Grooming A Golden Retrievers Ears
Checking and cleaning your Goldens ears should be included in your Golden Retriever grooming routine since they produce more ear wax than other dog breeds to avoid infection.
Make sure theres no redness, discharge or smell. If there is, do not clean and make a vet appointment.
To clean healthy ears use a solution specially made for cleaning a dogs ears and follow the instructions to put a little bit into one of the ears. Gently massage the solution around inside the ear. Use a cotton ball or piece of gauze to wipe any dirt out of the ear. Never use a Q-Tip! It can injure your dogs ear canal. It is virtually impossible however to injure the ear drum as the ear canal has a sharp 90 degree turn before it reaches the ear drum. Repeat for the other ear using a fresh piece of gauze or cotton ball.
Both Golden Retriever pups and adults are prone to ear infections as they have floppy ears and love to swim. Checking the inside of their ears during grooming will help to prevent infection.
Bathing Schedule To Reduce Owner Allergies
We should also factor in the owners allergies . Some owners will have an allergic reaction to pet dander which is why some dogs get baths more often than they really need.
In the case of allergies, it may be necessary to wash your dog weekly rather than on a monthly basis to help eliminate dander and allergic reactions from members of your household. Allergies are the only reason to wash your Golden weekly.
Regardless of how often you bathe your dog, its extremely important to use the right dog shampoo as using the wrong shampoo can be bad for your dog.
What Shampoo To Use
If possible, always try to use a shampoo that is specifically made for a dog. Using things like DIY recipes may cause skin irritations, and human shampoo is too harsh for a dogs sensitive skin.
Human shampoos have chemicals in them designed specifically for human hair and skin, for cleaning off the oils that are created by the human body. Canine bodies and the oil they produce are different, so the soaps used must also be different, as well.
If need be, there are some substitutes that can be used if you are in a pinch. Baby shampoo can be used as it is not as harsh as adult shampoo.
Pro Tip: If you are trying to remove oil or grease from a dog that played in the wrong area, Dawn dish soap can be used to cut it.
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Places To Wash Your Golden Retriever Dog
You may think that it doesnt matter as you also take a bath in your home bathroom. But the important point to note here is that if he roams around with his wet body and paws, you are going to have a hard time taking care of the items in your household.
When you have given baths to your retriever so many times then the above may not be a problem as you and he will be accustomed to having a bath indoors.
However,if it is the other way around where the dog simply wont co-operate with wetpaws then you are on his mercy. In this scenario, you have to take otheractions as I discuss below.
You cannot risk bathing a dog indoors when he is hyperactive. The ideal place in this situation is to take him outdoors where even he runs around, you are not worrying. This will not only give you peace of mind but also to your family members.
When it comes to outdoors, there are a couple of places that are recommended.
Thereare dog salons everywhere these days. Many of them advertise themselves onGoogle too. You can take your dog to their place and they will handleeverything for you. They use a leash when bathing the dog. You have less workto do in this case as you are paying someone else to do the job for you.
Some people also use their swimming pool which is also a good idea. Again, it is good in the case of the summer season.
What Happens With Too Few Baths
What is considered too few baths for golden retrievers? More than a couple of months without a shower.
If you leave your golden retriever for too long without a proper bath, they will start to stink, shed more hair than normal, have more matted hair in their coats, and they may get the fleas or even an infection.
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Want To Pay Someone To Groom Your Dog Instead
Theres always an option of bringing your dog to a groomer to get the job done. The costs vary widely based on the region, the service requested, and the time it will take to completely groom your doggo.
You can expect to spend anywhere from $20 to $50 an hour.
Here are some professional groomers we found online:
Homeguide also offers an option where you can type in your zip code to find dog groomers near you!
Their Type Of Coat Or Skin
Long-haired and curly-haired dog breeds generally require more regular bathing and grooming to keep their coats from matting, says the American Kennel Club. The AKC also recommends bathing these types of dogs at least once every four to six weeks, with regular brushing between baths to maintain the coat. Short-haired breeds such as Labrador retrievers can get away with infrequent bathing as long as they’re healthy
What if your dog has no hair? Hairless breeds like the Chinese crested dog, who lack the skin protection a coat provides, need to be bathed weekly. Dogs who tend to have oily skin, like cocker spaniels and basset hounds, also benefit from more frequent baths to prevent oil buildup on their skin, points out Care.com.
