Stage : The Coat Transition
When the Golden retriever puppy is about 3 months old, you will see some long hair growing on his puppys tail. This stage indicates the start of feathering. Golden Retrievers have feathers on their tail, stomachs and on their legs. The dogs tail is the starting point for the growth of the adult coat.
Gradually, the rest of the adult coat will grow throughout his body. The recent growth of hair will be slightly darker than the former light puppy fur.
The Golden Retriever puppy is different from other breeds because it does not shed his puppy fur. Rather, the puppy fur is pushed aside by the newer, longer and outer coat that grows in. The overall transition takes 18 months for completion.
What Is The Rarest Color Of Golden Retriever
Red Golden Retrievers are somewhat rare, though not impossible to find. We should also note that âredâ is an umbrella term. In reality, red Goldens are shades of mahogany, amber, red-gold, and dark brown. Depending on the intensity of your Golden’s fiery coat, they might get mistaken for an Irish Setter.
How Fast Does A Golden Retrievers Hair Grow
Golden Retrievers are wonderful dogs, from temperament to energy level and right down to their long golden coats. Some of these good boys have hair that is as lustrious as s model!
Just thinking about it got me to thinking about how the kind of maintenance and upkeep it must require to keep that beautiful sheen. Not only that, but how long does it take to get so long?
How fast does a Golden Retrievers hair take to grow? After spending the first three months of its life as a fluffy short-haired puppy, a Golden Retrievers hair begins to change, growing into a longer coat until the age of eighteen months. Although there are cases where this varies slightly, the best point of reference is the parents of the pup. If they were late-bloomers, you can probably expect the same from the pup as well.
Considering how active this breed is, Im pretty sure theres a significant amount of effort on the part of the owner to keep that beautiful coat so well maintained. Thats without even considering that with all that hair, the shedding is likely to be pretty heavy as well.
I looked into the breed a bit more to find out what it takes to keep these beasts so beautiful and was a little surprised as to what I fond out.
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First Signs Of Hair Growth On A Golden Retriever
While a Golden Retriever may be known for its beautiful flowing coat, Golden Retriever puppies are not initially born with this longer hair. It will take about 3 months before you begin to see the first signs of longer hair, usually on their tail.
From this stage on, a Golden puppy starts sprouting feathers . This growth marks a departure from puppy fluff and the beginning of the long, full coat characteristic of a mature Golden Retriever.
If your puppys parents took a longer time to grow their coat, your puppy would most likely follow his parents timeline. Under normal circumstances, the puppys short, fluffy coat lasts for three months, after which long hair begins to grow. However, the timing of this occurrence depends on your Golden puppys bloodline and heritage.
To get more information on your puppys lineage, contact the breeder, if possible. He will let you know how old your puppys parents were when they got their adult coats. This will help you estimate more accurately when your puppy might get his longer hair.
Adopting Golden Retriever Puppies
According to the AKC, most breed rescues report that a majority of their rescue dogs come from individual owner surrender, with the most common reasons being a change in lifestyle or the breed not being a good fit. This means that there may be many dogs and puppies out there that are looking for a new forever home.
The main difference between a breeder and a rescue is that a rescue may not always have young puppies to choose from. The benefit, however, is that most are mandated to only adopt out dogs that have been microchipped and spayed/neutered. This means you may end up with a dog thats already been housebroken, and doesnt need these common medical procedures. You may also find a golden retriever mix that has all the traits you want from the breed, but with a little extra thrown in.
Finding a golden retriever rescue can be as simple as searching the internet. The AKC also has an excellent list of golden retriever rescues on their site.
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Will Shaving Give Long Hair To Your Golden Retriever
Most owners are in a false assumption that shaving the hair of their pets promotes longer hair growth. You should be aware that the double-coat in your Golden Retriever has its specific importance.
Usually, the outer coat protects your pal from germs, insects, excessive heat, and cold. And the undercoat is responsible for maintaining homeostasis.
Thus, shaving the hair of your pal is the worst idea. And it leads to various health issues like injuries, sunstroke, infection, parasitic attacks, etc.
Apart from this, hair thinning of your pal may also be a problem and invites skin disorders like:
- Clipping alopecia
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Black skin disease
Thus, shaving its skin coat is the dumbest idea for a healthier and longer lifespan of your Golden Retriever. However, you can take your pal for professional grooming to trim the excess hair of the eyes, ears, tails, paws, etc. that halts their daily activities.
