What Dog Breeds Should Not Be Shaved
You should never shave a double-coated dog. Dogs with double coats needs their coats to protect them from the weather, the sun, and insulate their skin from water, dirt, snow, and so on.
Shaving a double-coated dog can cause them great harm and they should not be shaved unless for a serious medical reason.
Taking Your Golden To The Groomer For Shaving
Any groomer performing a shave down on a double-coated canine is assumed legally responsible;for any resulting coat-funk.
The only way a groomer will even consider shaving these types of dogs if the owner provides written verification from a veterinarian deeming the shave-down medically necessary. Even with such documentation, some groomers require the owner to sign a waiver releasing the groomer from responsibility as well.
Once the dog has been shaved, its nearly certain its hair will never regrow the same way again. Due to the nature of its coat, hair follicle damage could occur, resulting in permanent bald spots.
Even in the best case, it will take anywhere between three months to a year for the coat to regrow. Some medications administered can cause the regrowth to take even longer.
Labrador Retriever Vs Golden Retriever
Both Labradors and Goldens rank high on most peoples lists of the ideal dog to add to their family. Its no accident that the Lab has been the most popular dog breed in the U.S. for the past 26 years, and the Golden is not far behind.
If you are looking for an energetic, intelligent, and outgoing dog to keep up with your active lifestyle, particularly if you have children, the Lab might be the perfect dog for you. You will have to watch their weight, and make sure that you get your puppy from fully health tested parents.
If a loving, kind, and gentle dog is more your speed, be sure to consider the Golden. Golden Retrievers also need fully health tested parents, but there is the added risk of cancer in Golden Retrievers to consider.
This is something you cant avoid through health testing, but might be helped by choosing puppies with older parents and no family history of cancer.
Cant decide? Then maybe a Goldador is what you are really looking for!
Read Also: Golden Retriever Favorite Toys
Are You Supposed To Trim Golden Retrievers
Yes, you are supposed to trim your golden retriever but only on the ears, neck, tail, and feet, They shouldnt have a full haircut and never shave your golden retriever even in hot weather and you should groom them regularly.
If you do live somewhere thats hot, there are other ways to cool down your dog. You can learn how to help your golden retriever adapt to hot weather here.
Brush That Dog On A Regular Basis
You should make it a point to regularly brush your doggy friend with a good quality bristle brush.
You can also use an undercoat rake if the need arises!
My top picks for a good brush is the Bonve Pet Brush, and the Self Cleaning Slicker Brush;works wonders for my dog!
And regular brushing will also reduce that annoying shedding, so no dog hairs all over your clothes!
And as a bonus, you also get to spend more time loving your little doggy!
Don’t Miss: How Long Does It Take To Potty Train A Golden Retriever
Trimming Your Golden Retriever
Trimming your golden is not usually necessary unless youre showing your dog, plus it can be dangerous if you cut their coat too short.
However, there are two areas that you might want to consider trimming whether you show them or not:
Golden retrievers tend to have grinch feet or slippers and grow lots of fur between their toes and pads.
If the bottoms of your dogs pads are too furry, the fur can easily become matted and splay their toes, causing joint issues.
Another issue is that furry pads can cause them to not get good traction on wood or tile floors, which can also cause joint issues.
You can clip their paw fur to be about even with their pads.
The other area you may want to consider trimming are the areas around their butt and genitals.
If they have issues getting poop or pee on their coats, then you may do a light trim in those areas, but if not, then most people dont trim around there at all.
Whats The Best Age To Start Grooming
A nice ballpark figure to go off from would be 10 to 12 weeks, which is a great age for your dog to have his first groom. Golden retriever doesnt become fully grown adults until 2 years of age, so its important to make this a great experience from as early on as possible.;
The first time would be well worth the investment of taking your dog into a professional groomer. But as they get older than you can make the choice of grooming form home or continue paying a professional. I have a really cool post that you can read more on here.;
Read Also: What Is The Best Dog Food For Golden Retrievers
Trimming The Neck And Shoulders
Thinning shears will be the best one to use in this area. Most people prefer to leave this area longer, so using thinning shears to thin out the hair will give it a natural and blended look.
Youll want to make a few snips with thinning shears, then brush and see how it looks. Repeat the process until you get the look you want. You dont want to remove too much hair in this area, or you risk that your dog doesnt look natural.
Shave Golden Retriever: Think Before You Do It
Have you ever thought about shaving your dog in the summer? Of course, youve got. People tend to go above and beyond their furry little companions. You may think youre doing them a favor by helping them keep cool in the summer, but shaving your dog may have the opposite effect as well. The most important thing you need to know before deciding to shave your dog is what kind of coat your dog has.