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How To Bathe My Golden Retriever
The first thing you need to do is to gather all the necessary supplies. You dont want to start washing your dog and then leave him soaking wet alone. This is a recipe for mess and disaster!
You will need:
Have the water running before you place your dog in.
Hot water can cause burns and pain to your Golden Retriever.
The temperature of the water should be approximate to the one you would use for a baby. If you are still not sure how to determine the temperature of the water, consult your vet.
Start bathing your dog from the front to the back. Start with the head
Do not wash your dogs face or let the water get inside his ears!
Lather up your Goldens coat with dog shampoo
You will have to do some hard work here. Golden Retrievers have double coats, and it will take some time to soak and lather them.
Rinse thoroughly
It is important that you do this step properly! Any leftover soap could cause skin problems and irritation.
Now its time for a towel
While your dog is still in the tub, use the towel to dry him before letting him go.
Again, check your Goldens ears
Check to see if there is any water inside your dogs ear canal since the presence of moisture will spur bacteria growth.
Brush your Goldens fur
Now is the perfect time for brushing since your dogs fur is still a bit dump, and this will prevent hair tangling.
What Should I Do With My Golden Retriever
Give your dog one or two hours of exercise every day otherwise shell mess up your home. Theres plenty of activities you can do, as Goldens are great companions for walking, running, playing in the park, swimming, and even hiking. Besides running, Golden Retrievers need mental stimulation to thrive.
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What To Do If You Find A Lost Golden Retriever
If you find a Golden Retriever Dog or any other pet and it does not have an identification tag with a phone number, you can:2. Register the missing pet on the .3. Phone the Local Council to collect the lost animal.4. Take the pet to the local Animal Pound assigned to your area.5. Take the animal to the local Vet Clinic who usually scan the animalâs microchip and locate the registered owner of the pet.
What Are Some Tips For Bathing Your Dog Due To Fleas And Other Issues
Fleas, mud, irritated skin and other complications can prompt an immediate bath, even if its earlier than your dogs regular schedule. Its important to get your dog into the bath quickly to save them from additional discomfort associated with their condition. Here are some tips to help you tackle these challenges head-on:
- Use a medicated shampoo designed to kill fleas or alleviate itching. This can be useful if theyve come into contact with some type of irritant, or if theyve developed dried or itching skin due to allergies or environmental factors.
- If your dog is covered in mud, consider washing them outside. Too much mud could clog your indoor plumbing, creating an even biggerand more expensivemess.
- Use a detachable showerhead to provide a deeper clean. These showerheads can help you clear our salt and other debris in your dogs paws, and provide a more thorough cleaning of their underside.
Bathing your dog isnt always easy, but its important to keep their coats and skin healthy. Keep up on this caretaking tasks to avoid additional problems that could affect your dogs quality of life.
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Our Pick For Best All
EarthBath line of Dog Shampoos. Jamie did a bunch of research for his Doodle and ended up with this one.
Natural and hypoallergenic, this is a great choice for Goldendoodles who have sensitive skin. It has essential oils and other extracts that help moisturize the skin and keep the hair fresh and clean.
It also contains aloe vera and tea tree oil to further help soothe skin that might be irritated or itchy. Best of all, its soap free which is important for Doodles.
Soaps build up in their fur and leave it feeling yucky.
Washing Your Golden Retriever
To wash your Golden Retriever, we recommend using the shower .
In the warmer months they can be washed outside, but do ensure the temperature of the water is comfortable for your dog.
When washing indoors, ensure the water is a comfortable temperature, not too hot or too cold, then use the shower attachment to thoroughly wet your Golden Retrievers coat.
Next, apply the shampoo and knead it thoroughly into the coat.
Do not vigorously rub as this can cause tangling, so simply knead in the direction of the coat.
If your Golden Retriever has got extremely dirty you may need to repeat this process, but if possible only use one application of shampoo, as this helps preserve the natural oils in your Golden Retrievers coat.
Important to note:
When rinsing out the shampoo you must ensure that all the suds have been rinsed away as any residue can cause itchiness.
