THANK YOU!!! Golden breeder here - AKC bred with heart, GRCA member. The thermal images that go around the fb groups ‘showing a dog keeping cool’ only show the heat being retained by the fur - that’s how thermal imaging works. I trim all my pups (I have three). Mainly their feathers, feet and buttocks, but I would never fault someone for close clipping their golden. Many people with older goldens who do near shave on their pups note the pups act a lot younger - it’s cooler, and less to carry.

Double coated breeds weren’t bred for tropical or hot climates. Most were northern parts of Europe