Wavy stripe???? 15 weeks old white german shepherd

porcelanne · 09-13-2012, 07:08 AM

Hi sorry if this has been asked a million times before - my puppy Nanook is currently 15 weeks old and this week he's developed a really wavy stripe down his back - normally where a GSD would have a coloured stripe, he has no colour however as he's a pure white GSD. (Not albino though).

I've tried searching the forums and googled it tons but I can't find quite an explanation! There's lots of talk about bitch stripes - they are apparently wavy too as well as a change in colour, but I don't reckon that's what this is? I've attached photos to show you all - taken this morning after he was freshly groomed with the furminator! (see below)

I read in one place that the wave won't last, it's part of his adult coat growing in? Is this true? If it's permanent I'm not bothered, it's pretty cool looking just wondering why it's happened and if it's gonna be there for good or not?

Dainerra · 09-13-2012, 07:28 AM

it is his adult coat starting to come in

this photo doesn't show it very well, but Singe's started at the same age

porcelanne · 09-13-2012, 07:31 AM

Good to know what it is then! That's pretty cool, will he go like this all over??

Sunflowers · 09-13-2012, 08:09 AM

Yes, he will

Courtney · 09-13-2012, 08:57 AM

My boy had the same wavy section on his back...I actually liked it!

It did eventually go away.

blackshep · 09-13-2012, 09:08 AM

My pup has that too, but it's only over the top of her back, not down her sides. You could very clearly see the line of he adult coat coming in, starting down her spine and slowly moving down both her sides.

Interesting that some say it goes away, I thought it was her adult coat coming in and that's how it would stay?

Sunflowers · 09-13-2012, 09:13 AM

Doesn't go away, LOL! It stays and more comes in.

**Cassidy's Mom** · 09-13-2012, 09:56 AM

Hard to tell for sure with the angle of your photos, but it looks like you've got a coatie.

If so, that's pretty typical of how the adult coat grows in - you'll see that stripe of longer, and sometimes silkier than the fuzzy puppy coat. It's more apparent with longcoats than with standard coats, and the waviness of that longer fur is common.

Jag · 09-13-2012, 11:50 AM

Had to comment on the name! Did you pick that from the movie? I'd almost forgotten about it.. and I LOVE it!

porcelanne · 09-13-2012, 11:52 AM

What's a coatie? A long haired GSD?

He's always been super fluffy, and I reckon he'll have a medium length coat judging by how mum and dad were.

He already has waves at his ears and behind his legs, so now the adult coat is coming in does anyone reckon it'll straighten out or keep a bit of a wave?

I'm not bothered either way! He'll be gorgeous anyway! I've attached some pix so you can see him as a wee baby and how he is now

09-13-2012, 07:08 AM	#1 (permalink)
porcelanne Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Isle of Lewis Posts: 46	Wavy stripe???? 15 weeks old white german shepherd Hi sorry if this has been asked a million times before - my puppy Nanook is currently 15 weeks old and this week he's developed a really wavy stripe down his back - normally where a GSD would have a coloured stripe, he has no colour however as he's a pure white GSD. (Not albino though). I've tried searching the forums and googled it tons but I can't find quite an explanation! There's lots of talk about bitch stripes - they are apparently wavy too as well as a change in colour, but I don't reckon that's what this is? I've attached photos to show you all - taken this morning after he was freshly groomed with the furminator! (see below) I read in one place that the wave won't last, it's part of his adult coat growing in? Is this true? If it's permanent I'm not bothered, it's pretty cool looking just wondering why it's happened and if it's gonna be there for good or not?

09-13-2012, 07:31 AM	#3 (permalink)
porcelanne Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Isle of Lewis Posts: 46	Thanks! Good to know what it is then! That's pretty cool, will he go like this all over??

09-13-2012, 09:56 AM	#8 (permalink)
Cassidy's Mom No Stinkin' Leashes Moderator Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 27,414	Hard to tell for sure with the angle of your photos, but it looks like you've got a coatie. If so, that's pretty typical of how the adult coat grows in - you'll see that stripe of longer, and sometimes silkier than the fuzzy puppy coat. It's more apparent with longcoats than with standard coats, and the waviness of that longer fur is common. __________________ -Debbie- Dena 9/12/04-10/4/08 Forever would have been too short Keefer 8/25/05 Halo 11/9/08 FDCh-G TF-III Cassidy 6/8/00-10/4/04

09-13-2012, 11:50 AM	#9 (permalink)
Jag Knighted Member Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Ohio Posts: 2,683	Had to comment on the name! Did you pick that from the movie? I'd almost forgotten about it.. and I LOVE it! __________________ Wrath of Grim z Dragon "Mr. Grim"- Threaten my handler. I dare you.

09-13-2012, 11:52 AM	#10 (permalink)
porcelanne Junior Member Join Date: Sep 2012 Location: Isle of Lewis Posts: 46	Coatie? What's a coatie? A long haired GSD? He's always been super fluffy, and I reckon he'll have a medium length coat judging by how mum and dad were. He already has waves at his ears and behind his legs, so now the adult coat is coming in does anyone reckon it'll straighten out or keep a bit of a wave? I'm not bothered either way! He'll be gorgeous anyway! I've attached some pix so you can see him as a wee baby and how he is now

09-13-2012, 07:28 AM	#2 (permalink)
Dainerra Crowned Member Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: N. Central Arkansas Posts: 5,229	it is his adult coat starting to come in this photo doesn't show it very well, but Singe's started at the same age

09-13-2012, 08:09 AM	#4 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,689	Yes, he will

09-13-2012, 08:57 AM	#5 (permalink)
Courtney Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Ohio Posts: 4,402	My boy had the same wavy section on his back...I actually liked it! It did eventually go away.

09-13-2012, 09:08 AM	#6 (permalink)
blackshep Master Member Join Date: Aug 2012 Posts: 820	My pup has that too, but it's only over the top of her back, not down her sides. You could very clearly see the line of he adult coat coming in, starting down her spine and slowly moving down both her sides. Interesting that some say it goes away, I thought it was her adult coat coming in and that's how it would stay?

09-13-2012, 09:13 AM	#7 (permalink)
Sunflowers Crowned Member Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Central Florida Posts: 4,689	Doesn't go away, LOL! It stays and more comes in.

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