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.
The Golden Retriever Coat
The first question that crosses a dog lovers mind when he/she sees a Goldie is how to maintain the dog and keep him glowing.
Golden Retrievers have a striking double coat that can come in various lengths. The coat should be wavy or slightly wavy but should never be curly according to the breed standards.
These canines have a dense and water-resistant outer coat with a fair amount of undercoat.
Unfortunately, these dogs shed throughout the year and have two heavy shedding seasons.
Heavy shedding occurs when the dog is blowing out his coat in preparation for warm or cold weather. The coat gets thick for the cold season and thinner for the warmer season.
Every coated dog sheds and grooming is the best way to minimize shedding as you cannot completely stop it.
Retrievers also have featherings around the neck, the back of the legs, the tail, and under the body.
These areas require a bit more work to maintain to prevent tangling.
So, now that you have learned about the Golden Retrievers coat, let us look at how you should groom him.;
Should You Have Your Dog Professionally Groomed
If your dog really dislikes it when you whip out the shampoo bottle or scissors, and you just cant seem to make them calm during the grooming process, youll probably consider getting them groomed by a professional.;
Since professionals have more experience with this, they will be able to help an overly-anxious or aggressive dog feel calmer.
Sometimes they will have to sedate your pet , and thats certainly something you cant do at home so its best left to a professional who can also deal with things you might not be able to stomach, such as cleaning muddy fur or removing ticks and fleas from your dogs fur.;
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Completing The Grooming Of Your Golden Retriever
How To Groom A Golden Retriever Step By Step
When you groom your golden retriever make sure to pay special attention to the double coat. They like to roll in the mud and dirty up their coat. Therefore, we are responsible for our dogs grooming needs. Golden Retrievers are not an exception.;
Keep in mind that when satisfying your Golden Retrievers grooming needs, a little maintenance goes a long way. Being well-groomed means your Golden Retriever will look not only good but also feel good.;
The difference between a low-maintenance Labrador and a high-maintenance Golden Retriever lies in a single genetic line.
That genetic line is responsible for your Golden Retrievers long coat with heavy feathering. Consequently, that genetic line is also responsible for its grooming needs and routines.
And to be honest, they pose a serious dog grooming challenge.;
So whats the best way to deal with their excessive hair growth?
We will dive into the rules for golden retriever grooming whether you are using straight scissors, a steel comb, or a brush.
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Golden Retriever Grooming What Tasks Need Doing
I could do with a scrub up!
To keep your;golden retriever healthy and happy, you need to stay on top of grooming.
Just like humans, dogs must be regularly groomed to stay clean and because of a Goldens long fur, it is essential for preventing matting, which can be painful for your dog and even cause skin trouble.
But grooming your Golden Retriever isnt simply coat care alone, it consists of multiple different tasks, from bathing and trimming their nails, to cleaning their ears and teeth.
The guidelines for each of these grooming acts are slightly different and will depend on the activities you do with your pooch on a regular basis and even where you live. Here are some of the tools you will need to groom your dog.
Golden Retriever Grooming Supplies
Golden retrievers are also known as wash and wear breed, which means that they do not need extensive grooming needs like other dog breeds. Some of the basic supplies you need for grooming your Golden Retriever to include:
While choosing a comb and brush, you should look for a good quality tool with nicely finished bristles. If the bristles are not smooth, they can damage the hair and scrape the skin of your Golden.
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Can You Use Clippers On A Golden Retriever
Many people will say that you should never need to use clippers on a Golden Retriever because their hair is meant to be long. Any trimming that is needed can be done with scissors and thinning shears.
However, many people use clippers to trim their Goldens feet or to give them a summer haircut. If you wish to give your Golden an all-over haircut, it is important to only use high-quality dog clippers and make sure you do not cut into their undercoat.
You never want to shave a Golden Retriever! When using clippers at home, you want to make sure that you do not cut the coat any shorter than 1 inch, this way you leave their undercoat intact.
If you are going to a groomer and ask for a summer cut, also known as a puppy cut, make sure the groomer knows exactly what that is.
Complete The Grooming Of Golden Retriever
The grooming of the Golden Retriever is not complete without paying attention to its ears, eyes, and nails. Use mineral oil and cotton ball to clean your dogs eyes, but do not apply directly in the eyes. Take your time and cut your golden Retrievers toenails. Use a good pair of dog nail trimmers for nail clipping. If you dont want to bath your golden Retriever, then apply dry shampoo. To complete the grooming rituals, remember to use flea and tick preventive.
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Wouldnt It Make More Sense To Just Shave A Golden
I always thought it would be a lot smarter and easier just to shave the pup to make him more comfortable in the summer months and reduce the mess around the house. It didnt take very long for me to learn, and that there is no good reason to shave a Golden.
In addition to the obvious benefit of that thick coat keeping the dog warm during the winter months, it also acts as an insulator to keep him cool and comfortable in the hot summer months.
Mother nature provided all that hair for a reason! It will protect the delicate skin that lies beneath from getting sunburned as well.
If you are still concerned with the heat affecting the dog, there are different protective measures to be taken. Keeping your Golden indoors or providing ample shade during extreme heat is much better.
Always be sure your dog has plenty of drinking and water as well. In fact, its a great idea to fill a kiddie pool with water to provide swim time.
Laws Regarding Missing Pets
1. It is against the law to keep any animal that you find.2. Pets are generally considered property and it is illegal to take and keep someone elseâs property.3. You must contact your local animal control unit and file a FOUND AN ANIMAL report for any dog or cat you find.4. To reclaim your lost dog, cat or other pet from the animal shelter you must pay a release fee.5. If your dog or cat is unregistered, you will have to register your pet before you can take it home.
