Should I Completely Shave Off My Golden Retrievers Coat
It was mentioned in the previous section that the overcoat of your dog is designed to protect it in all weather conditions, which is why you shouldnt think about shaving it. By shaving the coat, you can seriously compromise the way your dogs natural double coat acts to protect their body. Dogs tend to sweat from the pads of their feet, while they release excess heat through panting.
So, shaving the shiny and beautiful double coat of your golden retriever wont help in making them cooler, but will instead expose their skin to the heat and the sun which can cause them to fall sick. Golden retrievers were bred primarily to retrieve waterfowl, which is why their double coat acts as a water repellant as well. The coat of your dog is also designed to keep dirt away from its skin and can be easily brushed off.
Short Haired Golden Retriever: Tackling The Hair
Golden Retriever has a long, thick coat of hair. Their hair may be wavy or straight, depending on the genes. The thicker feathers remain mostly on the chest, thighs, belly, and tail.
There are three common colours found in pure Golden Retrievers: light golden, golden, and dark golden. In general, their colors may be a little brighter or darker than the standard ones, but they are still on the list of pure dog breeds.
You may see a strange Golden Retriever with a black coat sometimes. Although this guy is unique, hes just a mixed dog, not a pure dog.
Usually, Golden Retrievers are preferred by those who love vigorous exercises. Theyre very active, and they need to be active every day. Whats more, if you want to get a Golden Retriever, your house should be large and have a wide playground. If youre the one who loves swimming, the Golden Retriever could be a great swim partner, because his swimming skills are very good. He enjoys swimming, too.
Dog Breeds With Fur Between Toes
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It is perfectly normal for dogs to have fur on their bodies. What is rather strange is the occurrence of hair in between the toes. In most cases, dogs with hairy paws suffer from a condition referred to as paw pad hyperkeratosis. Keratin is a naturally-occurring protein that makes a huge percentage of a dogs claws, skin, and hair. Under normal circumstances, a dog produces enough keratin for his needs. When the amount goes beyond his required limit, the dog will grow a substance in between his toes that look like a layer of hard fur. So, which dog breeds have fur between toes? Without further ado, here is a quick overview of the top 10 dog breeds with fur between toes.
How Many Times A Year Does A Golden Retriever Shed
You can expect shedding from Golden Retrievers all-year-round, but they shed more or blow their coats twice a year when the seasons changing spring and fall.
Since theres no way to stop your Golden Retriever from shedding so much, your first defense will be brushing her hair daily to keep it from matting and to minimize loose fur.
Can Golden Retrievers Have Black Hair Or Fur Truths And Myths
Golden Retrievers do come in all shapes and sizes, but they are all basically some shade of golden. At the end of the day, the color of their coats is one of the most unique things about them, and its literally in the name.
But every once in a while, you can find a few black hairs on your golden and sometimes it can be a lot more than just a few golden hairs.
So, can golden retrievers have black hair? Yes, Golden Retrievers can have black hair due to a somatic mutation that affects the genetic makeup of their hair cells. The genetics of goldens should make them black but they have a unique genotype that only allows golden & creamy hair colors, but sometimes some black hairs will get through.
Then, there are golden retrievers that are totally black. Yes, Black Golden Retrievers are a thing, and you can learn all about them here. In this article, though, we are only going to focus on those stray black hairs on your golden, what they mean, and what you should do about them.
Keep reading, it gets very interesting quickly.
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Why Is My Golden Retriever Pulling Out Tail Hair Health Facts
Is your Golden Retriever pulling out tail hair and you dont know why? There are several skin-related conditions that make your dog want to pull out his hair. It could be a skin disease, anxiety, flea bites, or an allergic reaction. However, its nothing to be worried about. Most of these problems have solutions to them. Some may require a trip to the vet, but some wont even need you to leave the house.
In this article, Ill be sharing the possible reasons why your Golden Retriever is pulling out its tail hair. Ill also include how you can help your dog during this time.
What Makes Golden Retrievers Unique
The Golden Retriever is a medium to large breed that got its start in the mid-19th century as a Scottish gundog. At this time, Scottish hunters of waterfowl would use Goldens to locate and retrieve what theyd shot.
This is a similar purpose that Irish Setters were given, a breed which theyre related to. As well as other related breeds theyre related to, like the extinct Tweed Water Spaniel, which is similar to the Irish Water Spaniel.
In any case, Goldens made excellent working dogs and were very good at the retrieval based tasks they were given.
And not just because of their athleticism, keen swimming ability, and soft mouth that doesnt damage the birds they retrieved. But because of their obedience, confidence, and high level of intelligence.
These traits leave little wonder as to why theyve gone onto become service dogs for law enforcement, search and rescue dogs, and guide dogs for the blind.
