Should I Shave My Golden To Help Reduce Shedding
No! Absolutely not!
Dont be tempted to go one step further and shave your golden retriever in a bid to stop them shedding. This will leave your dog at risk of sunburn and heatstroke, and will affect the way that their hair grows back.
Nature provided Golden Retrievers with a perfectly balanced double coat, that perhaps counter-intuitively helps to keep them cool when its hot. Dontinterferee with this.
Golden Retriever Shedding Season
The typical Golden will shed his fur year-round, but his shedding will be at its heaviest during the late Spring and the late Fall. In the Spring, your furry friend is blowing out his heavy winter undercoat to make ready for the warmer months. A lighter undercoat forms in its place, and this lighter undercoat is then lost in the Fall to help make way for the thicker undercoat needed to deal with cooler temperatures.
In some cases, your dogs shedding may be the result of a medical condition. If his excessive shedding is out of season, or if he is losing hair in large patches, you need to contact your veterinarian. The following medical conditions can result in abnormal hair loss for dogs.
- Endocrine disorder
- External parasites
The History Of Golden Retrievers
As legend has it, Lord Tweedmouth of Scotland wanted to create a hunting dog that could retrieve shot down birds from both land and water.
His solution was to breed a wavy-coated retriever with a Tweed water spaniel, thus creating the first litter of golden retrievers in 1868.
Now although theyre common family dogs today, the fact that golden retrievers were originally bred for retrieving birds all day in the wilderness has left some lasting physical and personality traits that we see in them today.
- They have lots of energy because they were bred to hunt all day
- They are athletic because they were bred to swim in lakes and rivers and run through fields
- They have a tendency to be mouthy because they were bred to hold birds in their mouths
So what does this have to do with the different types of golden retrievers?
Everything!
Knowing where golden retrievers came from can help us understand where we are today.
So now lets dive into the supposed 8 types of golden retrievers and discover the truth about each one.
Children And Other Pets
The amiable Golden Retriever isn’t bothered by the noise and commotion of kids in fact, he thrives on it. He’s a large, strong dog, though, and he can easily knock over a small child by mistake.
As with every breed, you should always teach children how to approach and touch dogs, and always supervise any interactions between dogs and young children to prevent any biting or ear or tail pulling on the part of either party. Teach your child never to approach any dog while he’s eating or sleeping or to try to take the dog’s food away. No dog, no matter how friendly, should ever be left unsupervised with a child.
The Golden’s attitude toward other pets is the more the merrier. He enjoys the companionship of other dogs, and with proper introductions and training, can be trusted with cats, rabbits, and other animals.
What Is The Teddy Trim
Although its not a good idea to shave your golden retrievers fur, some owners prefer to keep their dogs hair shorter in summer. The Teddy trim is a good option to keep the fur shorter without sacrificing the double coat. It is also a good choice for owners who prefer a low maintenance coat. For this style, the whole body is trimmed to a shorter length.
Two Golden Retrievers in the Teddy trim
Feed Your Golden High
Obviously, every dog should be fed with healthy and nutritious food, but did you ever wonder what this does for their skin and coat? With the proper diet, your dog will have a very healthy coat and skin, which helps limit the shedding.
With poor diets, you will find that dogs tend to shed much more than they should. Make sure that especially consider foods that have lots of omega-3 fatty acids and other foods that reduce inflammation and enhance skin and coat health.
You can even give your dog some omega-3 fatty acid supplements. These aids come in several different forms, such as liquid or tablets, so that you can implement them into your dogs diet with little trouble.
More About Your Golden Retrievers Double Coat
The double coat is made up of two parts, the undercoat and the overcoat. Each part serves a purpose and when you shave their coat you essentially stop them working properly. Heres a bit more information about both.
The Undercoat
The undercoat is essentially the insulation coat. Its made up of thick woolly fur that keeps heat trapped in so that your pup can stay warm all through the winter. While its important for keeping them warm, it still needs the help of the overcoat.
Believe it or not, when your dog sheds a lot, most of it comes from the undercoat. Shedding increases even more during their fall and summer blowouts. During these times, theyll shed most of their fur to make way for a coat that will keep them cooler or a coat that will warm them up.
The Overcoat
The overcoat is the layer of hair on the top of your dogs body that keeps their undercoat dry. It has oils on it which help water glide off it, stopping it from reaching the undercoat. This is the coat youll always see and stroke.
