How Much Do Golden Retrievers Shed?

Introduction

Golden Retrievers are without a doubt some of the best family dogs you can raise at home. If you’re a prospective Golden parent, you need to beware of their shedding pattern.

These long-furred dogs have a double-layered coat, stacked with fur which comes out frequently. However, the big question is; how much do Golden Retrievers shed?

Golden Retrievers shed their fur quite modestly throughout the year but they experience extra heavy hair fall during two periods.

We welcome you to read this guide to find out the predictable shedding pattern of Goldens and what you can do to manage it.

Golden Retrievers Coats

Goldens are widely recognized for their striking golden coats. These gun dogs are double-coated, meaning that they have an undercoat and a topcoat that requires regular brushing, hence it is wise to invest in a good brush.

The outer coat of the Golden Retriever is much denser, and coarse, and can sometimes be curly or fluffy. The undercoat sits beneath the top layer and it is soft and fuzzy.

The undercoat grows above the dog’s skin to keep them warm during the cold winter months. The outer coat consists of long hair which protects the dog from harsh weather conditions.

This outer layer is also water-repellent, which helps to insulate the Golden Retrievers against cold and to navigate them in water.

The collective double coat in Golden Retrievers works together to form a perfect jacket that protects the dog against harsh weather and helps them during outdoor adventures.

Does a Golden Retriever Color Affect Shedding?

Golden Retrievers are not always golden in color, although it’s the most common among all shades. These dogs exist in a whole range of colors including mahogany, shades of gold, cream, and red.

Some people believe that cream-colored Golden Retrievers shed more hair compared to the common golden-colored Retrievers. But that’s just a myth that has been flying around to discredit the English cream Goldies.

All Golden Retrievers experience the same cycle of shedding, regardless of their color. Coat color is just a physical attribute for Golen Retrievers and it does not have anything to do with hair fall and growth.

Creamy Goldens may have been stereotyped as heavy shedders because their fallen fur is more visible on dark upholstery and carpet than that of the golden-colored Retrievers.

How Much Do Golden Retrievers Shed?

The shedding pattern of Golden Retrievers is pretty much predictable and manageable. These double-coated canines will shed their fur moderately all year round, and you can expect extra-heavy shedding in particular months.

During heavy shedding, the Goldie will ‘blow off’ their coat to grow a new one for the upcoming season.

Goldens have fluffy long coats, and for this reason, their hair fall is more noticeable than other light-shedding breeds with short coats.

Heavy shedding in Golden Retrievers is seen during two periods; in the closing months of Fall and Spring.

You can expect your fluffy Golden pal to blow their coats for approximately 2 to 3 weeks during the Fall months of September, October, and November, and the Spring months of March, April, and May.

Why Do Golden Retrievers Shed?

During the fall season when the temperatures get cooler, the dog will shed their lighter summer coats to grow a denser undercoat in preparation for the winter.

When the temperature warms up during spring, Goldens will blow off the insulating winter coat, to lay ground for a thinner summer coat for the hot months.

During the two high-shedding seasons, your Golden Retriever will lose too much hair in the form of clumps for about 3 weeks at a time.

Other Factors That May Trigger Shedding in Golden Retrievers

Aside from the seasonal changes, other factors may trigger your furry friend to shed lots of fur during or outside heavy shedding.

Not all intensive shedding is normal. Sometimes, heavy hair loss might be an indication that your dog is suffering from chronic health problems.

Now that you know the expected shedding pattern in Golden Retrievers, you should be worried when your dog sheds clumps of hair outside the heavy-shedding months.

Some of the factors that may trigger abnormal shedding include:

1. Skin infections

Canine skin conditions can trigger your Golden Retriever in losing more hair in and out of the heavy shedding period.

Most of these skin infections are itchy and painful for the dog hence prompting them to lick, scratch, or bite the affected area.

Excessing licking and biting will certainly weaken the fur around the affected area and they will fall off in due course.

We recommend that you speak with your vet if you suspect that your furry friend is suffering from a skin infection.

2. Parasites

If your Golden Retriever is infested with external parasites such as ticks, fleas, and mites, they will scratch or bite the area as a way of relieving the itchiness.

The extra scratching and excessive biting will lead to increased hair loss.

3. Poor diet

Dogs who are lacking major nutrients and minerals may experience increased shedding, slow hair growth, and stunted growth.

A well-balanced diet will provide your dog with all the essential nutrients for nourishing the hair follicles and for supporting a glossy coat.

4. Chronic health problems

Other health problems in dogs such as hypothyroidism or Cushing’s disease may lead to excessive hair loss and even the formation of bald spots in dogs.

Such conditions may cause hormonal imbalance in the dog’s body hence causing increased shedding with reduced hair growth.

Managing Your Golden Retriever’s Shedding

 

Even though Golden Retrievers are moderate to heavy shedders, you can take part in managing hair fall to reduce the amount of fur scattered in your home.

The first thing you should do is to regularly brush your Golden Retriever, to pick up loose fur from the coat before they end up on the couch.

Bushing also has the advantage of untangling those tough mats, and spreading the natural oils for a glossier look.

During the heavy shedding period, we recommend that you get a de-shedding tool to sweep the excess fur from the bottom part dog’s jacket.

Bathing your Goldie with dog-specific shampoo and warm water will greatly help in scooping out the dead hair from their undercoat.

Make sure to limit the bathing frequency to about once every two months. Excessive bathing might strip off your dog’s natural oils hence causing more damage than good.

As a routine, you need to ensure your Golden Retriever gets enough quality dog food with all the essential nutrients.

This will help to improve their overall health including supporting the coat and skin from the inside to the outer part.

On top of providing your furry friend with a well-balanced diet, you can also offer them some fish oil supplements for nourishing their hair follicles.

Omega 3 dietary supplements are also good for improving your dog’s overall health including brain health and cardiac support.

Conclusion

Golden Retrievers experience moderate shedding all year round but they blow off their coats quite heavily during spring and fall.

But with a good approach, you will be able to control the shedding by supporting your dog’s health and brushing off loose hair from their coat.

Golden Retrievers are super friendly pets and they are totally worth the extra work that comes with shedding.