at different ages depending on the breed.
| Breed | Coat change starts | Adult coat in | |-------|---------------------|----------------| | Cockapoo | 4 to 5 months | 9 to 12 months | | Cavapoo | 4 to 5 months | 9 to 12 months | | Cocker Spaniel | 5 to 7 months | 10 to 12 months | | Cavalier King Charles Spaniel | 5 to 7 months | 10 to 12 months | | Bichon Frise | 4 to 6 months | 10 to 12 months | | Yorkshire Terrier | 5 to 7 months | 12 to 18 months | | Schnauzer | 6 to 9 months | 12 to 18 months | | Border Collie | 5 to 7 months | 10 to 12 months | | Labrador | 5 to 7 months | 10 to 12 months | | Golden Retriever | 5 to 7 months | 10 to 12 months | | Standard Poodle | 4 to 6 months | 12 to 18 months | | Shih Tzu | 5 to 7 months | 12 to 18 months | | Bichon | 4 to 6 months | 10 to 12 months |
Larger breeds tend to change earlier; smaller or slower-maturing breeds (Yorkie, Poodle, Shih Tzu) take longer.
What to do during the coat change
Three habits to build during the coat change.
1. Brush 2 to 3 times a week. A daily brush is even better for the mat-prone breeds (Cockapoo, Cavapoo, Cocker, Bichon). A slicker brush plus a metal comb is the right pair for most breeds. See our best slicker brush guide.
2. Book a "puppy tidy" at 4 to 5 months. Not a full groom. A 20 to 30 minute tidy around the face, feet, and sanitary area, with a brush-out. Most groomers call this a "puppy intro" or "puppy tidy". It gets the puppy used to the studio at the same time as the coat change.
3. Book the first full groom at 5 to 6 months. The puppy is still small enough to be manageable, the coat is changing, and the adult coat is starting to come in. Waiting until 9 to 12 months often means a much harder first groom with a fully matted adult coat.
What NOT to do during the coat change
- Do not clip a double coat short. The adult undercoat is growing in underneath. Clipping through both layers damages the undercoat and may change how the adult coat grows back.
- Do not skip brushing. The mat-prone weeks are the most important weeks to brush.
- Do not panic about the colour change. Most puppies go through a colour shift as the adult coat comes in. The change is normal.
- Do not book a single very long first groom. A 90-minute first groom on a nervous 6 month old is a recipe for a groomer-phobic adult dog. 2 to 3 short visits over 4 to 6 weeks is the right setup.
Coat change and specific breeds
Cockapoo and Cavapoo. The mat-prone champion. Brushing every day during the change (4 to 8 months) prevents a mat crisis. The adult coat is curlier than the puppy coat. A full groom at 5 to 6 months catches the change early.
Cocker Spaniel. The adult coat is silkier and more prone to matting behind the ears than the puppy coat. A weekly brush behind the ears during the change prevents a mat. A first full groom at 5 to 6 months.
Bichon Frise. The adult coat is denser and curlier. A first full groom at 5 to 6 months sets up the adult cut. Without the first groom, the adult coat grows into a thick mat by 12 months.
Yorkshire Terrier. The slowest change. Most Yorkies are still losing the puppy coat at 12 to 18 months. The puppy coat is the soft one; the adult coat is the long, silky show coat (if left long) or the pet trim (if cut short).
Labrador and Border Collie. The "blowing the coat" weeks. Expect a large amount of undercoat coming out. Daily brushing during the change is not optional. A first full groom at 5 to 6 months is more about de-shedding than cutting.
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
When does a puppy's coat change to the adult coat?
Most puppies start losing the puppy coat at 4 to 6 months and finish the change by 8 to 12 months. Smaller and slower-maturing breeds (Yorkie, Poodle, Shih Tzu) can take 12 to 18 months. The change is gradual and may include a colour shift.
When should a puppy have its first full groom?
At 5 to 6 months for most breeds. This is when the adult coat is starting to come in but the puppy is still small enough to be manageable. Waiting until 9 to 12 months often means a much harder first groom with a matted adult coat.
Can I cut a puppy's coat during the change?
A light tidy around the face, feet, and sanitary area is fine. Do not clip a double coat short during the change; the adult undercoat is growing in and clipping through both layers damages the coat. Most groomers will not do a full body clip on a puppy under 5 to 6 months for this reason.
Pair the coat-change months with our handmade dog accessories - comfortable collars and bandanas for the change months.
Complete UK dog grooming guide Puppy first groom Cockapoo grooming styles UK Cocker Spaniel grooming at home Statham's 23, NW11