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So, you’re dying to know “Why Does My Golden Retriever Have Short Hair?”
I’m sure one of the many reasons you fell in love with this breed is because of their long-flowing coat.
You’ve seen other Golden Retrievers with long hair, and it has you concerned about your short-haired Golden Retriever.
Perhaps you are even worried about whether or not your Golden Retriever is purebred or not.
Well, rest assured, this article is going to ease your mind and explain the 6 reasons why your Golden Retriever has short hair.
Table of Contents
Why Does My Golden Retriever Have Short Hair?
The most common reason why your Golden Retriever has short hair is age. Golden Retriever puppies start out with short hair and grow into their adult coats by the age of two. Other factors that affect your Golden Retrievers coat length include genetics, diet, health, spay and neuter, and breed variation. Short-haired Golden Retrievers do not exist, however, a field Golden Retriever is one type of Golden that typically has a shorter coat.
1. Golden Retriever Puppies Do Not Have Long Hair
By far the most common reason why your Golden Retriever has short hair is that he is still a puppy.
Your Golden Retriever’s puppy coat is soft and fluffy and lacks any feathering that an adult Golden has.
It takes up to two years for your Golden Retriever to have his full adult coat.
It’s a slow process, but you will start to notice feathering on your puppy’s tail around the age of 3 to 4 months.
This new hair growth will be darker than the rest of your puppy’s coat.
Golden Retrievers have feathering along their tail, legs, and belly.
The speed at which your Golden Retriever grows his adult coat is determined by genetics.
2. Genetics Play A Role In The Length Of Your Golden Retrievers Coat
As mentioned above, genetics play a role in how quickly your Golden Retriever puppy grows his adult coat, as well as how long or short his coat will be.
The length of hair on your Golden Retriever is a result of a recessive genetic mutation in the FGF5 gene.
This gene controls the hair cycle and length, which means that your Golden’s hair will only grow to the length that this gene allows.
When it comes to your puppy’s coat length, texture, and colour, the best way to get a sense of how it will look as an adult is by checking out your pup’s parents.
If your puppy’s parents have shorter hair, then your puppy will as well.
What happens if your puppy’s mom has long hair, but the father has shorter hair?
Well, chances are your pup could either have a longer coat or a shorter coat. In this case, there’s no guarantee of what it will be.
RELATED ===> Will My Golden Retriever Change Colour?
3. Diet Affects Overall Coat Length And Condition
The saying you are what you eat is true for us humans, and certainly for our canine companions as well.
Food plays an important role in the overall condition of your Golden Retriever’s coat.
A Golden Retriever fed a poor diet that lacks essential nutrients will not only show its effects on his health, but you will notice it in his coat.
The coat will be dull, and brittle, cause excess shedding, and will likely be thin and patchy, making it appear shorter in length.
A proper nutritionally balanced diet will result in a healthy, shiny lustrous coat.
Foods that help improve your Golden Retriever’s coat, and essentially help the hair grow longer and stronger include:
- Omega-3 and Omega-6 fatty acids. Great sources include fish oil, coconut oil, and olive oil. Also, sardines, tuna and salmon.
- Eggs are great for skin and coat health as they contain zinc, lutein, and biotin.
- Oats support healthy skin and hair.
- Liver from grass-fed animals contains tons of nutrients essential for skin health.
- Sweet potatoes are considered a super-food for the skin. High in Vitamin A, Beta-Carotene, Vitamin E and Vitamin C. Sweet potatoes help to accelerate healing and support collagen production.
A healthy coat that is shiny and strong starts from the inside.
By feeding your Golden Retriever a high-quality diet, you’ll be improving not only his overall health but his long-flowing hair.
4. Health-Related Issues Affect The Length Of Your Golden Retrievers Hair
We just touched on the importance of diet and how it affects your Golden Retriever’s coat.
Now, we’ll look at certain health issues that can have a negative effect on your Golden Retriever’s coat.
Allergies
Allergies are pretty common in Golden Retrievers. Both environmental and food-related.
Licking, chewing and scratching are the most common signs, and it’s how a Golden Retriever will try to relieve his itchy skin.
All of that scratching, licking and chewing affects the hair on your Golden Retriever.
The hair loosens, falls off, and causes your Golden’s coat to appear thin, patchy, and sparse.
Hormonal Imbalance
A hormonal imbalance such as Hypothyroidism can cause your Golden Retriever to lose his hair.
Hair loss can appear in one area, in patches, or all over your dog’s body.
Cushing’s Disease
Also known as Cushing’s Syndrome, Cushing’s Disease occurs when there is an overproduction of the hormone cortisol.
It is more common in dogs 6 years or older.
One of the symptoms of this health condition is hair loss.
Other signs to watch out for include increased eating, drinking, urinating, and panting. Also, a pot-bellied appearance.
Parasites
Parasites such as fleas and mites cause your Golden Retriever to itch and scratch, which in turn causes hair loss.
Bacterial And Fungal Skin Infections
Bacterial and fungal skin infections cause hair loss, redness, and irritation of the skin.
Ringworm is a fungal infection, not an actual worm, that results in hair loss in dogs.
Symptoms of ringworm include circular areas of hair loss, usually with a red and crusty edge, as well as broken/shorter hair and poor coat.
Stress
High-stress levels and anxiety can have a negative impact on your dog’s coat.
Stress can cause excessive shedding, as well as result in poor coat condition.
5. Spaying And Neutering Has An Effect On Your Golden’s Coat
Spaying and neutering alter your dog’s hormone levels, which can lead to hair loss (more shedding), and thickening of the coat.
Spay Coat is a term often used by groomers and dog owners to describe the change in coat texture and appearance in altered dogs.
It commonly occurs in Golden Retrievers but can affect other breeds as well, such as Rough Collies, and Irish Setters.
The coat becomes thicker, softer and more woolly in texture. Many owners describe the coat as fuzzier, and hard to manage.
There is no scientific evidence to suggest that “spay coat” is a real thing, however, there are plenty of forums in which dog owners and groomers prove otherwise.
Spay Coat is discussed in the Golden Retriever Forum.
6. Your Golden Retriever May Be A Field Golden
