While they’re known for their friendly yet gentle temperament, they’re also considered one of the most intelligent and loyal dog breeds in the world. And with one of the most luscious coats of all the canines, they’re great for a cuddle too!

The one question most commonly asked about these remarkable creatures, however; Do golden retrievers shed?So, do Golden Retrievers shed?

In short – yes, Golden Retrievers shed. And, they shed a lot. If you’re thinking about welcoming one into your home, be prepared for their thick, golden fur to become a regular part of your life. 

But wait. Let’s rewind a little and highlight some of the unique characteristics of a Golden Retriever dog breed (including their fur coat).

The unique abilities of Golden Retrievers

While all pets are extraordinary companions, each with their own unique set of abilities, Golden Retrievers continuously impress us with their talents. They’re often employed as therapy dogs – employing their gentle and empathetic nature to help calm and soothe people – and also as service dogs, thanks to their keen sense of smell and tracking abilities.

They’re said to be one of the smartest dog breeds also. Their high IQ combined with good memory makes them incredibly easy to train and follow complex commands.

This is also where their thick coat of fur comes in too.

Golden Retrievers have a unique water-resistant coat, a feature that allows them to excel in water-based activities. Originally from Scotland and used as hunting dogs, their double-layered coat is designed to protect them from various weather conditions.

However, while their coat is built for all-terrain, it also means that shedding is a year-round process, with certain times of the year being more intense than others.

Maintaining such a unique fur coat requires the right nutrients. A diet that supports a healthy skin barrier function ensures that their fur remains strong, shiny, and capable of withstanding the rigours of their adventurous lifestyle.

Why do Golden Retrievers shed so much?

Golden Retrievers shed more during two key periods: spring and autumn. During these seasons, they go through what’s called “blowing coat,” where they shed their undercoat to prepare for temperature changes. In the spring, they lose their heavier winter coat to stay cool in the warmer months. In autumn, they shed their lighter summer coat to make room for their thick winter fur.

However, shedding isn’t limited to these times. Due to their double coat, Golden Retrievers shed consistently throughout the year. Factors like stress, diet, or even medical issues can affect how much they shed, so it’s important to monitor their health closely.

How to manage Golden Retriever shedding

While shedding is inevitable, it can be managed with regular grooming. Brushing your Golden Retriever several times a week helps to remove loose hair before it lands on your floors and furniture. Bathing them every few months can also reduce excess shedding, and feeding them a high-quality diet rich in omega-3 fatty acids can keep their coat healthy.

Different breeds require different nutrition. 

Just as every breed has unique abilities, their diet is unique also. Furthermore, each life stage can have an impact on their nutritional requirements. Royal Canin provides tailored nutritional solutions for your dog at every stage of their life, from puppyhood through to their senior years.

Golden Retrievers benefit from a formulation that helps support the health and beauty of the skin and coat. Royal Canin’s Breed Health Nutrition® range features high-quality protein sources, unique nutrients, and is designed with specific shape, size and texture for each dog’s facial and jaw structures and biting patterns. 

ROYAL CANIN® Golden Retriever puppy is suitable for Golden Retriever puppies up to 15 months old, and helps support the skin’s “barrier” role (exclusive complex) and maintain skin and coat health (EPA and DHA). These nutrients all help to support a healthy skin barrier function which in turn contributes to the healthy appearance of your dog’s coat.

Just like the puppy diet, the ROYAL CANIN® Golden Retriever Adult diet is specially formulated to meet the nutritional needs of your dog. This diet contains omega-3 fatty acids, including EPA, DHA, and borage oil, to help support your dog’s skin condition.

ROYAL CANIN® is recommended by Vets & Breeders

Chosen with precision, the high-quality raw materials found in Royal Canin dog food are the foundation of our science-led formulas, selected to help your pet feel their vibrant best.

“I am confident recommending Royal Canin diets because the diets do what I need them to do, they are palatable and I trust the science behind them” – Dr Helen Orbell, Director and Dermatologist, Referral Animal Skin Hospital

As pet owners, it’s our responsibility to tune into the unique needs of our pets. Dogs, unlike humans, can’t vocalise their discomfort or explain their dietary needs. That’s why Royal Canin caters to the unique sensitivities of your pet’s breed with 55 years of scientifically tailored nutrition.

So if you’re asking ‘do Golden Retrievers shed?’ and debating how you might manage this characteristic of these beautiful furry best friends, grooming and a breed-specific diet might be the answer.

Next time you marvel at your dog’s intelligence, remember that their incredible skills deserve the best support. Specialised nutrition not only sustains their unique abilities but helps them thrive, ensuring your pet can continue to impress you for years to come!

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Looking to welcome a new furbaby to your home? Here’s the 411 on the dog breeds that tend to shed more than others.

A quick note on dog shedding

Frustrating it may be to clean up, but shedding is simply a fact of life for most dogs. When a dog sheds, they’re getting rid of old, dead hair to make way for new, healthy hair. 

When it comes to dog fur, breeds typically fall into one of two categories: single-coated and double-coated. Single-coated dog breeds only have one type of coat all over their body. Double-coated dog breeds, on the other hand, have two coats. The lower layer is a thick and woolly undercoat that keeps a double-coated dog warm. The top layer is usually made up of longer hairs that are coarser and more waterproof.