Trimming Your Golden Retriever
Trimming your golden is not usually necessary unless youre showing your dog, plus it can be dangerous if you cut their coat too short.
However, there are two areas that you might want to consider trimming whether you show them or not:
Golden retrievers tend to have grinch feet or slippers and grow lots of fur between their toes and pads.
If the bottoms of your dogs pads are too furry, the fur can easily become matted and splay their toes, causing joint issues.
Another issue is that furry pads can cause them to not get good traction on wood or tile floors, which can also cause joint issues.
You can clip their paw fur to be about even with their pads.
The other area you may want to consider trimming are the areas around their butt and genitals.
If they have issues getting poop or pee on their coats, then you may do a light trim in those areas, but if not, then most people dont trim around there at all.
The Correct Golden Retriever Coat
An open letter to breeders and judges:
What could be more glamorous than this image: A handsome golden retriever, running happily through a field; a spectacular dog with a shiny, silky and soft coat, glowing in the sunlightcomplete with long feathering, flowing in the wind?
Yes, indeed, what could be more glamorous, but what could in fact be more incorrect? The Golden Retriever Club of Canadas Breed Standard Committee wishes to urge both breeders and judges alike: Please pay attention to the breed-standard description of the correct Golden retriever coat, as this is of utmost importance for a hunting dog.
To quote the standard:
Dense and water repellent with good undercoat. Texture not as hard as that of a shorthaired dog, nor as silky as that of a setter. Lies flat against body and may be straight or wavy. Moderate feathering on back of forelegs and heavier feathering on front of neck, back of thighs and underside of tail. Feathering may be lighter than rest of coat. Excessive length, open coats or limp, soft coats are undesirable.
From our observation over recent years, it is clear to many of us that there is now a disturbing trend developing in this breed: Golden retrievers with incorrect coats are not only a common sight, but they are, unfortunately, also often given merit over more correct specimens, in part because of a certain glamorous look.
Example of a dog with a correctly wavy coat and moderate furnishings.
Stages Of Golden Retriever Coat
There are three stages of a golden retrievers coat growth namely:
- Fluff to fur stage: The beginning stage of your puppys coat growth. Your pups fluffy coat starts its transition into fur
- Coat transition stage: Feathering starts to develop on the coat but might not be so prominent in every dog.
- Final feathering stage: Golden will have more prominent and fuller coat by this time
Transition will usually take about 18 months to complete. lets dive deeper into it:
Shaving Will Not Stop Your Dog From Shedding
Shaving a double-coated dog does not make them shed less. Many people are under the impression that shaving a dog will stop the shedding, it does not.
Double-coated dogs shed twice a year and that is the undercoat. The rest of the time the shedding is normal hair turn over, which happens in all animals with hair.
Shaving only makes the hair pieces smaller, but they will still shed.
Do Golden Retrievers Coats Get Darker
Yes, golden retrievers coat color does get a bit darker as they grow old. Normally, golden retriever puppies are born with lighter coat color than their parents. At around 2 months of age, their coat color starts changing. Checking your pups ear tips color can give you an idea about how darker the coat will get.
Other Factors To Consider
Reducing normal levels of shedding is pretty simple when you break it down, and weve discussed the main methods in which you can do this.
But what if the shedding isnt normal? Well, like all dogs, Goldens can sometimes shed beyond what is considered normal. And in some cases there can be an underlying cause for this.
For example, if your Golden has dry, irritated skin, this can sometimes be due to an allergy arising from the food theyre eating, fleas, or their environment. And in some cases, it could be related to stress, because dogs that are stressed can shed excessively.
So if you are concerned that the amount he is shedding isnt within the realms ofnormal then the best thing to do is contact your local veterinarian. They are going to be the best source of information here, and should be able to identify the cause and help you get it sorted.
Just keep in mind that normal shedding in a Golden Retriever is going to be higher than it is for a low shedding breed like the Norfolk Terrier for example. And, as mentioned, they do shed heavily a couple times per year. So an uptick in shedding is not always a cause for concern.
Grooming The Golden Retrievers For Enhancing Full Coat
Proper grooming relaxes the hair follicles. Thus, it is helpful in the hair growth of your pet. If you properly groom your pet in the shedding season, you can control excess shedding and hair loss. However, you can seek help from a professional groomer if you feel you cannot groom them properly. Furthermore, the use of different grooming devices can make your grooming experience easier and comfortable.
