Everything To Know About Long-Haired Golden Retrievers

Long hair has both benefits and drawbacks. On the one hand, it looks gorgeous and guarantees the dog extra points on the show ring.

On the other hand, long hair requires more extensive grooming and is prone to matting, which can become problematic if you don’t have time for regular brushing and feather trimming.

If you want to boast about your dog’s beautiful long coat, be ready to invest time and effort into taking care of it and provide your golden with healthy nutrition.

Do All Golden Retrievers Have Long Hair?

Golden retrievers in general are a medium to long-haired breed. The golden retriever breed standard states that the coat should be dense and water-repellent, with a firm and resilient overcoat.

The outer coat can be straight or wavy, but the standard doesn’t say anything about the correct golden retriever coat length.

The standard only says that the fur on the paws, head, and front of the legs should be short and even, and feathering on the back of the legs, tail, and neck should be prominent.

Because the wording in the breed’s standard is somewhat vague, golden retrievers have varying coat lengths, but the coat is never short. The coat length depends on the dog’s lineage, type, and shedding season.

Historically, golden retrievers didn’t need a long coat but a dense coat that would protect them from water and cold temperatures. Only in the past few decades did breeders begin emphasizing coat length importance.

Field golden retrievers intended for hunting have shorter coats with a less dense undercoat, so they don’t shed as much and are easier to groom. Canadian golden retrievers have the shortest coats of all show-type golden retrievers.

English golden retrievers tend to have the longest coats. British breeders emphasize coat quality and color, so you can easily recognize an English golden retriever by light cream, wavy, dense fur.

Although the coat length and color aren’t interdependent, cream golden retrievers tend to have longer coats than red golden retrievers because of their type.

The coat length doesn’t change with shedding season, but it may appear shorter during seasonal shedding when the undercoat becomes thinner.

If you came across a short-haired golden retriever, it either has a haircut or is a mix of golden retriever and Labrador retriever or another similar breed.

The coat length is hereditary, so some purebred golden retrievers might have shorter or longer than the average coat because of their lineage. Plus, the golden retriever coat only reaches its full length at about two years of age.

At first, golden retriever puppies have short fuzzy coats. As they grow, the fuzzy coat doesn’t go away but becomes an undercoat. Feathering only begins growing when a golden retriever reaches the adult phase.

Shedding

All golden retrievers shed year-round, with intense shedding periods in spring and fall when they blow out their undercoats to adapt to the changing climate. Shedding intensity doesn’t depend on the coat length, so short-haired golden retrievers shed equally much.

However, long-haired golden retriever shedding is more noticeable. It’s just that short hairs aren’t as visible on furniture, carpets, and clothes as long fur. Light hair is better visible than dark hair.

If you want a golden retriever with a gorgeous long coat, be prepared to brush it daily and never leave the house without using a lint roller beforehand. You will need to vacuum regularly and, possibly, give up dark clothes.

Golden retriever owners quickly get accustomed to finding dog fur in their food, kitchen cabinets, and wardrobes. The good news is that you can keep shedding at bay with frequent brushing and proper nutrition.

However, you cannot stop a golden retriever from shedding completely. Some golden retriever owners think that shaving their dogs would help. Shaving indeed makes shedding less noticeable because of the coat length.

However, one should never shave a golden retriever because it causes permanent damage to their undercoat and intervenes in the body’s thermoregulation.

So, a golden retriever isn’t a low-maintenance dog in terms of grooming, and it certainly isn’t a hypoallergenic dog. But the gorgeous look of the golden fur is worth the time spent grooming.

Home Grooming

A golden retriever isn’t a dog you can bring to a professional groomer once a month and forget about brushing until the next appointment. Long hair golden retriever grooming must be a daily routine and takes at least half an hour.

The best brush for long-haired golden retrievers is a slicker brush because it’s equally suitable for the undercoat and overcoat. Daily brushing will prevent tangling and help you spot parasites that might be hiding in the fur after a walk.

During seasonal shedding periods, you should additionally brush your long hair golden retriever with a de-shedding tool to remove loose fur stuck in the undercoat and prevent matting.

De-shedding is particularly important for long hair golden retrievers because they are at higher risk of matting and tangling. How often to bathe a golden retriever depends on its coat length and lifestyle.

While short-haired golden retrievers will suffice with bathing once in six weeks, long-haired golden retrievers need a bath more often, about once a month.

Dogs that frequently swim in stagnant water or pools need to be washed every other week.

Note that too frequent bathing can dry out a dog’s skin and coat, causing it to look dull and tangle more than usual.

You may find a detangling spray or conditioner helpful for a long-haired golden retriever, although most short-haired goldens don’t need it.

Long hair golden retrievers will benefit from feather trimming to minimize tangling and keep too long fur off the ground, thus reducing bathing frequency. Plus, trimmed feathers look neater.

Remember that a golden retriever should never be clipped too short, even in summer. Although this may seem counterintuitive, a dense undercoat helps golden retrievers stay cool in the heat, so shaving can lead to overheating.

Additionally, you must clean your dog’s ears after every swimming session and cut the claws every three to five weeks. Dental care is vital – veterinarians recommend brushing your dog’s teeth daily or every other day.

Professional Grooming

Golden retriever grooming is time-consuming yet straightforward, so you can easily make it yourself and save money on professional services.

However, some benefits of professional dog grooming are hard to argue, particularly for long hair and show-type goldens.

A professional knows how to remove mats and tangles without hurting your dog. Unfortunately, mats often lie too close to the skin, and owners harm their dogs trying to resolve the problem at home.

A professional is experienced in finding parasites hiding in the fur and dealing with them. They know how to safely clean ears, brush teeth, and trim nails.

Professionals also have better cleaning products that more effectively remove debris and dirt and leave the fur silky and smooth.

Although golden retrievers don’t need complex haircuts, a professional groomer can make a perfect feather trimming.

Golden retriever feather trimming serves not solely a visual purpose. It also keeps the ears cleaner, thus preventing ear infections, and minimizes tangling and matting.

Good grooming is essential for a show dog, so most breeders and owners hoping to win at a show bring their dogs to the pros. A groomer can even dye your dog’s hair in creative colors if you want to make it look more unusual.

Lastly, professional grooming saves you time. However, it’s expensive, and some dogs don’t like being touched by strangers. A golden retriever isn’t one of the dog breeds for whom professional grooming is essential.

Nutrition

Many dog owners focus on grooming and neglect the importance of nutrition for a healthy coat. Meanwhile, a dog’s hair cannot be lustrous and smooth without sufficient microelements – it’s largely dependent on the overall health.

Proteins are vital for your golden retriever’s coat health because hair consists of 95% proteins. Protein should account for about 30% of all nutrients your dog consumes daily.

Amino acids promote coat regeneration and maintain hair strength, minimizing shedding and making the fur look lively and shiny. Fat is also crucial – it should account for roughly 55 of your dog’s nutrient intake.

Vitamin A is crucial for keratin formation, which catalyzes cell growth and healthy follicle support. Dogs can get vitamin A from food, but you can also try supplements.

Vitamin E is another nutrient vital for coat health, maintaining hair elasticity and moisture. Vitamin C supports collagen synthesis and is an antioxidant. Zinc combats skin infections and prevents crusting, which also supports hair health.

Copper is a natural remedy for dull coat, found in liver, fish, whole grains, and legumes. While all these microelements are healthy for your dog, their excessive consumption can be dangerous.

Consult your veterinarian before altering your dog’s diet or giving it any supplements. A professional will evaluate all variables to determine the best suitable diet.

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