This Groom Can Be The Perfect Answer For Golden Retriever Owners Who Want A Cut That Will Keep Their Dogs Cool In Hot Summer Weather
- Anne Francis
There has long been debate about cutting Golden Retrievers’ coats, and we try to educate our clients as much as possible about all sides of the argument. Still, many owners have made up their mind and want their dogs shaved down. In these cases, we compromise and use a snap-on comb and shears to do what we at our shop call the Golden “Teddy Cut.”
This month’s subject, Rory, has been groomed at our shop for eight years. During colder times of the year, he is kept in a traditional Golden trim, but Rory is a big swimmer and enjoys a short ‘do during warmer months. When we catch up with Kat—a longtime coworker of mine who is performing this groom—Rory has already been washed, dried with a high-velocity dryer and set under a room-temperature blower.
Step 1: Finish Drying
Use a high velocity dryer to blow out excess hair and damp spots.
Step 2: Remove Dead Coat & Detangle
Using a slicker brush and undercoat rake, move through the coat to make sure the coat is dry and tangle-free and all dead coat is removed.
Step 3: Trim Nails
Clip the nails and file smooth.
Step 4: Trim Pads of Feet
Clip the pads of the feet with a #30 blade.
Step 5: Sanitary Trim
Clip sanitary areas.
Step 6: Clip Body
Using a size “O” snap-on comb, clip the entire body of the dog, leaving the back of the front and rear legs, which will be scissored.
Step 7: Blend Clipper Lines
Use a carding knife to help blend any clipper lines.
Step 8: Trim Tail
Step 9: Trim Rear Legs
Step 10: Trim Hocks
Golden Retriever Grooming: The Essential Guide With Pictures Of Haircut Styles
With those irresistible good looks, and the funniest, friendliest demeanor you’ll find around town, it’s no wonder that golden retrievers are consistently one of the most popular breeds in the world. In fact, according to the American Kennel Club, they are, “outgoing, trustworthy, and eager-to-please family dogs, and relatively easy to train.” Who could resist a dog like that?
Initially developed as a breed in the 1800s by Lord Tweedmouth in Scotland, they are a cross of a yellow wavy coated retriever and a tweed water spaniel—making them excellent sporting dogs, retrievers , and companions.
And there’s that beautiful coat! Their most noticeable attribute, their gorgeous, golden fur, sets them apart in the canine kingdom—but also come with a few special instructions to keep it shiny, chic and looking fabulous.
To help you get there, here are some golden grooming tips unique to this breed.
Grooming Tutorial Blow Drying: Questions And Answers With Joanne Lastoka
Mike’s Question:
Ok Joanne, what’s the proper method of drying a dog from the skin out? My guys are doing lots of swimming this week, its hot, humid, and now starting to rain again. I don’t want hot spots, but do want to exercise my dogs in the water. Last time I dried a dog I did it wrong and had feather mats big time.
Answer:
It is hard work Mike, even with a good cool forced air dog dryer or livestock dryer, that’s why most groomers, both at vet clinics and in private businesses don’t dry the dogs totally. They stop at damp dry and crate him/her to “air” dry before sending the dog home. Drying the dogcompletely is really important, both to prevent the dog from getting “hot spots” , and in case of a show dog, you don’t want the dog laying on damp coat & pressing his coat into the waffle design of a crate, or creating unsightly cowlicks here and there!
Often if the owner feels beneath the hair, close to the skin the dog will still be damp. I’ll describe drying the dog in stages. Dogs that have never been dried with a forced air dryer before should be allowed to get used to the sound &“feel” of the drying SLOWLY and with great care and patience by the owner/handler. See “Puppies” below, instructions can be modified for older dogs as well! Your lap is the best place to dry a very young puppy, and a grooming table with arm is the choice for a dog of 3 to 4 months of age and up.
Working with an older puppy or Adult:
Drying Instructions for BodyCoat
Feathering:
The Tail:
Apply Flea And Tick Medication To Finish Your Golden Retrievers Grooming
On the off chance that you are grooming your Golden Retriever every month, at that point this is an incredible chance to make sure to take flea and tick precautions.
Keeping your canine’s coat liberated from insects won’t just assist the canine’s overall health but will likewise keep its coat liberated from dander and flea dust.
Note:
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This Guide Was Originally Published On Wikihow By Dr Pippa Elliot Mrcvs
As its name implies, the Golden Retriever is best known for its flowing, golden coat of thick, soft fur. It’s easy to keep the breed’s medium-length coat shiny and beautiful with regular grooming. In addition, this beautiful canine is also known for its loyal, easy-going temperament and love for the people who care for it.
