Whether you love your pup’s coat color or want them to have a specific color when they grow older, you may be curious and wonder if golden retriever puppies change color. This research-driven guide will answers all your questions.
Golden retriever puppies start changing color between 4 to 6 months of age as they start growing their adult coat. They mostly tend to get darker, and the color they will have as an adult will be completely visible around 16 months of age.
In this article, we’ll share ways to determine your dog’s coat color, whether they will get lighter or darker, the reasons for the color change, and more to clear your confusion.
Table of Contents
Do Golden Retrievers Change Color As They Grow?
Your golden retriever will change color when they are entering adulthood and when they become a senior dog. They may also change the color of their nose.
Let’s discuss them one by one in detail.
1. Puppy Coat
A golden retriever puppy’s coat is very light in color, which you may have noticed already.
Once they start shedding their puppy coat at the age of around 4 to 6 months (which is a normal developmental part of golden retriever coat stages), you will start noticing darker adult coat growing in.
Generally, golden retriever puppies fully grow their adult coat at 16 months of age.
This is when you will notice your puppy is actually quite darker in color, which is the color they will have as an adult dog.
Most golden retriever puppies get darker. However, in very rare cases, they may be lighter. Both are normal and nothing to worry about.
2. Your Golden Retriever’s Nose
Your golden retriever may also change the color of their nose during winter, which is referred to as “snow nose” or “winter nose”.
Their nose may turn from a dark color to a lighter one during winter and turn back to their original color in summer/spring. It may even remain the lighter shade forever.
If your golden retriever has a black nose, you can expect it to turn pink or a darker brown. In case of a brown nose, it may turn lighter brown.
Although your golden retriever puppy’s nose is likely to turn lighter in winter, they may also experience this in summer. Whereas some dogs may not experience this at all.
According to PetMD, this condition is basically a loss of pigmentation, and there’s no scientific evidence as to what causes it. It is completely cosmetic, and nothing to worry about since the mere change of color doesn’t harm your dog.
However, a 2013 research hints at two theories that may possibly cause it. The first one is the cold winter temperatures, and the second one is the increased sun reflection from the snow.
Although this condition can affect any breed, it most commonly affects golden retrievers, labrador retrievers, Siberian huskies, and Bernese mountain dogs.
3. Senior Golden Retriever’s Face
As we humans get gray hair as we get older, the same is the case with senior dogs.
Although they won’t have an entire coat of gray hair, you may notice that the fur around their eyes and muzzle is lighter in color.
Around 8 years of age, your golden retriever will be entering their senior years, so you can expect their face to get lighter.
Age-related graying is caused by reducing numbers of melanocytes, so it’s a normal growth process in dogs.
However, premature aging can also occur in dogs. Research shows that premature muzzle graying in dogs aged between 1 and 4 years old can be related to anxiety, fear, or impulsivity issues.
If you suspect this case to be with your golden retriever, identify the cause and resolve it.
Otherwise, you can always talk to your vet for professional guidance.
In addition, premature aging may be linked with genes since they are responsible for giving particular coat colors or patterns.
Summary: Golden retrievers change color as they grow, with puppies’ coats darkening by adulthood. Their noses may lighten in winter (“snow nose”) and senior dogs’ faces often gray, especially around the eyes and muzzle, due to reduced melanocytes or genetic factors.
Do Golden Retriever Puppies Get Lighter or Darker?
Mostly golden retriever puppies get darker as they grow their adult coat. In extremely rare cases, they may get lighter.
Whether they will get darker or lighter also depends on the genetics of your adorable puppy that they have inherited from their parents.
However, it’s essential to keep in mind that the change in color, light or dark, is a completely normal part of their growth and development, and they are still your playful and loving puppy.
Summary: Golden retriever puppies typically darken as they grow, though in rare cases they may get lighter, with their final color depending on inherited genetics. This color change is a normal aspect of their development.
When Do Golden Retriever Puppies Start to Change Color?
Golden retriever puppies are lighter, and they usually start changing color between 4 to 6 months of age.
This can be a bit sooner or later for individual dogs, so don’t fret if your puppy hasn’t started getting darker during this period.
As this is when they start losing their puppy coat to grow adult coat, you will be able to see the fur color growing through their adult coat.
You may be able to see the actual color of their coat once they entirely get their adult coat, which happens around 16 months of age.
Summary: Golden retriever puppies start changing color from their lighter puppy coat to their darker adult coat between 4 to 6 months, with their final coat color becoming evident by around 16 months.
Why Do Golden Retriever Puppies Change Colors?
Witnessing your adorable golden retriever puppy changing colors when they are entering adulthood can make you wonder why they change color in the first place.
Golden retriever puppies change colors as it’s a normal part of their growth and development.
As they shed their puppy coat, they will grow adult coat and you will notice a color change.
What Color Will My Golden Retriever Be?
Now that you know that golden retriever puppies do change color, you may be curious to learn what color they will be.
Here are two ways to help you determine their color as an adult.
1. The Color of the Ears
The color of your little canine’s ears can help you predict their adult coat color.