Not to mention, one of the most popular family dogs in the United States, as well as other countries like Canada and Britain. To the point there are actually three variations of the Golden:
- American Golden Retriever
- Canadian Golden Retriever
- British Golden Retriever
Theres not a huge difference in how they shed or how much effort is needed to groom them , but there some differences in their build and the color of their coat.
What Can You Do About Your Golden Retrievers Wavy Or Curly Hair
If your golden retrievers wavy or curly hair is caused by something else other than their genetics and their nature, there are things you can do to help their coats take its natural form.
Here is what you can do about your golden retrievers wavy or curly hair :
- Proper diet
- Consult their vet
Proper diet
Feeding your pup the right food will keep their fur as healthy as possible and will help their hair to grow properly and if they are shedding a lot their diet can stop that too.
You can also consider supplements like Omega-3 and Omega-6. The one I use for my dogs is the Vetoquinol Triglyceride Omega-3 Fatty Acid Supplement Capsules with Fish Oil for Pets which you can
Daily grooming
If their hair is tangled it may look like curls so by daily grooming you are making sure that their hair is natural curls and will keep their fur healthy and will minimize the shredding.
Most important is to make sure that the grooming session is regular.
Keeping them active
Exercising regularly and making sure that they stay active has a great role in keeping them and their coat healthy.
Its also essential for keeping them from gaining weight which will definitely have a negative impact on their coats health.
Regular bath
To keep their fur shiny and smooth you gotta bathe them regularly, use a good shampoo because some shampoos can cause them a rash, allergy, or infection which will cause hair loss and a good shampoo can help to keep their hair straight or wavy.
Limit their activity
Golden Retriever Grooming: The Essential Guide With Pictures Of Haircut Styles
With those irresistible good looks, and the funniest, friendliest demeanor youll find around town, its no wonder that golden retrievers are consistently one of the most popular breeds in the world. In fact, according to the American Kennel Club, they are, outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs, and relatively easy to train. Who could resist a dog like that?
Initially developed as a breed in the 1800s by Lord Tweedmouth in Scotland, they are a cross of a yellow wavy coated retriever and a tweed water spanielmaking them excellent sporting dogs, retrievers , and companions.
And theres that beautiful coat! Their most noticeable attribute, their gorgeous, golden fur, sets them apart in the canine kingdombut also come with a few special instructions to keep it shiny, chic and looking fabulous.
To help you get there, here are some golden grooming tips unique to this breed.
Golden Retriever Coat Stages By Age
A golden retriever puppys fur growth starts with a soft, fluffy texture. At around three months of age, you will start to see some feathers as the puppy grows into a more adult coat. However, the exact time this feathering begins depends on genetics.
The three- or four-month mark is also when you will notice some long fur, which will generally start on the tail.Over about 18 months, this longer, adult fur will grow all over the dog and generally be darker than the puppy fluff. The adult fur wont eliminate the puppy fur but will instead form the undercoat.
Even in adulthood, golden retrievers will have some fur variation. Dogs that are outdoors much of the time will have thicker fur when compared to indoor dogs. There are also seasonal and genetic variations in fur.
Trimming Your Goldens Coat
You dont need to trim the entire coat of a golden retriever with long hair. Golden retrievers have a unique two-coat fur with an over and undercoat. This combination is crucial to keep the dog comfortable and happy in any season or temperature. On cooler days, warm air tends to get trapped between the coats and acts as an insulation to keep the body warm. On hotter days, the opposite happens to make sure that the dog doesnt heat up.
If you trim the coat too much, this can hinder the natural heating and cooling process of your golden retriever with long hair. You can use clippers or scissors and to trim your golden retriever. Start by trimming the fuzzy hair growth at the edges of the legs and feet of the dog. The fur on the feet should be around half an inch and lay smooth against the surface.
Lift the paw and trim the fuzzy hair between the toes so that the new length is level with the dogs pads when it is combed back. Apply Vaseline to the pads if you see any cracks.
The back of the legs can be trimmed easily with thinning shears. Focus on any fuzzy or unkempt hair, and you should be fine. The hair on the rear end of the dog should be relatively long and flared out while the hair on the front should lay flat and be shorter.
Keep Your Golden Neatly Trimmed
Puppy cuts can be a bit severe for some people because basically, their Golden Retriever will look like a Lab, except for the tail.
If you choose not to do a puppy cut, you should still keep your golden looking neat and tidy by keeping some areas trimmed.
Areas that need trimming are between the feet and paw pads, the hair in the ears, the feathering on the legs, the bum area, and the tail can be trimmed to look neat and sculpted.
Trimming your dog will help keep him looking his best, as well as help keep him a bit cooler in the summer. Find out how to trim a Golden Retriever easily at home by yourself.