How Can I Stop My Golden Retriever From Shedding So Much
Golden Retrievers have a distinctively long beautiful golden coat. Unfortunately, this long beautiful coat is prone to a lot of shedding which makes Golden Retrievers to be a relatively high-maintenance breed. The excessive shedding can be a nuisance at times as the fur often finds its way onto your clothes and furniture.
With proper maintenance and grooming, however, the amount of fur shed by your Golden can be significantly reduced.
The best way of reducing the amount of fur that your Golden Retriever sheds is by brushing your dog as frequently as possible. Brushing your dog daily gets rid of all of the loose furs on your dogs body. If you cannot manage to brush your dog daily, you should purpose to give him/her at least two to three good brushings per week.
The brushings should also be accompanied by regular baths, preferably with a rich oatmeal shampoo. This will ensure that your Golden not only has a healthy coat but also a healthy skin. Having a healthy coat will make it less likely for your dog to have loose hair to shed.
You should also ensure that your Golden Retriever has a high-quality diet rich in digestible proteins and fatty acids. This will reduce the amount of fur shed by your Golden since it will improve the strength and health of your dogs coat.
Fleas Ticks And Parasites
Fleas and Ticks cause your dog to be very itchy and uncomfortable, which leads to excessive scratching and hair loss.
Fleas and Ticks can be treated with flea shampoos or insecticides from your vet or pet store. Pet bedding and anything they lay down on must be go through the laundry. And you may need to do a very thorough cleaning of your home.
Do NOT take a dog with fleas to a dog groomer, as it may spread to other dogs.
Tip #4: Use A Quality Dog Shampoo
Using human shampoo, or a poorly made shampoo with cheap ingredients or too many chemicals can mess up your dogs skin.
The best case is that it dries out their skin and leaves it flaky, while the worst case is that it exposes them to parasites, viruses, and bacteria.
Make sure to use a shampoo that is made especially for dogs when bathing your golden.
How Do I Stop My Golden Retriever From Shedding
Golden retrievers shed throughout the year. Theres no way to stop dog shedding completely. However, proper coat care and grooming can reduce the shedding level. Some of the best ways to minimize golden retriever shedding are brushing, bathing, and feeding the right food. This wont just help you reduce shedding, but also keep your canines coat healthy and beautiful.
How Long Do Golden Retrievers Shed For
Golden Retrievers shed almost throughout the whole year. They tend to shed heavily in Spring and Fall and moderately in Summer and Winter. Generally, these shedding seasons last between three to eight weeks depending on where you live, with the shedding process taking longer if you live in a hotter place.
However, if your Golden Retriever has been neutered or spayed, then you should expect to experience much heavier shedding for several months after they have been fixed. This is more evident with neutered males due to the changes in his testosterone levels and the hormones responsible for maintaining his fur thick and shiny.
At What Age Do Golden Retrievers Start Shedding
Golden Retriever puppies have an extra thick fluffy fur coat as opposed to the long flowing golden coat that is seen on adult Golden Retrievers. This thick padded fur coat helps to keep the puppies warm during their first 4-6 months.
This coat will then be completely shed at around the sixth month to allow for the growth of the adult coat. After shedding their soft puppy coat, there will be an increased amount of shedding.
How To Groom Your Golden Retrievers Coat In Seven Easy Steps
Now that you know the tools and products you need to groom your golden retriever, lets look at how to groom his or her coat in the best way.
How Do I Make My Golden Retriever Standstill During Grooming
You should also get the dog used to being groomed by grooming him regularly and from an early age. Reward the dog every time he is calm during the process.
Bathe Your Golden Retriever Regularly
Brushing your dog isnt the only way to remove his soon-to-be shed hair in a controlled manner you can also bathe him regularly.
Most Goldens enjoy the occasional bath and it is a very effective hair-management technique thatll help keep your home looking great.
Just be sure you dont bathe your Golden too frequently, as this can cause coat and skin problems.
Anytime you bathe your dog, youll end up washing off many of the hairs that well be shed soon, as well as those that have already been released from the follicles, but still cling to his coat.
Additionally, the massaging action of your hands and fingers will help dislodge soon-to-be shed hair, and itll free the hair that becomes trapped in his coat.
Then, once youve bathed your dog, you can simply dispose of the hair left in the water. If youre bathing your Golden Retriever outdoors, you can simply dump the fur out on the ground or collect it and throw it in the trash.
If you bathe your Golden indoors, youll want to use a drain guard, which will collect the hair as it washes down the drain. This will prevent the hair from clogging your pipes and make clean up much easier.
