Tools Needed For Trimming
You need to utilize the right tools to help trim your Golden retrievers hair:
- Grooming scissors
- Stainless steel comb
- Wire Pinned Brush
It is recommended that you purchase a professional grooming kit. It has everything you will ever need, and it saves you from buying separate pieces saving you a few dollars.
Top 5 Golden Retriever Haircuts And Grooming Styles
The ideal family companions, friendly, active, and just so lovable. Of course, were talking about Golden Retrievers!
They are considered to be the number one most popular dog breed in the United States, and thats no coincidence.
The delightfulness in their eyes and the waviness of their shiny golden coats are making people around the world fall in love with them instantly.
And dont even get me started with naming all the funny stuff these goofy troublemakers do, filling our lives with laughter every day.
A Golden Retrievers body shape can range from broad and thick to thinner and more sporty, the color of their beautiful coats varies from beige cream and light golden to a healthy-looking reddish and dark golden.
If we think about a dogs coat, especially in the case of a Golden Retriever, what first comes to our mind?
Well, they shed a lot, and by a lot, we mean constantly and far more often than you think so they demand regular brushing and dog grooming
On that note, let me motivate you to take a peek at our five best picks for Golden Retriever haircuts that you might find interesting.
How Do I Keep My Golden Retrievers Hair Soft
Brushing is the best way to keep your Golden Retrievers hair nice and soft. This is because it removes all of the dead skin cells from their body and distributes the pups natural oils across all of its hair for that extra shine. This is why it is important that you dont over bathe your dog, as this can strip their coat of these natural oils leaving their hair dull.
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Origin Of The Puppy Cut Among Professional Dog Groomers
The puppy cut started as a trim style for young Poodles in the dog show world. Once the puppy is a year old, it is put into the elaborate adult haircut for the conformation ring. Today, the term puppy cut is used very loosely. It can apply to a wide variety of different breeds. Its highly adaptable to any size of dog or coat type.
Many owners love this style of trim and with good reason. Its cute, easy to care for, and easy for customers to remember by name. In this trim, the dog does not drag in dirt and debris from outdoors. Their ears dont drag in the food or water dish. The need for brushing between grooming appointments is minimized. On smaller pets, bathing between grooming appointments is a breeze. Whats not to love?
Summer Cuts For Golden Retrievers
Your groomer might offer you a summer cut, which trims your dogs hair down their chest and around their ears to ensure they get a good breeze while running. Theyll also trim the feathering on the back of the legs and the hair around their genitals, for hygiene as well as to help keep your pup a bit cooler.
Importantly, this cut retains the existing shape of your dogs coat but removes an inch or so from the outer coat to help deal with temperature without compromising on protection.
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Keep Your Golden Neatly Trimmed
Puppy cuts can be a bit severe for some people because basically, their Golden Retriever will look like a Lab, except for the tail.
If you choose not to do a puppy cut, you should still keep your goldens coat looking neat and tidy by keeping some areas trimmed.
Areas that need trimming are between the feet and paw pads, the hair in the ears, the feathering on the legs, the bum area, and the tail can be trimmed to look neat and sculpted.
Trimming your dog will help keep him looking his best, as well as help keep him a bit cooler in the summer.
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Golden Retriever Summer Cut What You Should Know
Your long-haired golden retriever needs special attention in the warmer months because it will start feeling the heat in summer. The double coat of this breed is thick and water-repellent and requires a lot of care to keep looking great. The dense undercoat has short woolly hairs, while the outer coat consists of long guard hairs. When the temperature is extreme, the undercoat of your golden acts as an insulator to keep it cool. The outer coat guards the dogs skin against the suns harmful rays.
While most owners believe that shaving a golden retriever will keep it cool in summer, it is not a good idea. The double coat of your pup protects it and keeps it cool in the heat. A shaved dog is, in fact, at risk of overheating. Once shaved, the double coat of a golden gets damaged permanently, and it will never grow to be the same again.