Short Haired Golden Retriever: The Basics
Golden Retriever is the fourth smartest dog breed in the world. Theyre lovely, smart, and gorgeous with a long yellow coat. However, some owners dont know whats going on with their dogs because instead of having a long coat like the others, they have short fur that makes them so abnormal. So in this post, lets talk about the short-haired Golden Retriever!
Coping With A Goldens Shedding
There’s a long list of things Golden owners love about their dogs. But shedding isn’t one of them. As you know, your breed’s distinctive fuzzy hair somehow finds its way onto every surface in your home, from couches to carpets to clothes.
Why do Goldens shed so much? The culprit is the breed’s thick double coat made up of a plush undercoat and a furry layer on top. It’s that warm and fuzzy undercoat that causes the most mess. While a Golden Retriever sheds lightly throughout the year, as with every double-coated dog, he sheds his undercoat in large quantities twice a year.
How to keep shedding under control
Here’s the good news: Some basic grooming and coat maintenance can help control shedding and reduce the amount of Golden Retriever fur that ends up on your carpeting and floating around your house.
If the degree of shedding your Golden Retriever experiences appears abnormal, or if he has signs of serious skin problems, consult your veterinarian. Medical conditions such as thyroid disease or skin allergies can cause excessive shedding. Otherwise, to keep the fur from flying, just practice good grooming and feed your Golden Retriever a nutrient-rich diet.
When Do Golden Retrievers Get Fluffy
Golden retrievers are born with a thin coat of fur, which is wet upon birth. As soon as it dries, it gets soft and fuzzy to protect the dog and keep its body temperature regulated.
For the first three months of life, golden retriever puppies are little golden fluffballs. Although you will notice the puppy fur getting thicker in the first few months, it will remain short. Even at this stage, you will want to get your dog used to grooming by running a soft brush over your puppys fur at least a few times a week.
Golden retrievers are heavy shedders, and getting into a grooming routine early can help you avoid hair all over the house. As your puppy grows to three or four months, include a rake and pin brush in the grooming routine. The pin brush will help loosen any stray hairs of the outer coat while the rake will tackle the thicker undercoat.
Can Two Golden Retrievers Have Black Puppies
Yes, two golden retrievers can have black puppies. In fact, they can have a litter where all their puppies are black golden retrievers. Black golden retrievers are completely normal but they are very rare.
The Somatic mutations cant be passed onto the springs, which means that the offsprings of your golden retriever that has some black hair will not get the same hair. However, the mutation can still happen in them on its own, but this will be merely a coincidence and will not be related to their parents.
Golden Retriever Coat Care
When an owner brings their dog to me for a wellness visit, we discuss many common topics such as vaccine schedules, spaying and neutering, nutrition, and dental health. Even though there is a great deal of variation between breeds, hair coat discussions occur infrequently.
Coat care is extremely important to the health of all dogs, especially Golden Retrievers, and having knowledge about your Goldens hair coat can make it much easier to maintain.
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Golden Retrievers Growing Long Hair
The short, fluffy coat of golden retriever puppies lasts for around 3 months. Depending on the puppys bloodline and heritage, the coat can begin to turn into long hair after this time. If the parents of the puppy took a longer time to grow the coat, the chances of the puppy taking a long time are increased. You should ask the breeder about the puppys heritage so that you have enough information to prepare for a loving golden retriever with long hair.
After 3 months of a fluffy puppy, you will begin to see some long hair that has started to grow on the tail of the puppy. This is the beginning of a process known as feathering. Golden retrievers with long hairstart with feathers on their tails, their legs and under the stomach. It starts from the tail and travels up the body to the head in a gradual process. You will be able to notice the new hairs at once since they are darker than the light hair puppies usually have.
Most breeds shed the puppy fur, but golden retrievers do not. The longer adult hair begins to grow on hair and pushes this puppy hair aside. The puppy hair turns into the dogs undercoat as a second layer to the fur. With time, the undercoat begins to grow thicker as the longer outer coat also grows in. This whole process takes around 18 months to develop until you have a gorgeous golden retriever with long hair.
How Much Do Labradors & Golden Retrievers Shed
Labradors and Golden Retrievers shed a lot. If you want a dog that doesnt shed a lot of hair you shouldnt go for one of these two breeds.
You should expect to de-shed a rather big pile of fur and hair every day especially when the seasons change from winter to spring or summer to fall. This is because the dog will fluff up the undercoat during the winter in order to keep warm in the cold.
Here you can see the amount of her hair we have shed from a golden retriever from a few minutes of using the brush:
Remember that this should be a daily task and if your dog lives indoors all year round you should expect it to shed all year round.
