Golden Retrievers are known for their lustrous, shiny, and smooth textured hair.
The puppies are, however, not born with that beautiful hair.
Instead, like puppies, Golden Retrievers possess thin and soft fur, which helps keep them warm and protects them from heat.
In addition, the thin layer of fur plays an essential role in regulating body temperatures.
With time, as the puppy matures, the fur grows as well.
The thin coat of hair becomes thicker, shiny, and longer.
However, it does take a while before your furry buddy achieves his adult coat.
You will observe the changes in your dog when she reaches three months.
First, the thin hair is replaced by a thick coat.
Next, the changes will start on the tail, the stomach, chest, and legs.
These changes on your friendly companion will defer compared to other dogs of a similar breed.
Factors Influencing Hair Growth In Your Golden Retriever
How fast your Golden Retriever will grow hair is dependent on a couple of factors, such as
- Age: you will observe changes in your pet when he clocks three months. Noticeable hair growth will be on the tail then other parts will catch up.
- Genes: If your puppy’s parents took longer to grow hair, then there is a high probability the same will happen to your retriever.
- Nutrition: proper diet will facilitate hair growth on your dog, while poor nutrition will slow down the hair growth process. In addition, Omega 3 and 6 supplements will assist with hair growth.
- Health: when your puppy has no underlying medical conditions like hormonal imbalance, her coat will grow long and shiny.
- Grooming: Routine brushing and grooming help distribute the natural oils on the skin and the hair while removing loose, old, and damaged hair. When bathing your dog, use recommended shampoo to help kill bacteria, remove dirt, and maintain the natural oils on your dog’s fur.
When your dog is 18 months, you will notice the adult fur on them.
The adult coat is thicker and darker than the puppy fur.
It is easy to see the transition on your dog’s hair with tools used in her grooming.
When she is a puppy, all you need is to run a soft brush over the fur as it’s short and smooth.
With time, you will need to add a rake or a pin brush to the grooming routine.
How Long Does it Take for a Golden Retriever to Get its Full Coat?
Feathering commences when your puppy is about three months.
As your retriever gets older, the fur coat grows with them.
Irrespective of sex, male and female retrievers will have an adult hair coat by 18 months.
The coat stages of the Golden Retriever are
- Birth: at birth, the coat is thin and wet. However, when you dry your puppies, the fur gets softer and fuller to keep them warm.
- When the pup is about three months, you will notice feathering at three months. Fathering begins at the tail and spreads to the legs stomach, and eventually, it covers the whole body.
- At 18 months: the adult coat is growing on your pet at this age. You will notice his hair gets fuller and slightly darker. Golden Retrievers don’t shed their puppy fur. Instead, the adult hair grows and envelopes the light forming a uniform coat.
It will take your retriever approximately 18 months to get to full coat.
Your canine friend will retain the full coat in her adult life.
When your pet is an adult, he has the Golden Retriever appearance you patiently waited to show.
Should You Shave A Golden? How Long Before Hair Grows Back?
It might have occurred to you to shave your dog in the summer months.
Well, don’t!
Shaving double-coated dogs is not recommended.
The aim of the double coat is to protect the dog from cold, heat, and moisture.
Shaving your Golden Retriever exposes her skin to direct heat, cold, parasites, or moisture.
In addition, shaving can destroy the coat permanently.
If you shave your Golden Retriever, you will notice the hair doesn’t grow back evenly as before, and a change in texture as well.
However, you can trim your dog’s coat without having to shave it off.
First, take her for grooming every 4-6 weeks, and the recommended length to cut is 1 inch.
Then, when taking your pet to the groomer, be specific that she needs a trim, not a shave.
Adverse effects of shaving your Golden Retriever are,
- Alopecia
- Coat-funk
- Black skin disease
- Sunburns
- Overheating
- Sebaceous adenitis
- Skin cancer
If your dog is shaved the skin, it might take about four months to grow back; however, if your dog had a trim instead, the hair will grow back in a couple of weeks.
In addition, your pet is prone to coat funk whereby the growing hair is dry, brittle, and breaks off easily on some parts without growing back.
How to Deal with Golden Retriever Shedding without Shaving?
Dog lovers know as much as you love your canine buddy, you must deal with the shedding.
Shedding is how your dog naturally gets rid of old and damaged hair.
Most breeds shed throughout the year but mainly in the spring.
Shedding will occur naturally in both outdoor and indoor dogs.
Golden Retrievers are profuse shedders, and they will shed all year round.
If you are uncomfortable with the shedding, then a Golden Retriever is not the right breed for you.
However, there are several ways to deal with flying fur, such as
- Brushing: make a routine of brushing your pet’s hair regularly as it helps remove the loose hair. Use bristle brushes to avoid damaging the undercoat. Routine brushing after a bath when the hair is slightly damp will help reduce shedding. Make it a habit to brush the coat at least once a week.
- Avoid de-shedding brushes: the recommended de-shedding brushes are not effective on Golden Retriever. Instead of preventing shedding, the brushes rip the undercoat, weakening the hair and causing more shedding.
- Regular baths: bathing your dog at least every 6-8 weeks or 2-3 times a year will help get rid of dirt and grease and reduce shedding. Over-bathing, your retriever strips its coat of natural oils, leaving the hair dry and rough, leading to more shedding. However, some experts recommend every four weeks for most dogs.
- Blow-drying: using a blow-dry or a shop vac will help eliminate loose unwanted hair. When shopping, make sure to buy dryers designed for pets.
- Diet: Feed your furry buddy foods that affect the skin and coat. Organic dog foods are better as they lack additives and preservatives. A protein-rich diet also helps keep the coat smooth and shiny. In addition, omega fatty acids are rich in omega 3, which reduces the volume of shedding through the seasons.
- Hydration: your dog needs water as much as you do. Hydration improves her overall health, which translates to a healthy coat, hence less shedding. Dehydrated dogs tend to shed more.
- De-shedding tool: purchase de-shedding tools designed for double-coated dogs. With the right de-shedding tool, you can brush your pets twice per week to remove the loose hair. The right brushes will reach the undercoat and leave the coat looking neat and even.
- Fleas and parasites control: fleas and parasites infestation will increase shedding as your dog keeps scratching and gnawing on herself. Fleas and parasite control means minimal scratching, hence minimal shedding. Regular flea treatment and deworming will keep your dog’s health in check and reduce the amount of shedding.
Bottom Line
The Golden Retriever is undeniably a magnificent breed.
With their friendly temperament and golden coat, they make fantastic pets.
The benefits of these canine buddies outweigh the inconveniences caused by their shedding.
Shaving a Golden Retriever’s fur is totally unacceptable irrespective of the season.
Proper grooming and a healthy diet are critical to a healthy, smooth, and lustrous coat on your Golden Retriever.