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Golden Retriever Grooming Cuts
Besides giving your dog an overall brushing to remove mats and dead fur, the areas of your dogs head and body with long feathery fur should be trimmed.
Use thinning shears on the uneven hair in and around your dogs ears to make them look neat, but still naturally soft.
You can trim the whisker area of your dogs face with small, blunt-tipped scissors.
Your dogs feet will have tufts of fur growing around the toes. Use straight scissors to trim the hair so that its even with the paw pads.
Longer hair on the top of the foot and rear lower leg should also be trimmed with scissors.
Well-trimmed feet should be neat and rounded, like a cats.
Your Golden Retrievers tail should be trimmed with thinning shears to look neat and sculpted, but still retain a full appearance.
There are various approaches to trimming the tail. Some groomers gather the tail feathers up and some let them fall like a fan.
Be sure to check out grooming tutorials or talk to a professional to find the method thats most comfortable for you.
Your Golden Retrievers neck and shoulder area has a heavy ruff of fur.
You can thin out the thick undercoat using thinning shears, but be sure to never cut the top coat.
Groomers recommend trimming the neck area in multiple sessions, so you can take a break and assess your work, rather than risk over trimming.
The hair on a Goldens belly, front elbows, and rear end is not usually trimmed. Some Golden owners like to give their dogs a sanitary trim on the bloomers.
How To Trim Golden Retriever Ears And Tail
The ears and tail are two trademarks of a golden retriever, which is why many people turn to professional dog groomers that have experience in this area. Safety is also important, and professionals are trained to know all of the hazards and first aid protocols.
However, this doesnt mean that you cant safely and effectively trim your goldens tail at home. You can use clippers, although scissors offer the most control. Because clippers come with guards, its a little harder to cut your dog when using these. So, if you do choose scissors, make sure to make little snips and go slow.
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Trimming Your Golden Retrievers Coat
Step one
Never trim your Golden retriever entirely. Goldens are distinct for their double coat, which consists of the undercoat and overcoat. These two coats are designed to keep the dog at an optimum temperature in the changing seasons. It traps the cool air between the coats on hot days and traps warm air between the coats on the winter season. If you trim the entire coat, it will impact their natural heating and cooling ability.
Never use clippers to trim a golden retriever. Utilizing a pair of scissors and thinning shears should be sufficient to do any necessary fur trimming.
Step two
Trim the fur on your Golden retrievers feet and leg areas. You will also need to trim off the bottom area of the feet. The edges of the feet usually have fuzzy hair growth. It needs to be cleanly trimmed off with scissors. Secondly, trim in between the toes of your Golden retriever. Brush the hair between the toes. Then cut it away up to the level of the top of the feet. Everything should now be up to the level of the dogs pads.
It would help if you ended up with short fur on your dog feet, which is around half-inch in length. It should lay down against the foots surface.
Examine the pads of your Golden retriever. Put Vaseline lotion if you find pads that are cracked and decide whether you should get them a nail trim.
Step three
Step four
When you cut, make sure to cut towards the direction of the hair growth.
Step five
Step six
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.
Theres nothing worse than leaving your dog looking like a rugged old mop head thats been used to clean a dirty bathroom the past 6 months.;
To save you the problem and time, Ive put together a little guide that will help you with grooming your dog the right way.
Furthermore, Im sure youre also here to find out whether you can even shave a golden retriever in the first place right.;
Theres a lot of hearsay around this topic and today Im here to set the record straight once and for all on whether you can shave this breed.;
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 isnt as hard as you might think. Grooming a Golden is a pretty straightforward process.
Well show you everything you need to know about how to groom and trim a Golden Retriever by yourself.
How To Use The Thinning Shears For Golden Retriever Dogs
In using the thinning shear, one has to be very careful.
To be very comfortable with the thinning shear, you must groom regularly with it.
Below are the best tips on how to use the thinning shears for dogs or during dog grooming.
Goldens Have Medium Length Double Coats Prone To Matting
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How To Choose A Dog Groomer For Your Golden Retriever
Aug 30, 2021 By Debbie
This post may contain affiliate links. We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post.
You love your golden Max and want him to look and feel his best, but you need to find a groomer for him and dont know where to start looking.
Its crucial to do your research when deciding who to choose.
First, its important to choose a few, then check each out individually by asking certain questions and visiting their facilities.
Remember: dog groomers and salons may not be regulated at all, so its up to you to investigate them.;
Some states have licensing and certification requirements which mean that the groomer should meet certain standards.;
Certified groomers usually must pass written and practical exams given by accredited grooming schools.
However, some places self-certify their groomers. Be sure that the groomers meet high standards and that they havent had any complaints filed against them.
But its still incumbent on you to be sure that they meet those requirements and are right for you and your dog.
Grooming isnt just to beautify your pup. Its also to keep him healthy.
Grooming is important to keep your dogs skin, coat, teeth, nails, and ears in peak condition.
After youve done your homework, its important to trust your instincts. If for some reason youre not comfortable with a specific groomer, dont use her.
Your dogs life is literally in the groomers hands. So be choosy.
Tips On Grooming Your Golden Retriever
- Moderate Maintenance: Goldens need the occasional bath to keep them clean and looking their best. Grooming can be a wonderful bonding experience for you and your pet. Their strong fast-growing nails should be trimmed regularly with a nail clipper or grinder to avoid overgrowth, splitting and cracking. Their ears should be checked regularly to avoid a buildup of wax and debris which can result in an infection. Teeth should be brushed regularly.
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