Double Coat: The Main Reason
The Golden Retrievers double coat is the primary reason why they shed more than other breeds. It is important to mention here that there are really few canine breeds that have a natural double coat. The two layers of luxurious Golden Retriever fur are:
- A silky undercoat with high hair density
- An oily outer coat with relatively lesser hair volume
Besides providing a stunning drape to Golden Retrievers, this double coat is actually a natural mechanism of this breed to regulate their body temperature. From the start of fall till the end of winter, the undercoat of Golden Retrievers grows at a rapid pace in order to protect its body from extremely low temperatures.
As the spring starts and the additional fur is not required anymore, the undercoat starts wearing down resulting in excessive shedding during this time. Excessive fur keeps shedding during winter.
What Is A Golden Retrievers Coat Like
Golden Retrievers certainly live up to the Golden part of their name when it comes to appearance. They have medium to long hair that is a beautiful, shiny gold color.
Some have more of a copper or red color tone to them, and others might be more blond with lighter colored fur. Either way, they have gorgeous coats that attract owners all over the world.
These pups have a double coat, meaning they have two layers that each serve important roles for the dog. The first layer is thick and warm, and the top coat is water-repellant.
Their fur is soft, but is very fine and can become easily matted and tangled.
Health Conditions That Cause Your Golden Retriever To Shed Too Much
Its important to realize that theres a difference between shedding and losing fur. If you notice that your golden retriever is losing clumps of hair and/or the hair is leaving bald spots, then that requires a visit to the vet.
Pay attention to how evenly or unevenly your golden retriever is shedding. If theres even shedding, this is considered normal. On the other hand, if the shedding is uneven, such as because your dogs only shedding one area of his or her fur, some other issue could be at play.
There could be a medical reason for this to be happening. The same goes for if your golden retriever has suddenly started to shed a lot more fur than usual.;
Examples of health conditions that lead to excessive shedding include adrenal diseases such as Cushings disease or infections that result in patchy hair loss. Other health conditions such as allergies and thyroid problems can also cause excessive shedding.
If the shedding comes on suddenly, the culprits could be fleas, lice, mites, ringworm, fungal infections, or even cancer. In addition to physical conditions, its worth considering that stress can also cause your dog to shed a lot out of the blue.
There are many reasons why your golden retriever could be shedding as a result of stress, such as if youve moved to a new home or there have been major changes in your home life, such as the loss of a loved one.
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Before We Give Out The Golden Retriever Puppies For Sale Near Me To You
A Golden Retriever is a group canine. They excitedly need to meet everybody, outsiders, different dogs, different creatures, any individual who they think will care much about them. Assuming youre not a social individual and hate meeting new individuals, a golden isnt the right canine for you.
A golden needs to be friends with everybody, even outsiders that go to your entryway. Try not to anticipate that they should protect your home from a thief. I mean sure golden retriever puppies near me will bark at outsiders, however, when a more unusual methodology golden retriever will sway their tail and welcome them happily and most likely hope to get petted.
Numerous proprietors of this breed can confirm the way that their canine is stubborn. I realize firsthand exactly how stubborn this breed can be.
Golden Retrievers are incredibly savvy, which makes them simple to prepare, yet they additionally have their very own brain. On the off chance that a golden doesnt have any desire to accomplish something, you can anticipate that he should set up a battle.
I mean he will simply stay there and not move. Maybe you need to turn directly at the road rather than left, yet your canine needs to go left, you can anticipate that your dog should stay there and not move until you turn out well for him, or you persuade him to turn out well for you with a treat.
Your new pup ought to be sound when you present to him/her home. How would you check for this?
The Good News Theres A Solution
I was recently turned on to an amazing product called;Omega-3 Select chews. They are made from the highest quality anchovies , designed to provide your pup with the perfect balance of essential oils. Plus, theyre available in small and large chews depending on your dogs size.
Within a few weeks of having my dogs take the chews, I began noticing that they werent itching as much and their coats looked shiny and healthy. These were just the benefits that I could see.
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Summing Up Golden Retriever Shedding
Golden Retrievers certainly shed pretty heavily, and given the length of their coats, the fur they shed can cause quite a mess.