Double-coated breeds often come from working stock. In the past, their coats developed to help them withstand harsh conditions and to keep them warm when they were travelling through snow, cold water, or rain.

For single-coated dogs, shedding is mostly a light, year-round thing. This means that while they’re constantly shedding their fur, the amount is fairly minimal. 

Double-coated dogs shed a little year-round and completely shed their coat up to several times a year. This is known as “blowing coat”. Double-coated breeds often shed during spring so they can swap out their thick winter coat for a lighter summer one. Then, they’ll shed again during autumn so they can regrow their cosy winter coat.

On the whole, double-coated pooches are the dog breeds which shed most. They tend to lose considerably more hair than single-coated breeds. Although, as we’ll soon find out, that’s not entirely true of all single-coated breeds.

And lastly, don’t be deterred if your heart is set on a fur-flinging pooch! Cleaning up dog hair is just part and parcel of being a Dog Owner. There’s really very little we can do to entirely prevent it. Plus, it’s pretty easy to minimise dog shedding. All it takes is a bit of dedication and a good fur brush!

What are the dog breeds which shed most?

1. Labrador Retriever

Ask any Lab Owner, “Do Labradors shed?”, and they’ll probably tell you that cleaning up stray hairs is one of their main responsibilities. Labradors are double-coated, so they shed some of their fur throughout the year and have twice-yearly blowouts. Yep, that’s right. Despite their single-coated appearance, beneath a Lab’s layer of short, coarse hair lies a thick and fluffy coat!

2. Golden Retriever

The longer, wavier, softer-coated cousin of the Lab is equally as notorious when it comes to shedding. Just like Labradors, Golden Retrievers have a double coat. This means shedding all 365 days a year, as well as a couple of blowouts during spring and autumn. 

Because Golden Retrievers have such long fur, you’ll need to stay on top of grooming to ensure it stays tangle-free. You can probably get away with brushing them once per week, but daily is ideal when they’re blowing coat. 

3. German Shepherd

German Shepherds have a double coat, which results in multiple blowouts per year – in some cases, up to four. The good news is, these gentle giants are minimal shedders the rest of the year. And the hair they do lose is pretty easy to clean up.

At the start of their heavy shedding season, you’ll probably notice tufts of hair falling off your German Shepherd’s body. Fortunately, these only require a brush to keep them under control.

4. Malamute

Alaskan Malamutes are the ultimate snow dogs. When humans used to employ them as cold-weather working dogs, their double coats kept them warm in harsh, freezing environments. 

While they may not necessarily be living in snowy climates anymore, Malamutes have retained their dense lower layer of fur. As a result, they also shed their coats a few times a year, much like other double-coated dog breeds. Malamutes have such thick coats that they usually require daily brushing throughout the year.

5. Husky

Just like Malamutes, Siberian Huskies were once utilised as working dogs in frosty locales. They have the same bulky double coat to help protect them from the cold. They also go through multiple shedding seasons every year where they totally blow their coat.

But, because many huskies no longer live in the snow, there’s less need for their winter coat. So, huskies living in temperate and warm climates may blow their coats up to four times per year to help them stay cool.

6. Corgi

Her Royal Highness’s pupper of choice could be dubbed the queen of shedding – or one of them, at least. Both Pembroke Welsh and Cardigan Welsh Corgis have a double coat, so you know what that entails: total blowouts around twice a year (along with ongoing shedding the rest of the time). 

Regular brushing is ideal for Corgis, especially during their biannual shedding seasons. While they’re blowing coat, you may want to up their brushing regimen to once daily.

7. Fawn Pug

Pugs are an interesting breed in that some have double coats, while others have single coats. Luckily, you don’t have to dive down to their lower layer of fur to find out which kind of coat they’re wearing. Generally speaking, Black Pugs have single coats and Fawn Pugs have double coats. 

This does mean that Fawn Pugs shed a heck of a lot. They lose hair across the year, and undergo massive sheds during moulting season. That’s not to say that Black Pugs don’t shed, though; they certainly do, just not quite as much.

8. Chow Chow

You only need to take one look at a Chow Chow to tell this doggo is a big shedder. In fact, despite the breed’s small stature, Chow Chows can shed the same amount of hair as much larger breeds. This is because underneath that bushy, luscious coat is another coat that’s even bushier and more luscious. Yep, this guy is a double-coated breed, too.

Rough-coated Chow Chows generally need more grooming than their smooth-coated counterparts. This is due to their fur being longer and more prone to getting tangled.

9. Rottweiler

Don’t be fooled by their smooth appearance; Rottweilers sit very firmly in the double-coated breed camp. Below their slick, black coat you’ll find a dense layer of fur designed to keep them warm in cold environments.

Throughout most of the year, your Rottie is unlikely to shed excessively. But come moulting season, you’ll need to brush them daily to stay on top of their hair.

10. Dalmatian

Shout out to the only single-coated breed on our list! Dalmatians may not have the thick underlayer and regular blowouts as double-coated dogs, but boy can they shed. These dogs lose their hair all year round, mainly due to the fact that their hair shafts have a short life span and need to be routinely replaced.

This means Dalmatians require regular brushing pretty much all the time – ideally three to four times a week. If this seems like a lot, well, just be glad you don’t own 101 of them…

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