Since Golden Retrievers are so easy-going, and their coats are so easy to care for, grooming a Golden Retriever doesn’t have to be a chore but instead can be an enjoyable bonding time for you and your canine companion.
When And How Often Should You Groom Your Golden Retrievers Hair
A Golden Retriever has a dense, silky coat that’s water repellent.
It comes in a light, medium, or dark golden color and has an undercoat. Their hair can be wavy or straight, and the feathering is often lighter than the rest of their fur.
As a general rule, brushing should be done once a week. Baths shouldn’t be done too often, so every 3 to 4 weeks is good.
Not only will brushing keep your Golden’s coat looking glossy, but it also helps in keeping the tangles away. On top of that, you’ll find less hair around your house when you brush them often.
Do you want to minimize pet hair indoors? Take the grooming routine outside!
If your pup gets dirty or stinky, then it’s time for a bath – no matter how long ago his last one was. It’s also best to bathe your dog before trimming. It will make the whole process easier, and the final result looks better.
Proper grooming begins before you ever pull out the brush, however. Lay down the foundation by teaching your dog to be patient while you work on them. Praise them and give them treats when they behave well. As always, calm and consistent training is vital.
How To Make My Golden Retriever Stay Still While Being Groomed
Golden retrievers are energetic breeds and it’s kinda difficult to make them stay still while grooming them, trimming their nails, or brushing their teeth.
One of the things that work like magic with golden retrievers is exercise, so on the day you decide to groom them or do anything that requires staying still, burn all of their extra energy by playing with them, running with them, or even take them for a long walk.
What Are Golden Retriever Zoomies And How Fast Can They Run
All dogs can get the zoomies, which are bursts of frenetic energy. Think of it as a way for them to blow off some steam.
It can happen for no apparent reason, but it’s mostly due to excitement.
It’s most common after a bath or when a dog has been confined for too long. Don’t worry because it’s completely normal.
About their speed, Goldens can run up to 30 miles per hour . Check out Red running at 24 miles per hour at 11 months old.
How Can I Tone Down The Smell On Golden Retriever Feathers
Even with a little trimming, some Golden Retrievers will still have a little odor attached to their feathering. Thankfully, there are a couple of remedies dog owners can use to reduce the odor or get rid of it altogether:
Use Bragg’s apple cider vinegar. To use this remedy, mix one-part apple cider vinegar with three parts water, and spray it on your dog’s feathering. This mixture neutralizes odors in a pinch and will not harm your dog if he decides to lap it up.
Use baby wipes. Some dog owners have had success with rubbing baby wipes on their dog’s coat to reduce odor. If you’re looking for quick cleanup in a pinch, this is a smart choice.
Express your dog’s anal glands. This is gross, but it has to be done from time to time. Pushing out built-up secretions will immediately reduce the stink.
Use a dog deodorizing spray. Several sprays exist on the market that make it possible to just spritz your dog and remove the scent.
My Retriever Lost His Feathers And Is Older Whats Going On
Admittedly, it’s rare to see older Golden Retrievers those experience blowouts. When you do, it’s often accompanied by lethargy, weight gain, and general malaise. The majority of cases that fit this bill are due to hypothyroidism.
If you’re concerned about hypothyroidism as a cause for blowouts, then it’s crucial to get your dog to a vet. If left untreated, hypothyroidism can seriously harm your dog.
When Should You Start Training Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Puppies are surprisingly smart and you can start training them as soon as you bring them home.
In fact, it’s encouraged to start training them as soon as you bring them home.
For one, it will help build communication and a bond between you two.
It will also help build their confidence as they’re challenged and they overcome those challenges.
Plus, it’s great to start training them before bad habits start.
If your puppy learns that jumping up on people gets him pets and attention, it’s going to be very hard to train her not to do it.
And if your puppy learns that crying in the crate gets them out of it, it’s going to be very hard to teach him not to do that.
So now that you know puppies are easy to train, and you know you need to start training them asap, how do you actually train them?
Let’s get into the training strategies now.
Getting To Know Your Golden Retriever: All About The Coat
Golden Retrievers are known to be furry.
But, do you really know what’s all that fur for and how it actually works to keep your dog’s body safe and protected?
Well, I’ll tell you everything you need to know about your Goldy’s fur in this section of the blog post. The thing is that Golden Retrievers are actually double trouble because they have a double coat!
And, your Goldy’s double coat is there to actually protect that little guy in every season.