Are you thinking of shaving your pals hair? Please drop the idea now.
When Do Golden Retrievers Get Long Hair And A Full Coat
It is usually pretty easy to pick out a Golden Retriever from the rest of the dogs around them. They are going to have a golden coat that flows and looks really beautiful. This can make them a really fun dog to have around.
However, they are not going to be born with that full hair. Instead, their coats will start out fluffy and then grow into long and shiny hair. But at what age does the Golden Retriever get their full coat of long hair?
Golden Retrievers begin growing their full coat at around three months of age. Feathering will appear first on the tail followed by the stomach, chest, and legs within their first year. The exact time frame, coat length, and color will depend on the individual dog, and there are many variations within adult Golden Retrievers.
Lets take a closer look at some of the different aspects of the Golden Retrievers hair and learn more about what is normal, such as when they will get their full coat in, and what you need to do to care for your Golden Retriever as they make this transition.
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Golden Retriever Shedding Frequency
Golden Retrievers are moderate shedders all year round. So, its safe to say that if you are looking for a dog that doesnt shed, you and this golden boy arent going to get on. When it comes to shedding season, he is a heavy shedder. Essentially this means that their coat blows off, and they grow a new one ready for the new season.
Because he has a long coat, his shedding is going to be a lot more obvious when compared to other low-shedding dog breeds. There are things that you can do to manage it, but youll likely spend extra time vacuuming your house with a Retriever around.
Golden Retrievers Are Record Holders
A couple of Golden Retrievers have made it into the Guinness Book of World Records. An Australian Golden holds the world record for the loudest bark, measured at 113.1 decibels 3 decibels louder than a buzzing chainsaw. Another Golden Retriever holds the record for the most tennis balls held in the mouth, at five tennis balls.
Golden Retrievers are an impressive bunch, as any Golden lover knows. Its no wonder they are the third most popular dog breed in the U.S.
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Include Omega Rich Food In Their Diet
Omega-rich food contributes a lot to the proper functioning of hair follicles. Besides this, these foods provide essential nutrients to the hair follicles of your Golden Retriever for the growth of long, shiny, smooth, and lustrous hair.
So, including the flowing omega-rich foods in the diet can be helpful in the hair growth of your pal.:
In addition, some human foods may be harmful to your pal. So, substitute the treats of your pet with healthy natural snacks for a healthier and active life.
What Are The Differences Between Male And Female Golden Retrievers
While male and female Golden Retrievers share many of the same general characteristics, some people find that there are distinct differences between the two.
Some people claim there are more than physical differences, but at My Golden Retriever Puppies, we find most differences other than physical tend to vary more depending on the individual puppy depending on the gender. However, weve gone ahead and included what some other breeders claim are the differences between the two.
Before deciding whether you should get a male or female Golden Retriever, check out the main differences between the two below.
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How Can You Tell If Your Puppy Will Have Long Hair
Your puppy’s coat can usually tell you whether or not it will have long hair when it’s older. A long-haired puppy will have a more furry, fluffy puppy coat than its short-haired siblings. The ears and the legs are also a good place to check for longer hair or âfeatheringâ which is an indication of a long coat.
Their Special Waterproof Coat Serves As A Natural Protection And Helps The Golden Protect Itself From Both The Heat And The Cold
The coat of the Golden is dense and water repellent complete with an undercoat. The coat protects the dog from the heat and the cold and therefore the Goldens coat should never be trimmed. Occasionally, excessive length can be trimmed a bit but everything the Golden represents shouldnt be altered by trimming or cutting. The coat creates a waterproof jacket for the dog.
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Stage : From Fluff To Fur
At around 3 months of age, most Golden puppies will start growing their feathers in their short, fluffy puppy coat. If the parents of the puppy grew adult coats later, it is more likely he will. The breeder has the best source of information concerning your puppys heritage. Ask the breeder for you to see your Puppys parents and find out at what age they were when they had their adult coats.
When Do Golden Retrievers Grow Their Full Coat
Another thing to consider when looking at a golden retrievers coat is how old they are.
Goldens grow very fast and reach their full height at about a year.
However, their coats dont fully fill out until theyre about a year and a half.
So if you see someone walking down the street with a beautiful golden sporting a short coat, know that unless the golden was over a year and a half old, chances are their coat might grow a little longer.
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Second Stage: Coat Transition
As mentioned above, the coat of Golden Retrievers starts to grow longer after three months. But do you know when their skin coat fully grows?
