Colour fading - genes or diet

[timeforachange999]

So my 11 month cavapoo (blenheim markings) is fading quite a bit. Now I know this is common for poodle crosses due to genetic fading genes. However, the poodle came from his mum who was a cavapoo and was a very brown ruby red. His dad is a blenheim cavalier and ddog has classic blenheim markings but non shedding fur. I was hoping he wouldn't fade as his cavapoo mum hadn't faded but I don't really know how the genetics work. The fading has started since we transitioned him onto a different brand adult food to his puppy food. He also lost quite a bit of weight when I transitioned him. I've upped the amount I'm feeding him but he hasn't really put much weight back on yet (~1-2 months after increaseing the food).
Is it possible the new food has caused the lightened hair(I have read diet can cause hair to lighten) or is it just likely to be the poodle in? He has just been groomed so his hair is now quite short and I was also wondering if fur can get darker at the tips as it grows (have seen this suggested online also)?

I know he's a "mutt" so you can't predict what you get but I am mainly wondering as I have some concerns over his current food and wondering if it could be linked to this (although this food is better for his bowels than his puppy food was).

I found my dog changed colours as her adult fur grew in. She’s a lab and was quite blonde with a bit of red around ears when we got her and ended up being fox red. I think it’s more genetics than diet.

It's just genetics and age. You can't predict what you get in any dog really - although can be more 'certain' in pedigrees.

Dogs coats fade and change as they get older. My mums cocker is 'sable' - was black, white and golden when she was young. She's now completely gold (with a little back moustache). All my Goldies coats have changed colour as they aged. My boy was 'Golden' when he was born but he's now 'Gold.'

Dogs should also lose weight as they age - puppies are notoriously chubby little things but you don't want them to stay that way. Unless your dog is showing obvious signs of being sick or is actually skinny to the point of being unhealthy, I wouldn't worry - and remember lots of people think their dog is 'thin' when actually it's pretty fat. Puppy food is very different (and should be higher calorie) than adult food.

So basically, don't worry.

All our Pyreneans have started with strong colour as pups but faded by 8 or 9 months. I don't think it's food related.
Your dog is now an adolescent, not a puppy so shedding the puppy fat is normal. A lot of pups can go lanky during adolescence but then become more solid and muscled when adult.

It's not food. It's genetics. My border terrier was jet black as a tiny puppy. At 2 she is dark grizzle. Mum is blue and tan and dad is grizzle and tan. She is absolutely a mix of the two. Mine is beginning to build muscle now. She is still slim but much more muscular.

Weight wise numbers aren't helpful. Body conditioning is more useful. I like to keep my dogs at a 4.5. So I can feel her ribs easily but can't see them. That is fairly easy to achieve with high protein good quality food.

It's quite hard to tell visually as he is usually pretty fluffy. He has just been groomed quite short so I popped into the vets to see the nurse who thought he seemed an ideal weight 😀