… freckle love

Last week when I posted about Bailey & his new 'mystery' spots on his back . . . I never thought that this wasn't a secluded incident. . . but apparently . . . Bailey has quite a few newly freckled buddies!

I've received some e-mails from a few of you about how your dog has had the same thing happen to their fur & so I thought I'd do a Bailey post & let you see his 'fur journey' & what I've learned so far. . . (&, well, Bailey really likes it when I post about him . . .)

This is a little photo mosaic that I made showing how Bailey looked at 9 weeks & in the first few months that I had him (center & upper right) . . . then at 4 months - after his first haircut (lower right). . . & then what he has looked like in this past year - in his second year (upper & lower left). What a change, yes!?

With every haircut - his coat has progressively lightened, with now just a little of the black & brown on the inside part of his ears. Bailey's mommy is a white Bichon Frise, while his daddy is a black poodle. . . & Bailey also has the dark skin - from his poppa. . . so I thought that his coat was going to always be darker. . .

But pretty much every 6 months or so . . . it just kept getting lighter, & I kept seeing changes.

Here's a photo (one of my favorites!) of his very first bath . . . (look how little he is!!! When Dad's had was extended - it was as big as his body!)

. . . & here he is (such a big boy now!) - at his last bath - yesterday.

As you can see. . . quite a change. . . & his black & brown is pretty much gone. . . .

. . . except . . .

. . . for these!

Can you see all the brown that is appearing. . . & in the past month the amount of brown spots has grown from none to two smaller spots. . . & as you can see in this photo (especially when his fur is wet) - the brown patches are growing!

This past week, Bailey was due for a shot/vaccine, & so when we went to the vets, I took the opportunity & had him check the spots . . . just in case. They have never bothered Bailey - but I wanted to be sure.

When we arrived - the tech - who has known Bailey since he was a pup - noticed his spots right away & said that her dog (a poodle) that was the same age as Bailey (3 years) had also been getting some spots & she was baffled by it too! But, when Dr. Ivan came in & checked his out. . . he wasn't surprised at all (whew!) - & said that - given Bailey's coat transformations already - this was just a sign that he is maturing. . . (who?. . . my pup?), & that he might even get quite a few more!

So. . . we will see what the next six months bring!

Until then, Bailey will still enjoy his baths . . . well once he gets out of the sink part. . . He LOVES the 'after the sink part! - when he gets to wrestle with the towels & an old quilt . . .

Then, when he's pooped himself out, he snuggles in, under the hairdryer (really. . . this little guy just loves the hairdryer. . . )

. . . until he looks like this! (& hey! . . can you see the new brown fur around his nose & mouth?!)

Then after we're "all done" . . . (Very important words in the bath-time process. . . You don't dare say them too early!), it's time for a few spins (& blurry photos) on the kitchen floor because "someone" knows that "someone's" getting a treat. . .

. . . "someone" & his new & ever growing batch of 'freckles'!

So there you have it.!. . . One mystery solved!. . . & now the mystery of what this pupper will look like in another year!

Bailey & I hope you have a wonderful weekend!

xo, Bren