When Do Golden Retrievers Shed Their Puppy Coat?
If you have ever held a puppy in your arms you know how soft and delicate their puppy coat can be. When we got our golden retriever, we were curious when their adult fur would grow in. Here’s what I found from my research.
When Do Golden Retrievers Shed Their Puppy Coat?
Golden Retriever puppies shed their puppy coat when they are about six months old. This happens as they grow and is gradual over time. When Golden Retriever puppies shed their puppy coat it can take up to a full year to get their full adult fur coat, which means it can take until they are around eighteen months old for the entire process to be completed.
For Golden Retriever puppies to shed their puppy coat, the first series of shedding will be the heaviest as they begin to make room for their adult coat of fur. During and after this time when Golden Retriever puppies shed their puppy coat, it is a good idea to instill good grooming, brushing, and bathing habits.
This will minimize the amount of puppy fur around the house and on furnishing and people. When Golden Retriever puppies shed their puppy coat, they should be fed a proper diet, including plenty of water. These should already be a part of their healthy puppy lifestyle but it never hurts to review. At this time, the Golden Retriever puppies will shed their puppy coat, and a new fur coat will come in darker but sometimes lighter than what they already had.
Golden Retriever puppies are just like other puppies. As they grow they will go through a series of changes and development on the inside and outside of their bodies. Golden Retriever puppies will begin to shed their puppy coat when they are about six months old. At this time, the long process of shedding and growing in their adult fur coat will happen.
Golden Retriever puppies that shed their puppy coat will have an heavy shedding at the beginning of this process, making room for the new adult coat to come in. Eventually they will lose their entire puppy fur coat and it will give way to their adult fur coat.
From the six month age moving forward, Golden Retriever puppies that shed their puppy coat should learn good grooming habits. These habits that the pet parent or caregiver will teach them are a part of their healthy lifestyle for life.
The earlier they learn this the better. It needs to become a regular part of their daily lives that they accept. The Golden Retriever puppies will need to understand that they must be groomed regularly as well as more extensively when needed as well as bathed. They will need to be accepting of daily brushing is a normal part of their lives.
This will require that the pet parent or caregiver be patient and understanding but persistent that they accept this daily ritual. While training them to accept this ritual, it is vital that Golden Retriever puppies be given verbal praise and, of course, a few treats.
Simultaneously, for Golden Retriever puppies that shed their puppy coat, it is helpful to review their diet and daily habits to ensure that they are getting the proper nutrition they need for healthy growth. These areas of their life should already be in order, but it helps to review and ensure they are growing healthy.
When Golden Retriever puppies shed their puppy coat they will get an adult fur coat in. This fur coat will come in most often darker than the original, but sometimes it can come in lighter than what they had as a puppy.
How long does it take for Golden Retriever puppies to shed their puppy coat?
How long it takes for Golden Retriever puppies to shed their puppy coat depends on the individual dog.
While the process will begin at six months, it can take up to a full year from that point for them to get their complete adult fur coat. This is just a guide, some puppies will have their complete adult fur coat sooner, some later.
If my Golden Retriever puppy sheds their fur coat around six months, will they have no fur?
No, your Golden Retriever puppy who sheds their fur coat around six months won’t be without any fur. While the first shedding is the largest, they will still have fur. This first shedding is the most significant but it doesn’t cause them to be hairless.
There may be thinner spots, and the process can vary from dog to dog but generally speaking, it will be an all-over shedding and thinning to make room for the new fur coat.
If, however, bald patches appear at any time until they reach eighteen months, they should be addressed with the puppy’s veterinarian to ensure nothing else is going on with their health.
How do I groom my puppy at this time that they are shedding their puppy fur coat?
Grooming is a lifelong process, especially for a Golden Retriever who naturally have a lot of fur. This long, thick, and dense hair can shed a lot, and the sooner pet parents and puppy get acquainted with the full grooming process, the better.
When a Golden Retriever puppy is six months old, it is essential to introduce them to the ritual of daily brushing if this hasn’t been done before. This part of their grooming is critical to keep their fur from ending up everywhere in the house, and reducing tangles and knotting.
These first brushing sessions should include lots of praise and treats but be short in time. Taking them into a bathroom or other safe area where the fur can be contained, the pet parent can begin the process.
The pet parent can start brushing at the top and back of the puppy’s body and work their way to the front. Then repeat the process going front to back. Then they can move to the underside of the puppy and repeat. This promotes shiny fur while removing the excess shedding fur.
It is essential to be gentle with the puppy as they are little and have small bodies. In the beginning, these brushing sessions need not be perfect just an attempt to minimize fur everywhere while helping the puppy get used to this care. Praise and treats should be offered to enhance the experience.
Weekly or bi-weekly extensive grooming sessions should also be introduced. They will include inspecting the fur and skin, clipping nails, brushing teeth and checking their eyes and ear. These session will be slightly longer but are vital to their lifelong health.
These sessions should also include praise, treats, and perhaps some silly games or a break for fun. How this is handled depends on the puppy and pet parent pair.
Finally, bathing is a part of grooming which a Golden Retriever puppy will also need to get used to. These sessions will not be as often unless the puppy gets dirty, but it can help to bathe them once every six to eight weeks.
Bathing them can be fun if pet parents are adventurous. A tiny kiddie pool can be placed in the yard or even indoors if the pet parents have the room and the patience.
With but a tiny bit of water on the bottom, the puppy’s favorite toys can be tossed into the pool so the puppy can play and splash around. Soap and scrubbing are probably not needed at this point unless the puppy has gotten dirty for some reason.
Golden Retrievers enjoy the water as they were bred to retrieve game with their hunting companions in the past. This breeding should make the bathing part of their lives easier to accept, but a little water fun for young puppies couldn’t hurt either.
For reluctant puppies, the pet parent can get into the kiddie pool and splash around while showing how much fun they are having. Before long puppy will be playing and not even realize he or she is being bathed.
The first bath session should be about fun. The second bath session can include soap and cleaning. After a few sessions, they can graduate to a more traditional bathing tub.
It is not necessary to use a kiddie pool. Many Golden Retrievers will enjoy the process of bathing without the kiddie pool. This is just a fun option to try to create a positive experience for everyone.
Grooming and bathing may already be a part of the puppies life but should generally be introduced as soon as the puppy is welcome into the family and home. Whether this is eight weeks, three months or more, it doesn’t matter. Good grooming habits enhance overall health for everyone.
Closing Points
When Golden Retriever puppies shed their puppy coat, their pet parents will know it. The first shedding will be the heaviest and probably have fur flying everywhere.
Once this happens, the process of growing their new adult fur coat takes time. At the end of this journey, the puppy will have a different-looking coat, but it will still shed everywhere if left un-groomed. Thankfully they are so cute and loveable. Most pet parents can easily ignore it!