Important to note:
Avoid getting shampoo into the eyes and try to keep the inside of ears dry away from shampoo and water.
If using a conditioner, repeat process and again make sure the conditioner is thoroughly rinsed out of the coat.
When Fidos coat has been thoroughly rinsed its time to dry, and technique is important here to keep your Golden Retrievers coat in great condition.
Firstly, dab the coat all over with the Mega Absorbent PVA Dog Towel, squeezing excess water out often to ensure maximum absorbency.
Now to the final stage drying and grooming.
Top tip:
Important to note:
The Top Dog Team
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Ready Heres How To Trim Your Golden Retriever At Home
After the bath, grab your scissors and thinning shears. Electric clippers arent 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 youre 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 its hot, you can give them a summer clip. A swimmers 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.
Finishing The Dog: Tools And Finish Grooming
The coat should be light, straight, and stand off of the body with no loose hair. Any loose hair or fuzziness to the coat should be carded. Everything about the finish should be natural. The feet and the outside edges of the ear are trimmed with thinning shears. In the warmer months, many pet owners try to keep the dog cooler by shaving the coat. The Golden Retrievers double coat is designed to protect them during any season. If you are trying to keep the dog cooler, you should elect to remove the undercoat with a good bath and blow out. When you shave this breed, you are exposing their skin to the elements and take away their ability to stay cool.
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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 theyre 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, its time to move to the face. Dont shorten your dogs 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.
Dont 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 dont need to remove much length along the tail, but you can shorten it if necessary. The longest part of the tail should hit your dogs hock .
Dont trim your goldens 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.
How Long Does A Goldendoodles Hair Grow
Goldendoodle hair can grow anywhere from four inches to eight inches long if left untrimmed. The coat can indicate how long the hair can become.
For hairy coats, you can expect around eight inches.
For those who inherit a fleece coat, you might expect growth around the five to six inches area. For those with curly hair, four to six inches is common.
Before you go, remember to grab your copy of the most comprehensive Goldendoodle guidebook available today.
As you watch your pup transform into a well-behaved, happy, and healthy adult Goldendoodle, youll be glad you did!
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How Often To Bathe Golden Retriever Dogs
Your dog needs to bath twice a month avoiding getting their ears wet as part of their Golden Retriever grooming routine. It is highly recommended to brush their coat before you bathe to reduce the amount of hair and tangles. Bathing and grooming a Golden Retriever will assist in the removal of loose hair, making the job of cleaning up after a coat drop a little easier. A quality dog shampoo should be used for washing and if skin reactions occur, try a different product as there are many to choose on the market. Rinse off the shampoo carefully. Your dog will also require rinsing after swimming in chlorinated or salt water to avoid skin irritations.
It is important that Golden Retrievers are thoroughly dried after bathing, especially the ears and tail. Goldens can get limber tail from cold water at the base of the tail which can be very sore and his tail will just hang, too painful to wag.
How Do I Brush My Golden Retriever
Start by putting your puppy or dog on a table and have him or her stand up. Its easier to brush and groom your Golden when he or she is standing, and it will make the experience for your dog much better. Having a young pup standing for a more extended period can be difficult, I know, but dont give up.
In the beginning, have someone help you by holding your Golden puppy and reward him or her with some yummy treats for standing still and being such a good girl or boy. Your pup will learn and will get more relaxed in time.
There are several types of brushes you can use each has its purpose. Begin brushing by using a slicker brush. Brush the entire body of your dog. The head, back, belly, chest, paws, tail, behind the ears, the armpits, and the back legs. These last three mentioned spots are spots where matting can occur, so they are essential to brush and prevent matting.
Brush gently down to the skin, a small section at the time, and be careful not to brush too firm, which can hurt your dog. Brush with the direction the hair grows. A dog groomer, who is a friend of mine, told me it is best to start brushing at the bottom and work your way up, start at the end of the dog and work towards the front.
Adult Golden Retrievers shed during the shedding season, which is twice a year around Spring and Autumn. Youll know its that time of the year again when you find more golden hairs than usual on your floor, clothes, and couch, and your vacuum cleaner will is used a lot more!
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