You can adopt several haircut options and grooming methods for your golden retriever to save it from extreme temperatures in the summer months. These styles will ensure the dog retains its protective double coat and always looks beautiful.
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The Golden Retriever Coat
Golden Retrievers have a double coat, similar to other dogs, including the Shepherd, Husky, Border Collies, etc. Many breeds with a double coat have been bred for a purpose, with the Golden Retriever being ideal for a hunting companion.
Their undercoat is soft and short as it protects their skin, keeping them warm in the colder months and cooler in the summertime. Their outer coat is longer and will flow into a feathering style of thinner hair. Golden Retrievers hair has excellent water resistance, and this coat can help keep them warm in cold water and protected while out in the sun.
These dogs require regular brushing to remove any mats and help distribute their natural oils throughout their body for healthy skin and coat. So, does this mean you can never cut your Golden Retrievers hair? Of course not. When done correctly, many summer cuts will work for your pet.
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Can You Shave A Golden Retriever
You should never shave a golden retriever because it disrupts the balance of the double coat. They have a short undercoat that acts as insulation against both the heat and cold. Then they have their longer topcoat that protects their skin from dirt and repels water. If you shave them, they will no longer have that topcoat protecting their undercoat and their skin. Plus, when it grows back, it will just never be the same.
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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.
How To Cut Golden Retriever Hair
Golden retrievers were bred in the 19th century as both hunting and companion dog. In modern times, golden retrievers continue to fulfill these roles. Goldens are the most well-known family pet in the US. They are recognized by their golden coats, which are dense and soft. They have thick undercoats and a heavy outer coat. Golden retrievers may be a challenge to maintain since they tend to shed copious amounts of hair. It is crucial to groom them often to minimize shedding. It is crucial to know how to cut golden retriever hair to make them feel more comfortable and make your home fur-free. The grooming process will include trimming for tidiness, but it is crucial to note never shave a Golden retrievers coat.
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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.
Grooming your Golden Retriever in the summer includes regular brushing and bathing. This will keep the coat looking its best, and will help the coat do its job to protect your dog from the elements!
How do you keep your Golden Retriever cool in the summer? Have you ever given your Golden Retriever a puppy cut?
Leave your thoughts and comments below, I would love to hear from you!
Other Golden Retriever Grooming Tips
Getting your golden comfortable with grooming practices, like teeth brushing, nail trimmings, bathing, and ear cleanings when necessary will help keep your dog healthy and happy.
It’s recommended to brush your dog’s teeth at least twice a week, trim his nails at least once a month, bathe him once a month , and check his ears frequently and clean with an ear cleaner if you notice they have an odor or are red.
Happy grooming!
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So What Is A Puppy Cut
Essentially, the puppy cut is one length all over. The most common length is between 1-2 inches over the body, legs, tail, head, and ears. Typically, its done with a clipper fitted with a long guard comb over the blade. There should not be any clipper marks, uneven coat, or sharp edges left in the fur. Next to a powerful clipper, high-quality blenders are your best friends when doing this trim. Everything is soft and plush, like a fluffy puppy.
This is where things get tricky. In some circles, the puppy cut can also be known as a teddy bear trim, summer cut, or kennel cut. Ive even seen some salons turn their version of the trim into their signature haircut. Generally, the only things that change between theses trims are the names and the length of coat.
It doesnt stop there! Others associate the puppy cut with smooth-coated breeds like the Boxer, Pug, or Beagle. Basically, the idea is of a youthful, puppyish look. Hence the name.
With all these interpretations, its easy to envision things differently. While thats not a bad thing, not being clear on what the final look will be can definitely affect the result and your relationship with the customer. If an owner is requesting this trim for the first time, be prepared to discuss the trim in detail. DO NOT ASSUME YOU ARE BOTH ON THE SAME PAGE! Communication is the key to a happy customer.
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.