But if you employ the tips and advice presented above you can keep your Goldens shedding under control and ensure that your home doesnt become a giant furball.
Have you figured out any other ways to control your Golden Retrievers shedding problem? Tell us all about it in the comments below.
Feed Your Golden Retriever A Healthy Diet
You need to feed your golden retriever a healthy diet with all the right nutrients in it as this will keep its coat and skin healthy. Make sure your golden retrievers diet is filled with digestible proteins and fatty acids. This will prevent health conditions that can lead to your golden retriever shedding more fur than normal.;
It also ensures that your retriever is getting all the nutrients he needs in order to encourage a healthy coat. In addition, allergies can cause hair shedding, so make sure theres nothing in the food thats causing a reaction in your dog.;
Heres how to ensure your pets diet is balanced:;
Your adult dog should get at least 18 percent of protein in his or her diet, but puppy food needs to have a minimum protein content of 22 percent. This is because protein builds muscle.
Fat is also important because it gives your pet the energy he or she needs to be active , so it should make up about 8 percent of your puppys diet and 5 percent of your adult dogs diet .;
The bottom line is that your golden retriever needs a high-protein and low-to-moderate fat diet that is healthy for them but also keeps excess calories at bay!;
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How Much Do Golden Retrievers Shed
There isnt an easy way to quantify how much Golden Retrievers shed, but they are surely one of the heaviest-shedding breeds in the world.
Retrievers shed enough to leave a constant dusting of hair on your floors and furniture, and theyll bury your entire home in a layer of golden fur each spring and fall.
The first time you give your dog a thorough brushing during a heavy-shedding period, youll surely be shocked at how much hair you are able to remove from your dog.
It is important to note that the length of a Golden Retrievers fur not only makes it seem like they shed even more than they actually do, it also makes it harder to clean up after them.
Long hairs are more likely to become stuck to the fibers of your carpets and upholstery.
They are also more likely to clog vacuums and form tumbleweeds that will end up blowing around your home.
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.
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Bathing Helps But Dont Overdo It
Bathe your Golden Retriever once every six to eight weeks. Please dont wash your pet more often than that unless she gets dirty.
Shampoos are filled with chemicals and can dry out your dogs coat. Thats why you should always choose high-quality, gentle shampoo.
Bathing can help remove loosened fur through massaging. You will also be washing off any dead fur thats clinging onto her coat.
A little tip: If youre bathing him indoors, make sure you use a drain guard. This will help with cleanup and stop your pipes from clogging.
Swimming is also a great way to remove dead hair from your dogs coat.
When he paddles through the water, the current will wash them right off. Just make sure you rinse the chlorine off once your Goldie gets out of the pool.
English Cream Golden Retrievers Are Not Rare
English Cream goldens are rather common across the world and are becoming more common in America.
Dont let fancy names like, Rare White European Golden Retrievers, or, Exquisite Platinum Imported Golden Retrievers make you think that they are more rare or valuable than they are .
If a breeder is selling you on the fact that their dogs are rare, run away.
If theyre talking about how their dogs are healthy family dogs with good temperaments, then youre probably on the right track.
As far as how popular each color is, we did a study and asked 600 golden retriever owners what color their dog is.
Heres what they said:
Gold: 51.6%
Light gold : 31.5%
Red: 16.8%
As you can see, light gold, or cream-colored, golden retrievers are the second-most common color after gold.
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Best Golden Retriever Treats
I created and currently manage Pet Dog Owner, the website you can go to when you have questions about your dog’s behavior. It is my hope that you find Pet Dog Owner to be a helpful resource. It is also my hope that it will help you to improve your relationship with your dog. You can read more about me and my website here.
Fur Control When You Have A Golden Retriever Shedding In The House
While you cant stop your dog from shedding, there are some steps you can take to minimize it.
Aside from dealing with your dog directly, its best to invest in a powerful vacuum for carpeted areas. A wet-tissue sweeper will do for wooden, laminated, or tile flooring. Swiffer is a popular choice on Amazon.
Lint rollers or lint brushes are also a must-have in every household with a shedding pet like the Golden Retriever.
