Dutch Shepherd Forum

I've noticed on a lot of DS that they have white hair around the muzzle in front...upper lip and chin area. Like they're old, except they ain't .

I"ve been watching for it with Geyser, and now, at a ripe old 9 months, she's starting to get a little Hitler moustache, and even a little soul patch of white on her bottom jaw. I guess this area will get whiter.

So, what's up with this? Judith?

I know this happens in Malinois too and is called "frosted". I would assume the same thing for DS?

I have even seen dogs born with that frosting, yes. It is pretty much genetic. Some dogs go very gray(grey?) and others barely show much at all. Maybe a bit around the lips and usually under the jaw when they are old, but sometimes, not much beyond that. Whiskers and the long hair above the eye (all of a sudden I am not sure if that has a specific name?) will likely turn white too with age, and eyelashes. But muzzels may or may not turn very much with age, leading to the assumption that it is not an actual graying process, but the presence of some less pigmented hair.
I should try to find the scientific explanation though. (the above isn't)

Thalie started to grey when she was 2, but Sadie has some little white hairs under her chin, its very cute.

Cino had his "soul patch" already the day I got him.

Sugar too has white hairs under her chin.

Dingo was about 2,5 when the first grey hair appeared on his muzzle We tried everything, from pulling them out to dying, nothing works (I am kidding...)
Dingo is the only one in hos litter that turned grey this young, his sister just has the first couple of grey hairs, now that they are 7. According to Dingo's breeder it's due to all the worries he had during his rough life with us...

Baby Gwen is growing some white hairs on the side of her muzzle..... I think it is due to all the trouble she gets herself in menacing her buddies and my husband. :dswink"

What about white growing out of the ears like an old man????

Christie M wrote:What about white growing out of the ears like an old man????

Did he have that from a young age?

I noticed the other day that Gwen has white armpits!? Does that count?

leih merigian wrote:

Christie M wrote:What about white growing out of the ears like an old man????
Did he have that from a young age?

Nah. Here we are in Sept 2009 at the PSA Nationals. Grey was just showing up.
http://katrinakphotography.smugmug.com/ ... 1326_5DMQx

You can hardly notice when at this stage! This is one of my all time favorites of Willow, just cause it is her classic expression.
http://katrinakphotography.smugmug.com/ ... 4202_uzEnx

Katrina has some awesome pics of her in this album - as well as other dogs at the National event! I'll stop bragging - but I also love this guarding shot http://katrinakphotography.smugmug.com/ ... 6076_pqSZG

>>This is one of my all time favorites of Willow, just cause it is her classic expression.<<

Such a beautiful picture!

Did anyone say grey/white? These images show our previous DS roughcoat at the age of five till nine years old:






He started to get grey and white from his second year of age.

And together with Floor:


She is less grey to be honest.