A long-haired Golden Retriever is indeed iconic. Together with its cream to gold, lustrous coat, this dog is easy to recognize. As a matter of fact, its coat helps people to distinguish them apart from other dog breeds.
Even so, some may have shorter hair because of breed variation. Further, this breed’s full hair length would be only apparent at a particular age.
Keep on reading to find out more about long hair Goldens, including how long their hair grows and how to take care of their coats.
We will also address the most frequently asked questions about these dogs. So, let’s get started!
Do All Golden Retrievers Have Long Hair?
The American Kennel Club (AKC) stipulates a list of requirements that must be followed for a Golden Retriever to be classified as a purebred. However, non-compliance does not automatically result in a breed standard exclusion.
One of the basic features of a purebred Golden Retriever is having long hair. Although most Golden Retrievers have it, this does not apply to all.
There are multiple variations of the breed that gives each one a different or same coat.
A field Golden Retriever, for instance, is one of the said variations. This dog often has shorter and straighter hair than other Goldens. Its shorter coat is mostly a result of its nature and intended use as a working and hunting dog.
These breed variations are merely one of several factors that affect the full length of a Golden Retriever’s hair. The way you care for its golden coat and the food you feed it could possibly have an impact.
You can ask for guidance from skilled pet groomers if you want to give your long-haired Golden Retriever a proper grooming routine.
If you also want to find the best dog diet, seek a pet clinic that constitutes medical advice.
Why Do Some Golden Retrievers Have Short Hair?
Genetics is the main reason why some Golden Retrievers have shorter hair than regular ones. If one or both of its pet parents have the S allele, there is a 50 to 100 percent chance that it will inherit short hair.
Golden Retrievers with shorter coats may appear to be a different breed, but genetic testing will still prove that they are members of the standard breed.
While it’s true that Golden Retrievers may have shorter hair, it should be noted that a short-haired Golden Retriever is not a recognized breed!
Even the field-bred Goldens still have longer hairs than other short-haired dogs.
In addition, even if dog owners or groomers have trimmed the entire body of this dog, the Golden’s coat will naturally return to its former state, which is long and feathery.
4 Interesting Facts About Golden Retriever’s Long Hair
It is not surprising why many dog lovers admire a long hair Golden Retriever. Due to its gorgeous coat and delightful personality, this dog is a good choice for someone looking for a perfect addition to their home.
If you are an avid fan of the long-haired Golden Retriever and you are curious about some of its secrets, here are the top four interesting facts you should know about this dog’s long hair:
1. It has two layers with different purposes
The long hair Golden Retriever has one-of-a-kind fur. It has two layers of coats that functions differently.
The first layer is the flowing outer coat, which keeps water off a dog’s skin when it swims. The second layer is the thick undercoat that serves as a blanket for warmth throughout the colder months.
The lengths of these two coats vary and grow differently. The thicker fur grows more quickly than the longer outer coat but is always shorter.
The reason is that this dog sheds its thick undercoat, making it impossible to grow longer.
2. It is dense and water repellent
Historically, the Golden Retrievers were developed to help hunters retrieve waterfowl from various bodies of water.
With their dense and water-repellent coats and natural athleticism, long-haired Golden Retrievers make excellent swimmers while remaining comfortable even in frigid water.
They have a thick protective undercoat that keeps them from the cold, and their guard hairs on top effectively deflect water.
3. Hair length varies in a Golden Retriever’s body
Most Golden Retrievers have a moderate feathering on the back of their forelegs and underbodies. Meanwhile, heavier feathering may be seen in front of their necks, back of thighs, and underside of their tails.
Moreover, the coat of a long-haired Golden Retriever should be short and even on the head, paws, and front of the legs.
In these sections, excessive length, open coats, limp, or soft coats are highly undesirable but not grounds for disqualification.
4. It makes them stand out from other canine breeds
The long wavy coats of a pure Golden Retriever are one of the reasons people adore them.
Evidently, the American Kennel Club rated these dog breeds as the 3rd most popular dog breeds among the 197 registered dogs as of 2021.
Its long hair not only brings fame but also distinguishes a Golden Retriever from other dogs, including the Labrador Retriever and the Chesapeake Bay Retriever.
At What Age Do Golden Retrievers Get Their Long Hair?
A Golden Retriever puppy gets its long hair after 18 months or one and a half years. When it is born, it will have short, fluffy hair.
This puppy fur is used to protect the Golden Retriever and keep its body temperature regulated.
Genetics, health, and even the diet provided to Golden Retriever puppies will affect how much hair they will have and when their full coat will be developed.
At around three months of age, the puppy fluff normally turns into a mature coat, and longer hair begins to grow.
While you may be excited to see that full coat of adult Golden Retrievers, you’ll have to wait a few months to see much.