You need to be ready to brush and de-shed your dog daily whether you choose one of the other. The amount of hair can be overwhelming at times and this is something you need to be prepared for before you go out and get one. If youre not up for a daily grooming session with your dog you should choose another breed.
Grooming Your Golden Retriever
Grooming can help the hair grow in a healthy and quick manner. You should start grooming your golden retriever when it is a puppy. This will result in two main benefits for you and the dog. Firstly, it will get the puppy used to grooming so that it is easier to do as they grow as well. Secondly, golden retrievers with long hairare heavy shedders. The more you groom them and keep their hair under check, the less hair you will find lining your sofas and clothes.
Is Your Goldens Wavy Hair Normal Or Not
You easily tell whether their wavy coats are normal or not by checking their parents and really checking their coats.
If you have gotten your dog from a good breeder, chances are they will have the full history of the parents and the coat types. If one or both of their parents had wavy coats, then it could be genetic.
However, having wavy parents is very rarely the case with dog breeders who try to make their dogs as close as possible to the common perfect image of a dog breed, which in the case of goldens will mean having a fluffy golden coat and not a wavy or curly one.
When is a wavy coat not normal?
Sometimes, however, it will not be because of their genetics or nature and it can be traced to something else.
Sometimes goldens with curly hair may suffer from a lack of coat growth and the reason may be a problem with their diet such as:
- Not getting enough nutrients
- Too much food
- Too little food
Also, it may be because they are not receiving proper grooming or they are not active enough.
If they eat good amounts of high-quality foods that give them the nutrients that their body needs, they are active, they have daily exercise, and they have a proper grooming routine, their coats should be perfectly healthy and normal.
Keeping The Coat Clean
Dogs with long hair coats can getsmall burrs, twigs, and leaves caught in their fur. These can become tangled inthe fur and cause mats of hair which are sometimes difficult to remove. Be sureto check your Golden after each walk because it is easier to remove these itemswhen they first become entrapped.
It is easier to remove burrs and twigs before a bath. Otherwise, bathing a tangled knot of hair can cause further entrapment! The average Golden can be bathed once every six to eight weeks. However, puppies that are prone to accidents and getting dirty may need to be bathed more often, no more frequently than twice a week. More frequent bathing can also help dogs during the height of shedding season. Be sure to use shampoo that is specifically formulated for dogs unless otherwise directed by your veterinarian.
Your Golden can benefit from tripsto the grooming salon, especially if it is difficult for you to bathe himyourself. Groomers can also cut nails, clean ears, and trim hair coats. It isokay to have your dogs feathers trimmed, and groomers are equipped to removemats that are close to the skin, but never have your dogs hairs clippedshorter than an inch or two because it is necessary to have hairs to protectyour dogs skin from the sun.
What Are Black Golden Retrievers Called
Black golden retrievers are called black golden retrievers, unless you are talking about a flat-coated retriever which is a different dog breed that resembles a golden retriever from afar.
Flat-coated retrievers are a different breed than golden retrievers. They often have black or dark hair and they have sleek, medium-length thick coats of fine hair that is quite different to the thick and long coat of your golden retriever.
Tip #15: Never Shave Your Golden Retriever
Shaving or cutting your goldens hair very short is a huge no-no.
In the first section, we talked about the importance of their double coat, and shaving or cutting this off robs them of their natural protection.
Some people think that theyre doing their dog a favor in the hot summer months by shaving their golden, but in fact, theyre doing them a huge disservice.
Their undercoat protects them from both hot and cold temperatures so its best to never shave or cut your goldens coat too short.
Coat Stages Of A Golden Retriever
During adulthood, a golden retrievers coat type can be described as long and flowing with some feathering. Since golden retrievers were bred as sporting dogs that retrieved game, the breed has thick coats with a good undercoat, so the fur is water-repellant. However, before gaining this adult coat, golden retrievers go through multiple stages of coat growth and shedding.
How Long Does It Take For A Golden Retriever To Get Its Full Coat
Golden Retriever puppies are tiny little balls of yellow fluff that tend to look more like a Yellow Lab than Golden. There is no denying that they are cute.
When a Golden reaches about three months of age, their coat begins to transition from fluff to a more mature adult coat.
Starting at the tail, youll notice some darker long hair begin to appear. This is the beginning of what is often referred to as . These feathers will eventually cover the legs, stomach, and tail of his body. The transition is usually complete by around 18 months.
While most breeds will shed their puppy fur, this is not true of Golden Retrievers. As the darker adult coat begins to come in, it pushes the fluff aside, and the fluff actually becomes the undercoat. This undercoat will thicken over time until the pup reaches roughly eighteen months of age.
Although you may think you have gotten off easy avoiding puppyhood shedding, youre not out of the woods yet! Adult Golden Retrievers are notorious shedders who require their fair share of grooming.