We have a ten month old standard poodle that was suppose to be black, but I am sure is blue. That is fine, we love her! However, she has started to grow a few white hairs on her back that are like dead hairs almost. They are long and straight, unlike her very curly coat. They can easily be plucked out with just using your finger tips and some fall out with just brushing. Has anyone heard of or seen anything like this before. We think she is beautiful anyway and, of course, get many compliments whenever we walk her. Thanks for any information.

-- Anonymous, July 31, 2001

Answers

"White Hairs"

I was at my groomers the other day. She has a beautiful black standard poodle. Same thing, white (I call them guard hairs) growing along the top of her back. She said it is the result of imperfect breeding of the color somewhere along the line. A breeder could probably explain this better.

-- Anonymous, September 17, 2001

We've run into a what sounds like a similar situation, but our white toy poodle has developed a round brown patch of hair on her back around the location where the vet gave her her last rabies shot. The vet said she'd never seen anything like it, and that it was not related to any disease as far as she knew.

-- Anonymous, November 20, 2001