Cross Breeds

How much do Golden Retriever puppy colors change?

I just picked out my puppy who is not even a week old (eyes havent opened yet) and he is a brownish color- but all the pictures of puppies(around 8wks) I have seen have always been blond then get darker.. is he going to lighten up when he gets a few weeks older? Also his muzzle is really dark- does this usually change? I cant seem to find ANY pictures of Golden Retriever puppies that are dark when they are 8wks old. Thanks

Public Comments

1. Most goldens are lighter as pups and do darken as they develop their adult coats. In general, the color of the puppy's ear flap is a good approximation of the adult dog's color. Also, take a look at the parents for a clue. If the puppy is darker now, it will be a darker golden.
2. When my goldens were born they were a light tan color (more like a yellow lab color). When they were 8 weeks old they were a little darker, but mostly blonde. Now they are dark like red/brown. I have never witnessed the color change going in the opposite way. My very first golden, Vegas (RIP), was very very dark brown and red (more the coloring of an irish setter) but he was 100% golden. Maybe your dog is going to have that color, it is beautiful! But don't stress about your dogs color! =]
3. Hi! If your pup is already on the dark coloring side it will most likely not lighten up. It usually works the other way around. A lighter pup will darken up a bit after it shed it's puppy fur. If either mom or dad are of very dark coloring than you pup will most likely also be of very dark coloring. My dog in my picture was much lighter as a pup than he is now. He is considered a med. Golden. Very dark Magoney Colored goldens are not looked on as acceptable. Their color is considered a fault for being too dark. If you dont care what color your pup will be and have no plans of showing your pup when he /she is older than just enjoy him or her. It's still a Golden and it's just a color.
4. if they are born brown their going to stay brown