Let’s look into it, shall we?
How Long & How Often To Train Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Life is hectic with a new puppy, but here’s the good news: you can have a well-behaved puppy and train them in as little as five minutes a day.
Puppies don’t have long attention spans, so it’s actually unproductive to try to train them for more than five or ten minutes at a time.
In fact, when your puppy is young, it’s better to keep training sessions as short as two to five minutes.
This way, your puppy has fun the entire time and keeps a positive association with training sessions.
As far as how often to train them, having three to five of these short training sessions is recommended.
Now, you might be thinking, how am I going to train this wild puppy with such little training time?
Well, in reality, every moment with them is a teaching moment.
You spend the “formal” training sessions teaching them the basics, and then take advantage of little moments here and there to practice.
For example, let’s say you’re taking your puppy on a walk and you’ve been working on “come” and “sit”.
When you walk up the door you can ask your puppy to come, and then before you put the leash on, ask them to sit.
Then, when you get back inside, you ask them to sit while you take the leash off.
This isn’t adding any real extra training time, but practicing behaviors as part of your everyday routine will help your puppy learn fast.
Everything To Know About How To Groom A Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers have undeniably beautiful coats. Those long, glossy, golden locks make them stand out amongst other breeds.
But how do you keep that coat looking good? It isn’t as hard as you might think. Grooming a Golden is a pretty straightforward process.
We’ll show you everything you need to know about how to groom and trim a Golden Retriever by yourself.
What Do Male Or Female Retrievers Have Better Feathering
With many canine breeds, certain traits can be gender-specific. Others aren’t so distinct. Feathering is one of those traits that’s hotly debated over its gender ties. The jury is still out on whether or not one gender has thicker feathering than the other.
Though there’s still some debate on the topic, anecdotal evidence suggests that males tend to have slightly thicker feathering than females.
Beautiful Grooming Styles For Shaving A Golden Retriever
Before you head out and give your dog a new cut, I first think its best that you get the right training beforehand.
There’s nothing worse than leaving your dog looking like a rugged old mop head that’s been used to clean a dirty bathroom the past 6 months.
To save you the problem and time, I’ve put together a little guide that will help you with grooming your dog the right way.
Furthermore, I’m sure you’re also here to find out whether you can even shave a golden retriever in the first place right.
There’s a lot of hearsay around this topic and today I’m here to set the record straight once and for all on whether you can shave this breed.
Grooming A Golden Retriever Doesnt Have To Be Difficult
You might think that a gorgeous coat takes a ton of work, but it doesn’t! A Golden is mostly a wash-and-wear kind of breed. As long as they get the basic nail trimming, teeth brushing, ear washing, and combing, you don’t need to worry about much more.
It’s important to note that the time you put into teaching your dog to accept grooming routines will pay off in the long run.
If your dog is being difficult, grooming will take twice as long. But if you teach them to enjoy the process, and wait calmly, it will go smoothly and be less stressful for you both.
With a little work, you may find that both of you enjoy the process and it can even be bonding time together.
Do you have grooming tips for fellow Golden Retriever parents? Share it with us by leaving a comment below.
Getting Your Golden Retrievers Coat Ready For Grooming
Step one
Begin by brushing your Golden retriever all over. Make sure to examine every area and spending additional time on parts of your Golden retriever’s body where there is thick and matted fur.
To make sure that your Golden retriever will have a handsome coat, brush them from head to toe at least once a week. It will help minimize matting and will reduce the amount of fur shedding in your home.
Top tip: it is crucial to ensure that your dog is in a comfortable position before grooming. For instance, you might spend some time stroking your dog and letting them explore their surroundings prior to brushing or washing them.
Step two
Remove matted fur that is extremely tangled and can’t be handled by combing or brushing. If you are brushing your dog several times a week, there should only be a few mats that will develop. To get rid of mats, trim it with a sharp pair of scissors. Be cautious not to hurt your dog in the process.
Before cutting off the mat, you should try brushing it out. Start brushing or combing the hair gently, starting at the top of the mat, and working your way close to the skin.
Step three
Bathe your Golden retriever with lukewarm water and high-quality dog shampoo. When should you bathe your golden retriever? If your Golden retriever is extremely dirty and stinky, bathe them before grooming. If your dog was bathed recently, you can skip the bathing part or wait until after you groom the dog to get rid of excess fur.
Step four
Everything You Need To Know About The Golden Retriever
Everyone who loves dogs is familiar with Golden Retrievers, who are known for their intelligence, friendliness, and devotion to their families.