Their ears are usually darker than the puppy coat, and the color of their coat will almost be the same as their ears. If your pup has light-colored ears, their adult coat will also be lighter.
Many pet parents predict the color of their adult dogs through the “golden retriever puppy ear color” method, and most of the time, it has proved them right!
2. The Color of Your Golden Retriever Puppy’s Parents
A reliable method to determine your golden retriever’s permanent color is to look at their parents’ color, as genetics play a key role.
If both parents of your little canine are dark-colored, your puppy will also be darker. In case they both are light-colored, you can also expect your puppy to be lighter as they grow.
If both parents have different colors or you’re only able to see one of the parents, this method may not come in handy. Instead, predicting your pup’s color through ears will be your best bet here.
Furthermore, for pet owners who got their puppy from a responsible breeder, you can ask the breeder for your pup’s parents’ color as they will have a record.
Looking at your pup’s parents’ older litter will also give you a general idea of what color your golden retriever puppy will be. If they are darker, your puppy will be, too, and vice versa.
Summary: To predict a golden retriever puppy’s adult color, look at the color of their ears, which often indicates their future coat color, and consider the coat colors of their parents, as genetics are a key factor.
What to Do If You Want a Specific Color Golden Retriever?
If you have a certain color in your mind that you want your adult golden retriever to have, you should talk to a certified breeder to help you get the right color puppy.
A certified breeder will follow ethical practices to breed golden retrievers while ensuring their safety and health.
Research and find a professional, expert, and certified breeder.
Remember, it’s not about what color looks best on a golden retriever.
Instead, having a smart, healthy, and well-behaved dog who will thrive and be your best companion is more important.
What are the Different Colors of Golden Retrievers?
You may have seen varying colors of golden retrievers online, such as cream-white and dark red. However, these are just light or dark shades of gold.
Each Kennel Club has set different breed standards of color, and the AKC only recognizes three colors of golden retrievers – light golden, golden, and dark golden.
It’s also essential to know the breed standards if you want your dog to participate in the show, as each Kennel Club has different requirements.
Let’s take a look at what each Kennel Club states:
1. American Kennel Club
The AKC is the strictest when it comes to the recognized colors of golden retrievers as compared to the UK and Canadian Kennel Club.
As already mentioned, the standard colors are dark golden, golden, and light golden. The AKC doesn’t agree on colors that are extremely pale or dark.
2. The UK Kennel Club
The golden retriever breed standard color per the UK Kennel Club is any shade of cream or gold. However, it doesn’t accept darker shades such as red or mahogany.
3. The Canadian Kennel Club
The Canadian Kennel Club is the most lenient of all, as it allows various shades of gold that range from cream to darkest gold.
Summary: The AKC recognizes three golden retriever colors: light golden, golden, and dark golden. The UK Kennel Club accepts any shade of cream or gold, excluding red or mahogany, while the Canadian Kennel Club permits shades from cream to dark gold.
What are the Three Different Types of Golden Retrievers?
Of course, there is only 1 breed (golden retriever), but there are 3 official subtypes of this adorable breed. What makes them different are the physical characteristics that may be slightly different such as coat type and size other than color.
Here are the different types of golden retrievers that you should know.
1. American Golden Retriever
Coat – Dense and medium length
Height – 21.5 to 22.5 inches for female adult dogs and 23 to 24 inches for male adult dogs
Weight – 55 to 65 pounds for females and 65 to 75 pounds for males
Head – Broad head with a straight muzzle
Eyes – Intelligent and friendly in expression and are set well apart in the dark to medium brown color
2. English Golden Retriever
Coat – Flat or wavy with good feathering
Height – 20 to 22 inches at withers for female dogs and 22 to 24 inches at withers for male dogs
Weight – Not mentioned in the UK Kennel Club standards
Head – Well chiseled and broad skull
Eyes – Set well apart with dark brown color
3. Canadian Golden Retriever
Coat – Straight or wavy and dense
Height – 21.5 to 22.5 inches at withers for females and 23 to 24 inches at withers for males
Weight – 55 to 65 pounds for females and 65 to 75 pounds for male dogs
Head – Broad skull and a bit narrower profile
Eyes – Friendly and intelligent in expression and medium-large almond-shaped eyes set well apart with dark brown color
Frequently Asked Questions
1. At what age do golden retrievers get their full coat?
Golden retriever puppies start shedding their puppy coat between 4 and 6 months of age. They usually get their full adult coat at the age of around 16 months.
2. What age do golden retrievers reach their final color?
Since golden retrievers generally grow their full adult coat at the age of 16 months, this is when you can expect them to reach their final color, and this is what their coat color will be as an adult dog.
3. What is the rarest golden retriever color?
The rarest golden retriever color is the darkest shade of gold, which some may think is a deep red color. However, it’s just the lighting conditions that make them feel like they are “red” color.
Conclusion
Golden retriever puppies do change color at around 16 months of age, as this is when they completely get their adult coat. They mostly get darker, and this is just a natural process of their growth and development. Looking at their parents’ coat or the tips of their ears can help you predict the color they will have as an adult dog.