Yes, the type of coat your dog has will determine whether or not it should be shaved. So if youre thinking of shaving your dog, just remember that double-coated dogs shouldnt be shaved. Youre not going to help double-coated dogs keep cool by shaving their coat. You can make things worse for them instead.
Single-coated breeds like Poodles may have their fur shaved down to the skin or clipped, and it will grow back the way it was. However, the case for double-coated breeds is different. Not all dogs should be shaved, and were going to look at that in more detail below.
Also Check: The Best Puppy Food For Golden Retrievers
There Are Better Ways To Manage The Coat Of Your Dog
Double coated dog breeds need regular grooming. In spring and fall, they will go through their process of shedding which you should be prepared for. There will be hair all over the place and including large tufts that will come out. This is the reason why you should follow a schedule for grooming double coated dogs. You will be able to deal with all the excess fur they are shedding this way.
Regularly brushing their fur will not only remove excess fur but will help keep the hair of your dog in good condition by preventing tangles, removing dirt, and keeping their skin clean and free from irritants.
Tips To Keep Golden Retriever Cool During Summer Season
Unlike humans, golden retrievers do not secrete heat through their skin. Instead, they use panting as a means of regulating their body temperatures.
The double coat of the golden retriever acts as a built-in air conditioning system and therefore shaving it is a terrible idea. The dog will get even hotter once you shave him.
Below are some tips on how to keep your golden retriever cool during the summer.
Also Check: How To Make My Golden Retriever Gain Weight
Keeping Your Australian Shepherd Cool
Your Australian Shepherd can handle quite the range of temperatures, but there are some things that you can do to help your dog to be more comfortable in the heat of the summer.
Dogs dont have sweat glands like we do. They sweat from the pads of their feet and their panting can help cool them down but it may not be enough. Here are some tips to keep your Ausie cool in the summer time.
- Make sure your dog has plenty of cool water
- Provide a shady spot for your dog to rest
- If it gets too hot outside allow your dog to come indoors to a cooler environment
- Exercise your dog in the morning and evening hours when its cooler.
- Never leave your dog unattended in a car! Even for a few minutes, the temperature can heat up FAST!
- Keep your dogs paws trimmed
- Keep their legs and groin and stomach trimmed
Should You Shave A Golden Retriever
When the weather becomes hotter, you may think shaving your Golden Retriever will help them stay cool. In fact, it does not, it actually does the opposite. The double coat protects them from overheating on those hot, summer days. In this article we will explain why shaving is not the best option and what you can do to keep them cool.
You May Like: Why Do Golden Retrievers Eat So Fast
Trimming A Golden Retriever For Summer
Keeping your dogs coat trimmed during summer essential; however, as alluded to above, shaving your Golden Retriever for summer isnt a wise idea. Although, in theory, it seems the most efficient way to keep them cool, this is not actually true. Always opt for trimming over shaving; heres why:
Double-coat = protection:;As we mentioned above, the Golden Retriever breed has a double coat, and it is this that protects your dog from getting cold in the winter and too warm in the summer, in addition to keeping your four-legged friend protected from UV rays. If you remove the entire coat, your dog will not have the ability to regulate its temperature and protect itself adequately. Without its coat, your dog will not be able to keep cool during summer and will expose it to potentially cancer-undoing UV rays.;
Skin irritation:;Dog breeds with double-coats typically have sensitive skin; therefore, shaving their coat off may induce or increase irritation. Furthermore, shaving your dogs coat instead of trimming it may increase the levels of allergens on your dogs skin, which is bad news for those with dog-related allergies.;
Bug bites:;A dense coat helps to protect your dog against being bitten by bugs or anything else lurking in the grass when youre outside walking or playing.;
Aesthetics:;Although there might be times when shaving your dogs coat is necessary, aesthetically speaking, it will never look as good as a long, luscious coat.;
Golden Retriever Summer Cut A Complete Guide
As dog owners, were all aware that most dog breeds dont deal with heat particularly well especially those with long coats, such as the Golden Retriever. However, before contacting your local dog grooming salon or getting out the scissors yourself, its imperative that youre aware of precisely what you should and shouldnt do when giving your golden retriever a summer cut.;
Golden retrievers have a significant amount of hair. Although that is a very obvious trait to point out, it is actually this fact that leads some golden retriever owners to consider one thing they should never do: shave their dog. It may seem like an ingenious idea to remove the vast majority of your four-legged friends coat, but in reality, this isnt a good idea. Humans might opt for a shorter trim to make the baking heat of the summer months more bearable, but the same wisdom shouldnt be applied to a dogs coat. Before we discuss why shaving a dogs coat for summer isnt a wise idea, lets take a look at the Golden Retrievers coat in a little more depth.;
Given the characteristics of the coat, golden retrievers do require a lot of care and attention to ensure their coat is kept in tip-top condition. This breed commonly sheds twice per year in spring and fall, but they will shed throughout the year, albeit to a lesser extent.