They’re even in the top 10 list of most popular dog breeds in the States, Canada, as well as Lebanon and Mongolia! You can also find this versatile canine in service lines and movies.
What else makes Goldens or Goldies so unique and an all-time favorite? Let’s find out.
Is There A Dog That Looks Like A Mini Golden Retriever
There’s the Miniature Golden Retrievers– a cross between a Golden and a Poodle or a Cocker Spaniel.
If you want a purebred with similar features with a Golden and are more petite, you might want to consider a Cocker Spaniel.
They have the same glamorous golden coat. They’re great with kids and love people, even strangers. Sounds familiar, right?
Ready Heres How To Trim Your Golden Retriever At Home
After the bath, grab your scissors and thinning shears. Electric clippers aren’t necessary, but depending on the trim, you can use them. Invest in a good pair of scissors because it will pay off in making the job go more smoothly.
Note that you should NEVER shave your pup bald unless they have a severe matting issue. Their hair protects them from the sun, wind, and from getting too cold or hot.
And if you’re wondering, Red and English Golden Retrievers are cut the same way as standard Goldens.
There are many different styles of trims you can give your dog. These include summer trim, swimmers trim, a show trim, field trim, or teddy cut. You can also give them a sanitary trim, which is when you tidy up their rear to keep them clean.
If it’s hot, you can give them a summer clip. A swimmer’s clip or field trim is ideal for working dogs. The teddy cut is a favorite for pets because it gives your dog an adorable teddy bear appearance.
When How And How Often To Brush Your Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers need to be brushed 3-7 times per week with a .
My golden, Oliver, doesn’t have that much or that long of fur , so we brush him 3-4 times per week.
Other goldens with lots of fluff may need to be brushed more often.
Brushing them will help prevent matting and get rid of the dead fur, as well as prevent shedding all over your house.
And here’s a bonus tip: to help keep your house clean, make sure to brush your golden outside.
After you’ve brushed them, rub your hands down their back, chest, tail and legs to get any extra fur sticking to their coat.
Before I go out on a walk with Oliver, I take the brush out and leave it on the doorstep.
This ensures I do it when I get back, while also helping me remember to do it while he’s already outside.
Now a lot of people ask about deshedding their golden retriever with a tool such as the Furminator.
It’s not recommended to do this as their undercoats are incredibly important, and it can also strip their outer coats.
And finally, one more tip about brushing your golden is to take this opportunity of brushing and rubbing them all over to check for lumps, cuts, or any other abnormal spots.
Learn more about the best brushes for golden retrievers here.
When How And How Often To Bathe Your Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers have natural oils that protect their skin and coats so bathing them too often can strip them of this oil and leave their skin prone to drying out or getting infections.
Most people bathe their golden retrievers every 1-2 months, although it would not hurt to wait even longer between baths.
And when bathing your golden retriever, make sure to:
If you don’t rinse them off thoroughly, soap can get trapped in their fur and cause skin irritations.
The same goes for drying them off.
If you don’t dry them off well, moisture can get caught in their fur and cause hot spots.
To see an example of how to give your golden a bath, watch the video below.
Do Golden Retrievers Need To Be Shaved In The Summer
The answer is no, never shave a Golden Retriever, no matter how hot the weather is. The double coat of the Golden protects your furbaby during every season and every temperature. The double coat keeps your dog cool during summer and warm during winter.
Look at it this way, the double coat of a Golden or any other double-coated breed works like sort of an insulation for the dog. Besides keeping your Golden nice and cool during summer and warm during winter, the double coat also protects your Golden’s skin from getting sunburned.
Preparing Your Golden Retriever’s Coat For Grooming
What Our Expert Does: It’s important to make sure a dog is as comfortable as possible before grooming. For instance, you might spend a few minutes petting the dog and letting them explore their surroundings before you begin to brush or wash them.
Size: At What Age Is A Golden Retriever Fully Grown
They usually reach their full height at one, but won’t grow into their adult weight until they’re two years old.
Male Golden Retrievers have a height of 23 to 24 inches and weigh 65 to 75 pounds .
Females are slightly smaller as they stand around 21.5 to 22.5 inches , with a weight of 55 to 65 pounds
Due to their size, it’s not advisable to keep them in an apartment. They require spacious homes that will help fulfill their daily exercise requirements.
However, the most crucial part is keeping them indoors. They thrive when they are with their families, regardless of whether you have a yard or not.
Temperament: Are Golden Retrievers Good Family Dogs
Absolutely! They’re big-hearted fidos who’ll love every member of the family. Goldens are affectionate furballs who always need to feel included.
