My red setter is going grey.

Archeron

Just wondering if there is a normal age at which a dog starts to go grey? I've a red setter, and he is only 5, and he has the face of a 90 year old with all these grey hairs all over the place, and those really funny looking old man eyelashes that stick out about 5 inches. Is this premature ageing, or is this normal enough?

Tabitharose

my 5 year old lab is going grey around her mouth & chin - I'd consider it normal enough - some dogs in my experience go grey earlier than others - just like us

TerrorFirmer

It does sound a bit unusual but it just varies from dog to dog. I used to have a red setter and he had no grey hairs at all.

Although my friends dogs started going grey at the age of about 2, she now has a full beard of it....

Ruu_Old

Dogs are considered to be seniors at around 6 or 7 but it varies with breeds and stress level.

Archeron

aaah, stress levels, that could explain it. He's very placid and really timid, and the slightest thing gives him awful frights. (One time he turned around and there was a bird in his water bowl, and he visibly jumped with fright) so maybe that explains it.