Really Scruffy Pups...

[betty]

I have a litter of 8 with my current female, and they all look really scruffy in the sense that their hair isn't nice and smooth like they normally are at nearly 6 weeks.

Apart from the heap that they must be sleeping in ruffling their coats - is there anything else that could cause this disheveled look? They are rather small still, of course due to the larger litter, but active, playing and eating etc.

I can't seem to get a good picture as the 3 it shows most on are PEWs and it doesn't show very well with my camera. I will keep trying though. Maybe I will see a better coat after their 8 week moult?

Hmm?

[eleda]

It sounds like bedhead to me. Maybe mum is having trouble keeping up with the grooming with such a big, active litter? I've no breeding experience but I thought I'd throw my thoughts in

[betty]

Just to update, these scruffy little pups all grew into their hair as normal - but they were all smaller than usual - and maybe that was the 'cause' of the rather disheveled look - perhaps they had more skin than body and so it was sitting wrong on them?

Anyway, they all look gorgeous now - shiny and glossy just as they should be.