SEE ALSO: The 5 Best Dog Shampoos for Shedding
When Golden Retrievers Shed
Shedding seasons are the periods where the Golden Retriever will shed the most. This is when owners talk about their dogsblowing their coat. Youll have to groom your Golden Retriever every day when he is blowing his coat. When it is not shedding season, a thorough brush once every other day will be sufficient to manage his coat.
Shedding seasons usually happen during the winter and spring months. He will shift his light summer coat ready for when the colder months hit, making way for his thick winter coat. Then during springtime, he will lose his heavy-duty winter jacket and make way for a lightweight summer coat. This is his bodys way of regulating his body temperature.
What Are Tips To Manage Shedding Of The Golden Retrievers Full Coat
Generally, Golden Retrievers are themselves the dog breed that shades a lot. Therefore, complete elimination of shedding is quite impossible for the Golden Retriever.
However, you can control excessive shedding and reduce hair loss to a manageable amount so that there are no golden hairs all over your house. For this, you can use the following tips:
Tips To Keep Your Dog Warm In Winter
Interested In Training Your Golden Retriever The Right Way
If you havent trained your golden retriever properly, then this is the perfect time to start. Whatever bad behavior your shepherd has, whether its barking at night or other bad behaviors, using the right training program is the key to having an obedient and happy pup.
The training program I love and highly recommend is Brain Training For Dogs.
With Brain Training For Dogs youll save yourself a ton of time and effort. Instead of banging your head against the wall trying to figure out why your dog wont listen, youll follow a path that has been tried, tested, and most importantly, thats given proven results. Not to mention the fact, youll be able to fit the course around your schedule, not fit your schedule around a trainer or obedience class.
So instead of worrying about whether theyre going to be well-behaved or not, youll only have to worry about how much fun youll have with them!
And in most cases its still going to be:
- Cheaper than hiring a professional.
- Cheaper than replacing everything they might break.
- And definitely cheaper than a lawsuit against you, if they decide to bite someone.
Just imagine how great it will feel to finally be able to trust your border collie completely and never worry whether theyll be naughty or not. Instead, youll have the peace of mind that you have a well-behaved pup, and the boundaries you set for them, will always be there, EVEN IF YOURE NOT.
When Does Golden Retriever Get Long Hair
Undoubtedly, the lustrous, long, and golden hair of Golden Retriever contributes a lot to its popularity. Besides this, their smooth body with perfect size makes these breeds a great cuddling companion. But do you know that the long hair of a Golden Retriever grows only after a certain age?
So, when does a Golden Retriever get long hair? Although, Golden Retrievers arent bald soon after birth. Yet, they only have short and denser golden hair. And the hair of these dogs starts growing along with them. Finally, when Golden Retriever gets 18 months old, it gets its long, dense, and soft golden hair.
I will disclose more about your Golden Retrievers hair and the ways to promote its growth further in this article. However, first, let us discuss your pets standard coat and the history behind it.
Table of Contents
Are Golden Retrievers Double Coated Understand Your Dogs Fur
Table of Contents
The golden retriever is one of the most popular dog breeds in the US. Being one of the cutest dogs ever, this breed is very friendly and is a great dog breed to keep as a house pet. Golden retrievers are very cheerful and love being around humans. You cant help but feel immense love for these dogs because they are just so cute.
The golden retrievers gorgeous looks have a lot to do with its luscious, thick coat of fur. Whether its a dazzling shade of golden, or a majestic white color, you cant help but be stunned by the beauty of a golden retrievers coat. However, looks arent the only thing that makes the golden retrievers coat special.
What Should You Do Instead Of Shaving Your Golden Retriever
Fortunately, instead of shaving your golden retriever, there are a few things you can do to manage their coat.
Brushing Them
Brushing them is the best way to remove all the excess fur that may end up getting stuck in your golden retrievers coat. Not only is this going to keep them cool, but its also going to reduce the amount of fur build up around your house as well.
Bathe Them
Secondly you should bathe your golden retriever as well. You should only bathe them 3-4 times a year, however, if you time it right you can catch their fall and summer blowout and remove a good chunk of the shed fur.
Get Their Undercoat Blown Out
Lastly, you can also pay to get your golden retrievers undercoat blown out. To do this youll need to go to a professional groomer. Theyll remove all of the fur that gets stuck in their undercoat, helping to keep your dog cool and shed free.