Brushing A Golden Retriever
While you only need to bathe your Golden Retriever every couple of months or so, you will want to brush their fur out far more frequently.
When you brush the fur, it gets rid of dead hair as well as dry and dead skin. It also stimulates the skin surface and helps distribute the natural oils to ensure the coat is healthy and clean.
All dogs need to have their fur brushed every few days for these benefits and to prevent matting in a Golden Retriever.
If you notice any hair mats, you will want to remove them through brushing as soon as possible. Goldens are particularly prone to matting behind the ears, on the tail, and in the thick feathering on their back legs. Make sure to brush these areas frequently.
Best Brush For Golden Retriever Shedding
Should you use a shedding tool like an undercoat rake, stripping knife, or shedding blade when your Golden Retriever is dropping a lot of fur during peak shedding season?
While some home groomers do like to use these tools to cope with seasonal shedding, many professional dog groomers who work with Goldens advise owners to use heavy-duty shedding devices only with extreme caution.
Regular use of your thinning shears, and especially your slicker brush, can do the job of a more powerful bladed tool. And you wont run the risk of damaging your Golden Retrievers beautiful coat.
Here are some good brushes for shedding.
Tips To Keep Golden Retriever Shedding Under Control
One thing should be made clear at the onset of this section i.e. there is no way to keep a Golden Retriever from shedding in an absolute manner. Thats how nature functions with them. Nevertheless, pet owners can employ certain measures and activities to keep the shedding under control. We are going to discuss three things here that can help you in controlling the shedding in Golden Retrievers to a substantial level.
Shedding is one of the things that annoys most of Golden Retriever owners. You will find hair on your couch, carpets and clothes. This forces the owners to look for ways on how to reduce Golden Retriever shedding.
Why do Golden Retrievers shed so much? The Golden Retriever has two layers of fur. The outer coat is waterproof and protects the dogs body from dirt while the undercoat is for maintaining body warmth.
Retrievers shed hair like all mammals to some degree. The shedding is more pronounced during spring and fall. The good thing is that it is easy to clean the Golden Retrievers fur.
You have to consider the fact that there is no way that you can completely stop shedding in a Golden Retriever. The guide below will give tips on how to limit the shedding in Golden Retrievers.
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Only Trim Your Golden Retriever With A Scissor
Your Golden Retriever sports a double coating that protects him/her from the temperature extremes in the winter and summer and also sheds hair especially heavily in the autumn and spring in order to make room for new hair in preparation for the winter and summer respectively.
As a result of these two things combined, you arent going to want to use a clipper to trim your Golden Retriever because doing so can easily result in the unintended consequence of your dog losing too much hair to keep him warm in the winter and cool in the summer. That can lead your Golden Retriever to suffer frostbite or sunburn.
So, just grab a scissor and trim the longest among the hair of your Golden Retriever. Focus especially on carefully trimming the dogs ears, paws, tail, and neck. I would just leave the rest of the dogs body alone for the most part.
How Do I Make My Golden Retriever Standstill During Grooming
The best way to make sure that your Golden Retriever is still during is by making grooming a positive experience for him. Reward him every time he gets through a certain stage of grooming. For example, if he is still as you trim his nails, give him a treat that he loves.
You should also get the dog used to being groomed by grooming him regularly and from an early age. Reward the dog every time he is calm during the process.
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When How And How Often To Brush Your Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers need to be brushed 3-7 times per week with a slicker brush.
My golden, Oliver, doesnt 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 heres a bonus tip: to help keep your house clean, make sure to brush your golden outside.
After youve 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 hes already outside.
Now a lot of people ask about deshedding their golden retriever with a tool such as the Furminator.
Its 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.
How To Find Dog Groomer For Your Golden Retriever
If possible, I dont recommend just opening the phone book or doing a random internet search to find a groomer.
Its better to get some type of recommendation when beginning your search.
Even though the groomer that someone recommends might not be best for grooming your particular dog, it provides a starting point in your search for the best groomer.
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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.
When Is The Best Time To Groom A Golden Retriever
Actually for show grooming, I prefer trimming the dog before bathing, then doing any touch-up work after the bath and blow drying. If you wonder how those show dogs get those nice straight coats.it is from the blow drying.
Heres a quick guide on how to groom a Golden Retriever: Brush your Goldens coat once every week. Bathe your retriever at least once every three months and at most once every two weeks. Trim your Golden Retrievers coat whenever there is overgrown and unkempt fur.
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How Long Should Golden Retriever Nails Be
Golden retriever nails are no different from any other dog nails. If you hear a lot of clacking when your dog walks on hard floorsits time to trim. Your dogs nails shouldnt protrude past the paws of their feet, and they shouldnt touch the floor when your dog is standing. Clipping their nails every two to four weeks can often be a good schedule for your pup.
Prepare Your Golden Retrievers Coat For Grooming
Spend some extra time for the Golden Retrievers body where the fur is thick. Brush the coat from head to toe once a week. Remove matted hair with the help of a sharp pair of scissors. If your Golden Retriever is dirty and smelly then, bath it before grooming. After bathing, brush your golden Retriever again to straighten out the coat.