Even though they’re gentle with kids, interactions between your Goldie and small children should always be supervised. Because of their size, they may accidentally knock over little ones while having fun.
Other than that, they’re tolerant and will hardly ever nip a child no matter how rough they are during playtime. Still, teach your tots how to treat dogs with respect.
Since Goldens are super friendly, some say that they’re horrible watchdogs, BUT this is untrue. Despite being social butterflies, they’re very alert and will loudly bark when they notice something amiss.
Most dogs who are intelligent and have high energy tend to get destructive when bored. Keep your Golden Retriever happy by getting him on the move.
Simple tasks like training him to fetch the newspaper or help you get the groceries from the car will have your fur buddy feeling involved.
This video is proof of how helpful Golden Retrievers are:
They’re one of the most versatile dog breeds because aside from their history in fieldwork like hunting, the Golden Retriever can now be found in different canine jobs like search-and-rescue, drug detection, and as service dogs such as in therapy and guide for the disabled.
Goldens are also commonly found in Hollywood movies! This is partly due to their beautiful appearance, but also because of their high trainability.
Is There Such A Thing As A White Or Black Retriever
The AKC does not recognize white or black as a color for a Golden Retriever.
Most of the time, White Goldens are simply very light English Golden Retrievers. Since they are cream-colored, you sometimes get one so light it looks white.
Black Golden Retrievers are usually Flat-Coated Retrievers, Newfoundlands, or a crossbreed with a Black Labrador or a Black German Shepherd.
How Often Should I Brush My Golden Retrievers Teeth
An essential part of your Golden’s care that is often overlooked is the care of the teeth. If the dog’s teeth are not clean, he will have bad breath, but more importantly, poor oral hygiene can result in all kinds of diseases, discomfort, and pain.
Dogs with dirty teeth can suffer from mouth infections. Periodontitis, if not controlled, can result in infections that can occur in essential organs such as kidneys, liver, brain, and heart. Other problems, such as mouth ulcers and loose teeth, can also be caused by inadequate oral hygiene.
You can prevent all these unpleasant problems by brushing your dog’s teeth regularly. I was advised by my vet and dog groomer to brush my dog’s teeth at least once a week, but twice a week is better. I brush his teeth on Sundays and Wednesdays.
Do not use toothpaste for people, but . It is best to start learning this method of dental care at a young age. Our dog Stippy loves the taste of the dog toothpaste, so he doesn’t mind when I brush his teeth twice every week. Offering chewing tufts and chew toys also promotes dental cleaning.
How To Do A Standard Trim On Your Golden Retriever
First, brush your dog out one more time to make sure all the hair is lying flat and smooth.
For standard maintenance, trim any feathery bits with the scissors, including ears, legs , and tail.
Next, trim the excess hair off the undersides and sides of the feet, so they’re neat. You can do this using scissors or an electric trimmer. Then, trim away any hair that sticks out on top of the foot using the scissors.
Then, shorten up the hair under the tail to keep things nice and sanitary. You can also shorten and tidy up the hair on the bloomers if needed. Trim the hair on the hocks into a half-moon shape.
Next, it’s time to move to the face. Don’t shorten your dog’s face or mask – leave that hair natural. What you can do is thin the hair on the ears using thinning shears. Then, trim the edges of the hair on their ears to make it look nice and even.
Don’t forget to remove the fuzzy hairs that sit behind the ears. Also, lift the ear and scissor or trim away the hair that grows there. If necessary, carefully remove or shorten any hair growing in the ear canal.
Tidy up the tail using scissors. You want the hairs to look even and uniform. You don’t need to remove much length along the tail, but you can shorten it if necessary. The longest part of the tail should hit your dog’s hock .
Don’t trim your golden’s topcoat at all. You should also leave belly, elbows, and rear long. If your dog has exceptionally long belly hair, you can use curved shears to tidy up long hairs there.
What To Do For Dog Vulva Irritation After Grooming
Your companion is well-groomed and all clean. But, your retriever still seems uncomfortable. This might be because of vulva irritation caused due to overly close cutting of private area hair. It could also occur due to hot and blunt clippers.
What do you do to comfort your pet? Take her to a professional groomer or veterinarian for medicated oat shampoo bath. This will soothe the vulva and reduce the inflammation. After the medicated bath, a greaseless, non-fragrant cream will be applied to her vulva region. Next time ensure that your flurry pooch’s grooming is done with smaller and proper clippers to avoid inflammation.