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:
Do you have a story tip? E-mail: woof@monkoodog.com
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Leave It To The Professionals: Options For Grooming A Golden Retriever
Golden Retrievers are one of America’s most popular breeds of dogs. Not only are they known for their exuberant and friendly personality, but they make for excellent hunting dogs. They also are an ideal breed for service animals and search and rescue.
These medium-sized dogs are also known for their luxurious golden coats. Their beautiful fur makes them a sought after breed, not only for their friendly personality.
However, with a gorgeous coat also comes upkeep. Consistently grooming a Golden Retriever is an important part of being a pet owner as grooming helps keep them clean and prevent other issues.
Since Golden Retrievers have a double coat, they are extremely big shedders. If you don’t want to be vacuuming or sweeping every day, staying on top of their grooming and coat care is essential.
Read on to learn more about the grooming a Golden Retriever requires and how to manage it.
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.
Causes Of Golden Retriever Shedding And 7 Tips To Control It:
- Tip #1 – Do Golden Retrievers shed a lot? They sure do! Some pet parents claim the Golden Retriever shedding season lasts all year. They shed moderately in summer and winter, and profusely in spring and fall. If you have a Golden, you simply need to accept the fact that you’ll have a dog leaving hair everywhere—on the floors, on your clothes, on your bed—everywhere. It always comes handy to have a good lint remover brush, or you may use rubber gloves to easily remove dog hair.
- Tip #2 – You cannot stop your Golden Retriever from shedding BUT you can keep your house free from dog hair. Golden Retriever grooming is essential. Brush your dog at least three times per week and discard its hair somewhere it won’t get scattered or blown away. Ideally, you need to brush your dog daily to prevent tangling for easy care and maintenance. To remove knots, simply use a slicker brush.
- Tip #3 – You also need to bathe your Golden Retriever at least once a month or once every other week at most. Bathing your dog too frequently may result in dry skin which further exacerbates shedding. If possible, use only a good all-natural dog shampoo, such as coconut or oatmeal when bathing your Golden.
“I love the smell of Bathe Me! It was very easy to rinse off my dogs as well. Will definitely continue to use” – A.Sf
If you’re concerned about excessive Golden Retriever shedding, take your dog for a check up with your local vet.
Final Thoughts On Grooming A Golden Retriever In The Summer
I hope this article has made you think twice before shaving your double-coated dog.
No matter how hot the temperature gets you should not shave your Golden Retriever. Their double-coat is actually helping them stay cool. After all, their long flowing coat is one of their many beautiful attributes.
Remember to keep your dog’s coat groomed with regular brushing, and bathing to keep it looking its best, and to help the coat do its job to protect your dog from extreme temperatures.
Part 4 Of 4:putting Finishing Touches On Your Goldendoodle
Reasons Why You Should Never Shave Your Golden Retriever
So many people believe that shaving a Golden Retriever will keep them cool in the summer, this is absolutely false!
Shaving any dog with a double coat is never a good idea. The only time shaving should be done is when necessary.
Necessary times for shaving are:
Let’s look at why you should never shave your Golden Retriever, or any other double-coated breed:
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.
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.
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.
Different Sizes Of Blades For Golden Retriever Clippers
As we said in the introduction, golden retrievers have a double coat. This is to keep them comfortable in any season, but it also means they’ll shed their excess hair all over your house or apartment.
Since golden retrievers naturally regulate their hair, they don’t require too much maintenance. This also means that traditional blade lengths might be a bit too short for the breed.
Unlike human clippers, animal clippers get longer as the numbers get lower. A #3 blade leaves hair ½ an inch long, and a #10 blade will leave 1/16 an inch of hair behind.
The standard clippers come with #10 blades. These are the most common and work for the largest percentage of animals. Unfortunately, you probably don’t want to go this short on your golden retriever.
We’ll get more into the ideal blade length for your golden retriever below, but it should almost always be longer than the #10.
Since this is the case, the best dog hair clippers for golden retrievers are going to be those with blade attachments and removable blades. You might need to get an extra set of #7 or #7F blades to do home grooming on your golden retriever.
There are two different blade types for dogs: split-tooth and fine-tooth. The F that we included above is the fine-tooth indication. These blades give a clean, tailored look to the coat that split-tooth blades can’t really match.
Read Also:6 Best Medicated Dog Shampoos: Our 2021 Guide
Haircut Styles & A Grooming Kit For Golden Retrievers
Learning Golden Retriever grooming at home has many benefits.
Not only does your dog feel calmer and safer being groomed by you in familiar surroundings, but there is no need for a lengthy salon stay.
And grooming is something you want to start right from the time your cute puppy comes home. This might simply be getting him used to the feel of a gentle brush down his back. And as he matures, you will find he is quite used to you “doing things” with his hair.
DIY grooming also helps to forge a special bond between you and your dog. Of course it is also more economical in the long run.
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.
Which Size Blade Should You Use On A Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers are a bit tricky when it comes to blade length since you should leave some areas of their body untouched and style other areas with only scissors.
The legs, tail, and chest/belly area are all scissors for golden retrievers. Their hair doesn’t grow too long in these places, so it’s best to tackle them with scissors, so you don’t cut anything too short. Regular blades probably won’t do the trick here.
For the body, you should look at some of the medium blade lengths like #7 or #5. Fine-tooth blades are also common for golden retrievers since they keep their coats looking healthy and fresh. The 7F blade is usually the recommended length for home golden retriever clipping.
You should always comb your golden retriever before clipping to get the mats out, but #7 blades should cut through some of the thicker patches without an issue. You probably don’t want to go any shorter than that.
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.
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 Often Should I Trim My Golden Retrievers Nails
The nails need to be trimmed at least every 2 – 4 weeks unless your dog walks a lot on hard surfaces like pavements, this will wear the nails so they can be cut with more extended time in between the trimming.
On average, it must be done every 2- 4 weeks, and if you’ll do it yourself, it is recommended to buy a that is suitable for large dogs. The pliers’ type is the best. Be very careful not to cut into the life of a nail! That will hurt and bleed a lot. If you don’t want to cut the nails yourself, go to your local dog grooming salon or vet for a nail trim regularly. I do that, as well. If the groomer doesn’t have time, I’ll go to the vet and have Stippy’s nails done!
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 to tidy up long hairs there.