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Should Golden Retrievers Be Summer Shaved
To save us from the heat, we often cut our hairs shorter during summer. Mistakenly, we assume the same concept applies to dogs.
Summer shaving a Golden Retriever is a colossal mistake. As already mentioned, Retrievers have double coats, and double-coated dog breeds must not be shaved.
There are only two justified reasons for shaving a double-coated pet:
On the other hand, there are several reasons for not shaving your Golden Retriever:
The double coat is there to serve a purpose protection. The undercoat keeps the dog cool during summer and warm during winter.
The outer coat protects the dog from the potentially harmful UV lights. Overall, the double coat protects against overheating, overcooling, sunburns and skin cancer, skin irritations, and bug bites.
Note: For the coat to protect the skin from the sun, the hairs should be at least one inch long.
Tooth Brushing: Step By Step
You can introduce tooth brushing to your dog by first making the dog used to feeling your finger in his or her mouth. Once theyre comfortable with that, it will be easier to open the dogs mouth and introduce a toothbrush.
Follow these four steps to brush your Goldens teeth:
- Place a small amount of pet-safe toothpaste on a toothbrush designed for use with dogs.
- Lift the Goldens lip to expose the gums and teeth.
- Use gentle motions to brush the teeth and gum, just as you would with an infant.
- Ensure you reach the molars and premolars because they are most prone to cavities.
As long as you use toothpaste made specifically for dogs, your Golden can ingest it without running any risks. And if your dog is anything like mine, hell try to eat the toothpaste.
For most dogs, its not going to be easy in the beginning. So, dont forget to reward your Golden after the brushing. Rewarding them with a treat or a good girl/boy message will make brushing easier next time. Positive reinforcement is key!
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Check Out Reviews And Ratings
Once youve found potential groomers, check out any references they provide.
Also check reviews on reliable sites like Google and Yelp.
If the groomer or salon are registered with the Better Business Bureau, see if they have any ratings or complaints.
But checking reviews, ratings, and complaints is in addition to the research youll need to do regarding each specific groomer youre considering using.
Deshedding Tool: Furminator Deshedding Tool For Large Dogs
Deshedding tools are every dog owners bosom buddy. It helps manage the shedding of a dog, especially if you own a fluffy Golden Retriever.
When it comes to deshedding tools, no other brand is more popular than the famed FURminator. This tool is made with stainless steel teeth that will reach beneath your Goldies undercoat. It will lift loose hair so you can remove it even before it falls on the floor and stick to your furniture.
One thing I really like about FURminator is its trademarked FUR ejector. You simply press the button and it will automatically remove the hair from the teeth. This is widely used by professional groomers and veterinarians so its guaranteed safe for your Goldies shedding.
Instead of vacuuming around endlessly, you can add a FURminator in your dogs grooming kit. It will do wonders on the poochs shedding. And for this price range, I really dont have any major complaints.
Overall, this is an excellent hair removal tool that will not hurt your doggo. It will be indispensable during the peak shedding season of your Golden Retriever.
Pros
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Dental Care For Golden Retrievers
The teeth of your dog will benefit from weekly cleaning. Use dog-specific products such as a finger brush a hollow plastic tube that fits over your finger and has inbuilt bristles. The finger brush is easier to maneuver and prevents too much pressure being applied. Teeth cleaning can be a strange experience and you may have to slowly introduce this gradually to Golden Retriever pups.
Tools You Will Need For Trimming
In order to trim your Golden Retrievers hair, youll need the proper tools.
- Stainless steel grooming scissors.
- Stainless steel comb.
- Wire Pinned Pin Brush .
I recommend that you get a professional grooming kit. It will give you all the tools you need and it will save you from buying everything separately, saving you money.
I like this professional set from Gimars.
The scissors are sturdy and comfortable to hold, featuring ergonomic handles. The scissors feature 4CR titanium coated stainless steel blades. They are solid and sharp, and the blades easily cut through thick hair without pulling.
The ends are rounded for safety.
This set includes:
- Cleaning cloth and storage case.
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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!
When And How Often Should You Groom Your Golden Retrievers Hair
A Golden Retriever has a dense, silky coat thats 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 shouldnt be done too often, so every 3 to 4 weeks is good.
Not only will brushing keep your Goldens coat looking glossy, but it also helps in keeping the tangles away. On top of that, youll 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 its time for a bath no matter how long ago his last one was. Its 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.
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Keep The Nails Trimmed
No, you dont need to paint your dogs nails, but what you should be doing is trimming them. Long nails can be really uncomfortable your little friend. And they may even interfere with his ability to walk properly!
Also,long nails can compromise your dogs paw-shape which can also result in a splay.
So, you should trim your dogs nails about every week or two. But, you need to be very careful!
Ive tried several nail clippers on my dog and I feel that Epica Nail Clipper is the best for my dog.
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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Find A Photo To Use As A Guide
Remember when everyone would take a picture of Jennifer Anistons hair to their stylist and ask for The Rachel haircut? And nobodys left the salon looking just like Rachel? Thats because haircuts and styles have to work with the hair you have. Doggies are no different!
Search the web and find a picture of a golden retriever cut. This will serve as a guide for you, but also, because its a golden retriever, you know the style will be functional with your own golden.