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Summer Haircuts For Golden Retrievers
Golden retrievers arent supposed to have extreme cuts. A decent cut for this breed is symmetrical and balanced. On goldens, getting heavy summer cuts is not recommended. Here are a few summer haircuts that will keep your dog cool and safe:
Golden Retriever Simple Trim
This style is popular among groomers and owners because it requires little cutting and stays true to the natural hair. In truth, your dog requires minimal clipping, feathering, and possibly a little thinning out around the neck area and chest to complete a successful Simple Trim.
With this style, your goldens hair is their crowning gloryand as long as you can brush it out regularly to keep it healthy, this is a great choice.
Golden Retriever Show Cut
This cut, like the Simple Trim, is focused on not cutting anything. In fact, when it comes to that lovely golden coat, the greater, the betteras long as the feathering and edges are neat, and the ears, paws, and other sanitary areas are well-groomed and trimmed properly.
Golden Retriever Teddy Cut
Though shaving your golden retrievers hair is not a good idea, some owners are looking for ways to keep their pups hair shorter in hot, humid conditions. This is why some groomers use
the Teddy Cut, which keeps the coif shorter while maintaining the double coat. The body is clipped to a smaller length with scissors while keeping the legs in a natural coat shape. The tail is likewise shortened, and the feet are kept short and curled.
Golden Retriever Swimmers Cut
When Do Golden Retriever Puppies Need Their First Haircut
You will want to wait a bit before you give the Golden Retriever their first haircut.
They need to have time to grow their new coats in and the coat that they have as an adult is not going to be the same as the one they had when they were a puppy.
Cutting the coat when they are too young can cause damage and may make it hard for the new coat to come in well.
It is usually best to wait until the dog has gotten the undercoat and the feathery top coat. They will often be at least a year old before this happens.
If you are concerned about the length of the coat before that time, talk to your vet or a grooming professional to see what you can do.
Since the puppy fur is often going to be the undercoat in the adult dog, you need to be careful about how much you cut off.
You can still work through some of the grooming that the dog will need over that first year or more.
A good bath every few weeks to once a month will be a good idea and will allow the dog to really have good health, even before you get to the first haircut that you want to give them.
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Do Whiskers Need Trimming
Whiskers are found on your dogs cheeks, chin, muzzle and above the eyes. Whiskers are pretty essential to your dog as they help him navigate the world around him.
Whiskers are an important part of your dogs senses, helping your dog navigate in the dark, and they play an important role in hunting, retrieving, and any other activity.
Personally, I would not trim my Golden Retrievers whiskers. There really is no need to trim them. However, the choice is yours, and if you accidentally trim them, the good news is that they grow back.
To read more about dog whiskers, check out this article from PetMD.
How To Maintain A Golden Retriever’s Hair At Home
If you have a golden retriever at home, you know goldens have feathery, soft coats that shed a lot as it isbut especially in spring and autumn. Chances are, your black clothes have your sweet pup’s hair all over them.
So, what can you do to control your dog’s shedding?
“The best way of maintaining your retriever at home is by brushing their coat with a slicker brush,” Elabd says. Golden retrievers should be brushed every day to remove dead hair and prevent matting.
These pups do not necessarily require “haircuts” but more so hair trims because of their double coats. It’s best to get your golden retriever on a routine grooming schedule with a professional groomer to keep their coats healthy and well-maintained.
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Cutting Your Golden Retrievers Coat
After exploring these five popular cuts perfect for your Golden Retriever, have you picked out your favorite? If this is the first time you want to groom your dog, it may be best to choose a longer style and see if you prefer it before going shorter.
Examining the method and cost of a summer cut for your Golden Retriever are more elements that owners should consider. Finding a groomer specializing in double-coated dogs will be best, so you are sure their undercoat will not sustain damage during a summer trim.
Additionally, some styles will cost more than others, making choosing easier if you follow a budget. Alternatively, owners may opt to trim their dogs at home to save time and money. While this process is a solution for many homes, owners should know how short to cut their Golden Retriever to avoid causing damage.
If this is the first time you trim your puppy, they may be nervous and move around or shy away from you. Home trims will likely require two people until your pet becomes accustomed to you grooming them regularly.