Moreover, you will notice a drastic transition in the hair coat of your Golden Retriever after their hair starts to grow long. And the small denser yellow-ball-like puppy changes into a fully grown adult dog with long hair covering its entire body. However, there are few steps that your pal may undergo during its coat transition.
- Until three months- unnoticeable hair growth because your pets hair remains comparatively small.
- Three to eight months- shows distinct hair growth in the areas .
- Eight months to one year- a drastic change in the hair coat of your pal. Your Golden Retriever gets a double-layered skin coat with long hair that covers its entire body.
What Is The Standard Coat Characteristics For A Golden Retriever
According to American Kennel Club , there is a specific standard for the coat of Golden Retriever. So, the official accepted Golden Retriever must have a double-layered, water-resistant, and dirt repellant coat.
Besides this, the outer skin coat must consist of long feather hairs in different shades of gold. But the undercoat must be notable and distinct. Along with this, the hair should be longer in the tail and under the body of these breeds.
Furthermore, the skin coat of the neck and back must be denser than other parts. And the hairs around the face, paws, and legs of these dogs must be short. Moreover, the AKC doesnt accept the dogs that fail to fall in these criteria as a pure breed.
What do you think is your pal a pure breed?
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What Do Golden Retrievers Eat
When choosing food for your Golden Retriever, its important to take into account your dogs age. Its why the best dog food manufacturers know how to produce commercially manufactured dog food packed full of nutrients specific to a dogs unique needs.
Many Golden Retriever owners like to include some homemade treats such as brown rice, chicken, and some vegetables and thats fine. Avoid most human foods. If in any doubt, speak to your vet.
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
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What Should I Feed My Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers should be fed a high-quality dog food thats appropriate for their age. Your veterinarian can offer recommendations and advise you on a healthy feeding schedule. Be careful not to overfeed your Golden Retriever. Use a measuring cup to make sure youre providing the right amount of kibble, and dont go overboard on treats, which can be high in calories.
Its important to help your Golden Retriever maintain a healthy weight to avoid problems like joint pain, heart disease, and liver and kidney issues. Like other large breeds, theyre also prone to conditions like hip dysplasia and arthritis, which can become more painful if theyre carrying extra pounds.
When Do Golden Retrievers Shed The Most
Although goldens shed year-round, there are periods when they shed more than others.
Golden retrievers have a double coat.
Their long, smooth outer coat is oily and waterproof and protects them from the elements, dirt, and other debris.
Their undercoat is thick, soft, and fluffy and helps regulate their temperature and protect them from the heat and cold.
They âblow their coatsâ and shed excessively in the spring and in the fall for about a period of three weeks each time. Theyâre getting ready for their thinner summer coat and heavier winter coat.
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Golden Retriever Hair Growth Stages
As mentioned earlier, a Golden Retriever puppy starts growing adult hair at approximately three months old. However, this growth is subtle and may not be noticeable until he is closer to one year old. Your Golden Retriever can be considered to have a fully grown coat when he is two years of age.
Long adult hair starts growing first at the tail. This feathering process thenproceeds to the legs and stomach. With time, the entire body gets the adult coat, which tends to be darker than the former puppy fur.
Feathered fur is usually light and soft and is useful for temperature regulation it thickens during the cold season and thins during warmer months.
Interestingly, Golden puppies do not shed their puppy fur. Instead, once new hair starts growing, the puppy fur gets nudged aside by the newer and longer outer coat.
This means that Golden Retrievers possess double coats the puppy hair transforms into the Goldens undercoat, forming a second layer to the fur. Eventually, the undercoat grows thicker as the longer outer coat begins to cover it.
This transition takes almost 18 months, though, for most Retrievers, the full coat grows once the dog is more than a year old.
How thick your Goldens coat becomes depends on the surrounding environment. If he spends considerable time outdoors, he is bound to get a much thicker coat than if he were to stay indoors. Therefore, the dogs body regulates the amount of coat he needs as per the prevailing temperatures.
Brush The Long Hair Of Your Golden Retriever Daily
Golden Retrievers are the playing companion of the kids. So, they bring home different foreign particles in their dense skin coat after playing. And, eventually, it may lead to parasitic infections, skin disorders, hair falls, and alopecia in your pet.
Besides this, all the essential oil properly distributes throughout the skin coat of your pal when you brush them. Therefore, regular brushing the long hair of your Golden Retriever prevents matting, excessive shedding, and infections. And thus, it promotes the hair growth of your pal.
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