The transition of puppy fluff to thicker coats actually starts on the tail of Golden puppies. Also, during the process, the Golden Retriever puppies do not necessarily remove their loose hair to have better new hair.
As it ages, a darker layer of fur will grow, which becomes the undercoat. This coat is eventually pushed to the sides as the longer coat starts to grow.
When this long adult hair is fully developed and becomes the outer coat, it is then referred to as the guard hair.
The long hair Golden Retrievers may also have some coat variations, even as adults.
For example, male dogs would have thicker coats compared to female dogs because they are more playful and tend to spend a lot of time outside.
Additionally, there are seasonal and genetic variances that cause some Golden Retrievers, like the Canadian, American, or English Golden Retriever, to have more vibrant and longer coats than other Retrievers.
Caring for Your Long-Haired Golden Retriever’s Coat
We all want our long-haired Golden Retriever puppies to be in their best form. Therefore, it is necessary for loving dog owners to consider things like consistent grooming and to give a proper diet to maintain a dog’s appearance.
A Golden Retriever puppy should have its first grooming session around the 10 to 12-week mark. You might begin providing its puppy fur with more grooming once it gets used to it.
Giving your long hair Golden Retriever a daily soft brush is one of the best things that you can do for its fluffy coats.
Brushing removes loose hairs and dead skin cells, stimulates hair follicles, and releases natural oils, which make its long coat extra shiny and cute!
A Golden Retriever with long hair may also be entangled in small burrs, twigs, or leaves. If you plan to give them a bath because of these, refrain from doing so, as it may result in loose hair even more.
A bath can be given to long-haired Golden Retrievers once every six or eight weeks. You can give them more than this, but be sure to use a shampoo that is gentle and specifically formulated for dogs to avoid hair loss.
Ultimately, sufficient protein and fat content are what make the Golden Retriever’s coat healthy and long. The dog’s coat is made up of 95% protein, which supports the hair from falling out or becoming weak and fragile.
On the other hand, healthy fats are crucial to lowering systemic inflammation and promoting hair growth.
Consult a veterinary nutritionist if you suspect your long-haired Golden Retriever is suffering from protein or fat deficiency.
In addition, if you want to make sure that your Golden puppy will have only the best long coat possible, you should feed it with high-quality dog food in accordance with its necessary dietary requirements.
Check out this video to see how a long-haired Golden Retriever is groomed professionally:
Grooming A Golden Retriever | A Much Requested Video [CC]<a href="https://youtu.be/UKewV_4bkxg" rel="nofollow noopener" target="_blank"><img src="https://www.bubblypet.com/wp-content/plugins/wp-youtube-lyte/lyteCache.php?origThumbUrl=https%3A%2F%2Fi.ytimg.com%2Fvi%2FUKewV_4bkxg%2F0.jpg" alt="Grooming A Golden Retriever | A Much Requested Video [CC]" width="1280" height="700" /><br />Watch this video on YouTube</a>
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Are Some Golden Retrievers More Fluffy?
A Golden Retriever with a non-fluffy coat is common and should not be a cause of concern.
A Golden Retriever might not have a fluffy coat due to the following reason: bad diet, poor dog health, dry condition, age, or heredity.
The fluffy coat of a Golden Retriever puppy is like its crown. If you want it to remain stunning and beautiful until it reaches its expected lifespan, you should strive to learn how to maintain and groom it.
Why Doesn’t My Golden Retriever Have Long Fur?
There are two possible reasons why a Golden Retriever breed doesn’t have long fur. First, coat length is inherited, and second, hair growth takes time.
You can anticipate having a short-haired Golden Retriever if one or both of the parent dogs has short hair.
Meanwhile, the adult hair of a Golden Retriever won’t start to develop until it has grown out of the puppy stage. You should expect your pooch’s coat to reach full growth at around 18 months old.
Do Long-Haired Golden Retrievers Shed a Lot?
The majority of long-haired Golden Retrievers have long coats that shed moderately all year round. But as double-coated dogs, they may shed a significant amount of undercoat twice a year, every shedding season.
Therefore, it’s crucial that you handle its heavy shedding in the greatest possible way to avoid having the Golden Retriever’s feathered fur all over your home.
Final Thoughts
A long-haired Golden Retriever is not rare in the breed. The length of its hair is significantly determined by the puppy’s parents.
Once this dog reaches 18 months old, the dominant gene will become apparent on its adult coat.
Taking care of this dog’s fluffy hair is no different from other types of Goldens. Its full coat doesn’t need frequent coat grooming. However, as Golden Retrievers are classified as heavy shedders, extra brushing is advised.
Overall, the time and effort spent on a long hair Golden Retriever are worthwhile. They beautify your lovely homes and make fantastic pets without a doubt.
Let us know what you think about the long-haired Golden Retrievers in the comment section below!
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