Now weve taken a more detailed look at the coat of the Golden Retriever, lets discuss some tips and advice regarding grooming in the summer months.
You May Like: How Much To Feed A Golden Retriever Dog
Grooming A Golden Retriever
The Golden Retriever has a medium length double coat, consisting of a water repellant top coat and a soft undercoat. They have longer feathering fur on the neck, legs, and tail. Goldens are sometimes bred for longer, silkier coats than what is described in the breed standard. Many owners like soft, flowing coats while breed purists say that Goldens, as hunting dogs, should have more moderate coats.
All Goldens, regardless of coat length and texture, require regular grooming. The undercoat grows denser in cold weather and sheds in warm weather. Use of an undercoat rake can help remove loose fur from the undercoat. For the top coat a good quality slicker brush is a must-have. Some also like steel tooth combs.
More than one brushing per week is recommended for Goldens. Grooming a Golden also requires trimming some of the longer fur with scissors, specifically thinning shears. Areas that require regular trimming with scissors include the ears, feet, neck, and tail. The coat of a Golden Retriever should never be shaved.
Besides maintaining the coat, basic grooming needs for a Golden also include baths, nail trimmings, and ear and teeth cleaning. Remember that drop eared dogs are prone to ear infections. So how does Golden Retriever grooming compare with Labrador Retriever grooming?
What To Do If Golden Retriever Hair Is Not Growing Back
Why doesnt your golden retriever hair grow back? Your golden retrievers hair may not be growing back because of a hormonal deficiency, hormonal imbalance, a bacterial infection, ringworm, or mange.
This is called post-clipping Alopecia, and its more common than wed like it to be. Its one of the main reasons I always tell people to avoid clipping their dogs hair altogether and just keep a regular grooming routine.
What should you do if their hair is not growing back? You should take your golden retriever to the vet who will do a physical examination and take blood samples for a diagnosis. After diagnosis, they will put them on a course of medications that will likely include antibiotics.
Clipping your dogs hair, contrary to common belief, can damage their coat and make shedding even worse. You can learn 17 better ways to manage their shedding here instead of shaving their coats.
Read Also: How To Draw A Golden Retriever Face
Causes Sunburn To Your Labrador
Dogs skin is far more sensitive than human skin. So if you are at the risk of sunburn in summers, What about your dog?
Shaving your Labrador removes the guard hairs that act as a barrier between the skin and the sun rays. The guard hairs usually reflect the sun rays and protect your dogs skin.
Hence it not only causes sunburns, but there is also a greater risk of skin cancer by shaving your Lab which removes the protective guard hairs.
Shave Golden Retriever: To Do Or Not To Do
Before you head out and make a new cut for your dog, I think you should get the right training beforehand. Nothing is worse than leaving your dog looking like a rugged old mop head that has been used to clean a dirty bathroom for the last six months. To save you time and trouble, weve put together a little guide to help you groom your dog in the right way. Should you shave golden retriever?
Were sure youre here to find out if you can even shave a golden retriever right in the first place. Theres a lot of talk about this subject, and today Im here to set the record straight once and for all on whether you can shave this breed.
Read Also: How Many Cups Of Food Should A Golden Retriever Eat
What Parts Of The Coat Should You Trim
There is really no need to give your Golden an all-over haircut, but trimming the feathering is a good idea to keep the coat looking tidy.
You will want to trim the fur on your Goldens feet and paw pads, the ears, the feathering on the back of the legs, tail, and bum area.
If you want to trim the fur along your Goldens neckline and belly you can do so as well. Many people choose to leave the neck hair long and instead use thinning shears to thin it out.
How Can You Keep Your Golden Retriever Cool
A lot of people shave their golden retriever to help keep them cool. But this definitely isnt the best way to go about it. Here are some great ways you can keep your golden retriever cool in the summer months without shaving their fur.
- When youre walking them make sure you avoid walking them during the hottest parts of the day. Instead, you should walk them during the colder parts of the day such as early morning and in the evening.
- If youre keeping your dog outside during the day, make sure you can find a spot for them to rest in the shade. You may even need to set something up for them if necessary.
- You can use cooling mats that stay cold as well. You can pick them up off .
- Let them stay indoors where there is plenty of air conditioning and plenty of shade.
- Put ice in their water bowl to help keep the water cool, and leave it in the shade.
- Take them swimming or put a swimming pool in your garden so they can cool down.
Don’t Miss: Best Dog Food For Golden Retriever Puppy