Do Golden Retrievers Shed More Than Labs Or Vice Versa?

Last Updated on November 11, 2023 by Linda Richard

Choosing a pet is a multi-faceted decision with many big and small considerations. Shedding, for example, is one of them. So, you may be wondering, do Golden Retrievers shed more than labs or vice versa? Goldens certainly have longer hair and look like they’ll leave much more hair on your couch. However, Labrador Retrievers are already famous for being super shedders, so are the roles actually reversed? And should this even matter in your choice of pet? Let’s find out below.

Do Golden Retrievers Shed More Than Labs?

The Golden Retriever vs. Labrador shedding comparison doesn’t have a clear winner. Indeed, both breeds seem to shed the same amount of hair – a lot. Both of them generally fall in the “super shedder” category together with Siberian Huskies, German Shepherds, and a few other breeds. And both are even enough in terms of shedding to share the same spot. This should hardly be surprising given how similar Goldens and labs are in many other regards as well.

Goldens Do Leave More Hair Behind Them

This sounds like a contradiction, but it isn’t. Golden Retrievers just have significantly longer coats than Labrador Retrievers – about two or three times longer most of the time. So, even though both breeds shed the same number of hairs every day, you can expect to see much more hair with a Golden.

This will be a very noticeable problem if you don’t brush and groom your dog regularly and adequately. Then again, you’ll always have a problem with dog hair if that’s the case. On the other hand, if you take good care of your dog’s grooming needs and your home’s cleanliness, it won’t really matter which one you choose.

How Much Does Either Of These Breeds Shed Really?

A lot – that’s the simplest and easiest answer. Both Golden and Labrador Retrievers truly shed a lot when compared to other breeds. There are a few other breeds that arguably can be said to shed a bit more, but even then the margins are too small to matter. These two Retriever breeds simply are high shedders.

As double-coated breeds, they are supposed to shedding mostly in the spring and autumn. That’s when double-coated dogs typically “blow their coats” –  that’s the process of shedding the winter’s or summer’s hair and replacing it with a new coat that’s more suitable for the next season. And these two breeds do shed extra in the spring and autumn. However, being the super shedders that they are, they also shed pretty regularly throughout the year too. So, what can you do about it?

Golden Retriever Vs Labrador Retriever Grooming Needs

Now that we know do Golden Retrievers shed more than labs or vice versa, let’s compare their grooming needs. Here are the basics:

• Both breeds need daily brushing. This will keep the excess hair to a minimum and will maintain a healthy and matt-free coat.
• Goldens and Labs both need regular baths, although the exact frequency depends on how dirty your dog gets outside.
• Both dogs need their ears and eyes cleaned often. They are prone to developing some eye problems such as Cataracts, Cherry eye, Progressive Retinal Atrophy (PRA), and others. And, as they have large, hanging ears, those can suffer from the slow build-up of dirt and debris.
• Nail-clipping should be a relatively low priority for either breed as they ought to be active enough outdoors to naturally file their own nails in the dirt of the dog park.
• Dental hygiene is important for either breed.
• One aspect in which Goldens do require a bit more attention than labs is de-matting. Because their coats are longer than those of labs, they tend to develop even more mats. This can lead to not just pain and inconvenience for the dog but also to some nasty skin infections if you don’t remove the mats early on. Fortunately, the way to do that is via daily brushing and combing – something you should do anyway with both Goldens and labs.

Do You Need A Professional’s Help?

You don’t “need” to go to a dog groomer, but you can certainly benefit from it with either breed. Many owners get their pups used to two groomer visits a year – once in early spring and once in early autumn. This takes care of most of the seasonal blow-out and keeps some other potential issues in check, such as matting.

If you don’t want to bother with groomer visits for one reason or another, they are not a must. You’ll just need to make sure that you take extra good care of your dog’s coat at home. Besides, even if you go to a groomer a couple of times a year, that’s still a must.

What To Do With All The Hair On Your Floor And Furniture?

Brushing, bathing, and grooming your dog is one thing. Even if you do a good job at that, however, you’ll still notice at least some dog hair on your furniture. This is especially true with Goldens because of their long hair but applies to labs as well.

And, whether we like it or not, the answer is clear – vacuuming and home maintenance. Using furniture covers can help as will using certain special pet hair furniture brushes. The main heavy lifting will be done by the vacuum cleaner, however.

So, Do Golden Retrievers Shed More Than Labs?

Yes and no. In terms of the number of hairs shed, the two breeds leave the same total number behind each day. However, given that Goldens have a significantly longer coat overall, the answer to who sheds more lab or Golden does lean toward the Golden. With that breed, you’ll just have two or three times more hair flying around because their hairs are two or three times longer than those of labs.

Yet, if you just brush your dog daily and vacuum around the house regularly, it doesn’t really matter which breed you choose. And, if that sounds like too much work, then neither of the two breeds is suitable for you, and you should gravitate toward a less shedding dog – something like a poodle, perhaps?