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What You Can Do About Your Golden Retrievers Shedding
Below are some options you have when dealing with your Golden Retrievers shedding.
Brush it with a de-shedding brush
One thing you can do is to take your Golden Retriever outside and to brush it using a de-shedding brush. By doing so you will be able to get it to get rid of its loose fur outside and not on your furniture and clothes. Generally, it will be necessary to brush it on a weekly basis.
Make sure that it is getting a good diet
It would also help to make sure that it is getting the right diet. You can do this by consulting with your vet about its diet, making sure no one else has been feeding it and you can look here to see what the experts recommend you feed your Golden Retriever.
Get rid of fleas
If fleas seem to be causing your Golden Retriever to scratch itself a lot it would help to talk to your vet about what you should do to get rid of the flees. There are oral treatments that they can recommend that can be very effective in getting rid of fleas. In addition, there are also sprays and combs that you can buy.
It would also help to eradicate fleas from your home by:
- Washing the bedding with hot soapy water
- Vacuuming the carpets and throwing the bad
- Applying an environmental flee control
- Applying a spray, pellet or non-toxic treatment for the yard
- Continue to treat your Golden Retriever with a monthly preventative
Bathe it
Have a vacuum and lint roller ready
Take it to a vet
Why Do Golden Retrievers Shed So Much
Theres one big reason that your golden retriever will shed so much, and a few smaller reasons that can contribute to this. And the big reason that your golden retriever will shed so much is because they have a double coat.
The two parts of the coat are the undercoat and the overcoat. The undercoat is what keeps your golden retriever warm. Its made up of thick fur that provides perfect insulation from the elements.
The overcoat is the coat that your stroke. Its naturally oily and waterproof so even when your golden retriever looks wet, their undercoat remains dry.
Remember, both of these are necessary for keeping your golden retrievers temperature perfect. Not only do they effectively keep your pup warm, but they also help to keep them cool in the summer months!
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Regular Bathing Of Your Golden Retriever
This is another way of removing the soon-to-be shed hair controllably. The Golden Retrievers enjoys the frequent baths, which are very effective when it comes to how to reduce golden retriever shedding. However, you have to be careful not to overdo it. This can cause coat and skin problems.
When bathing your dog, the water will wash away the soon-to-be shed hair plus the hair released from the follicles but stuck. Also, the forward and backward movement of your hands will help dislodge the loose hair. After being dislodged, the hairs become free and gets trapped in the coat where it is removed by water pressure.
There will be a lot of hair after the bath. Take them and dispose in trash cans. If you bathe your Golden Retriever outside, dump the hair on the ground for birds to use them. Birds make nests with some of the fur. You can also just dump it in the trash cans outside.
Drain guards are advised for people who bathe their dogs indoors. With this you will have no clogging in pipes and make cleaning very easy.
How Long Can I Leave My Golden Retriever Out In The Cold
How long you can leave your Golden Retriever out in the cold depends on many factors, including their health, age, and how cold it is outside.
Older dogs, puppies, and unhealthy dogs should not be left outside for too long when the weather is cold, regardless of their breed.
For healthy, adult Golden Retrievers, it is safe for them to spend as much time as they want outdoors in temperatures above twenty degrees.; So long as they are watched and checked periodically and show no signs of issues, they are safe to play.
It can be helpful during these outings for pet parents to have booties and a sweater for them to wear as added protection and peace of mind and provide them with periodic rest breaks inside.
For temperatures that are twenty degrees and below, they should have a quick bathroom break or perhaps a short play break that lasts no more than twenty minutes.
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Bad Diets = Bad Shedding
Diet is a big contributing factor to how your dog sheds. A dog with poor nutrition and little exercise will have dry and itchy skin, damaged hair roots, and increased stress.
Keep your golden well fed and care for and they will display that love with a beautiful healthy coat.
The Best dog food for Large breeds comes down to doing some research, and finding what works best your furry friend based on age, size, and other contributing factors like allergies and sensitivities.
Read the label, avoid big box retail stores that sell generic brands, and shop at pet stores that have special knowledge about the food they sell. A food rich with fatty acids, and healthy proteins will promote a strong healthy coat.