Labradoodle Looks Like a ‘Totally Different Dog’ Due to Color Change Caused by ‘Very Rare’ Condition (Exclusive)

Over the course of two years, Murphy the Labradoodle has undergone a transformation no one saw coming.

When Sarah Foster and her husband brought him home in February of 2023, Murphy was a dark chocolate brown ball of energy. But as the months passed, his fur color subtly began to change, eventually changing from deep brown to a light, almost blonde hue.

Although Murphy’s new look was unexpected, one thing remains unchanged: the love his family has for him.

“We knew that Murphy would eventually shed his ‘puppy coat,’ as all puppies do, which would leave him a little lighter than he was initially,” Foster tells PEOPLE exclusively. “We did not think his color would change this drastically. We were totally surprised by his transformation, but that, of course, did not change the strong love we have for him. ”

The family first began to notice Murphy’s snout turning a lighter brown around one month after bringing him home. It wasn’t long before they realized Murphy’s color shift was more than just a small change. By May of 2023, Murphy’s fur started to develop lighter spots all over his body, which his owners initially thought were just quirks of his Merle heritage.

“Murphy stayed ‘patchy’ for several months, which made us believe he was going to stay that way forever,” Foster says.

However, the real surprise came a few months later.

In April of 2024, Murphy began to show signs of turning not just lighter, but almost entirely white. “Ever since that point, Murphy kept getting lighter and lighter to what he is now, which is blonde at 2 years of age,” Foster explains.

The dramatic shift in fur color left both his owners and their friends in awe. “Every time my husband and I look at Murphy’s ‘baby’ pictures, we are in shock at how much he has changed,” Foster admits. “We always say he looks like a totally different dog.”

“One of our best friends who visits us often states that every time she sees Murphy, he ‘looks more blonde.’ Even the TikTok I posted, people did not believe it was the same dog from the first clip to the second.”

According to Cassidy Stranzl, D.V.M., of Dakota Veterinary Center, Murphy’s fur change is a result of vitiligo — a condition that causes a dog’s skin to lose pigmentation or color.

“It is an autoimmune disorder, where the dog’s body attacks its own melanocytes (the skin cells that produce melanin). This is suspected to be hereditary, though no specific genes have been isolated to date,” Dr. Stranzl tells PEOPLE. “The type of food they eat, differences in lifestyle, or grooming supplies haven’t been found to cause dogs to be more or less susceptible to vitiligo.”

Vitiligo is not Labradoodle-specific, however, it is more common in certain breeds like German Shepherds, Doberman Pinschers, Rottweilers, and Collies.

“I have seen vitiligo but not to the extent in the video – it is a very rare condition in dogs,” Dr. Stranzl reveals. “Luckily, there is nothing to be concerned about, vitiligo only affects the pigment of the skin/fur, so it is only cosmetic and super cute.”

Nevertheless, Dr. Stranzl highlights the importance of taking pets to the vet for regular check-ups.

“Dogs diagnosed with other autoimmune disease(s) may be more susceptible to developing vitiligo too, and those comorbidities do need to be treated,” she explains. “It is also important to take your baby to the vet for a definitive diagnosis if vitiligo is suspected, as there are other diseases that can look similar.”

For his owners, Murphy’s transformation is nothing short of fascinating. “It is by far the craziest thing we have ever seen come from an animal,” Foster says. As cute as it is to watch Murphy grow up and evolve, it’s also a reminder that, sometimes, nature has a few surprises in store.

What started as a dark chocolate Labradoodle has become a sunshine companion—and his family wouldn’t have it any other way.