How Often Should You Groom A Golden Retriever
Its recommended that you groom your golden retriever at least once every 4 6 weeks. This is Golden retrievers are one of the most active dogs on the planet, which in turn means they tend to work up a sweat more often than not.;
Due to Goldens have a double coat, you may notice that they emit quite a bad odor compared to other dogs too. But that doesnt mean you should groom them more often, as their skin releases natural oils that help protect them from the outside elements that can be affected by constant washing.;
A golden retrievers double coat works by trapping in heat when its cold outside and trapping in cool air when theyre hot. By taking away this coat, you are in fact exposing them to danger .
Youll find that a nice trim every so often will usually do the trick, and a nice dog pool with some water outback will help regulate your dogs temperature in the hot weather.;;
Trimming Your Golden Retrievers Coat
The entire coat of the golden retriever doesnt need to be trimmed. These breeds have two coats: an undercoat and an overcoat. The combination exists to keep the dog comfortable in any temperature and season. On hot days, cool air gets trapped between the coats, and on cold days, warm air gets trapped between the coats. Trimming the entire coat of the dog is a step in the wrong direction because it can inhibit the natural cooling and heating system of the golden retriever.
Some owners use clippers while trimming their golden retriever, but this is unneeded. All you need is a good pair of scissors and some thinning shears. Start by trimming the fur on the legs and feet of the dog. Youll need to trim the fuzzy hair growth at the edges cleanly with a scissor. Lift up the paw of the dog and trim the hair between the toes. You will need to comb or brush the hair between the toes before you trim it to allow you to trim it in the best way. The new length should be till the top of the dogs feet. You can now comb it back down so that it is at the level with the dogs pads.
The fur on the feet of your dog should be around ½ inches long. It should be able to lay smooth at the level of the foots surface. Once you are done, you should examine the pads of the dog as well. If you find any cracks in the pads, you can put Vaseline on them. Check to see if the nails of the pup need to be trimmed as well.
Trimming The Back Of Your Legs
The hair on the back of your Golden front legs can get quite long and thick. You still want it to be feathery, but you can use thinning shears to thin it out.
Brush or comb your hair out of your legs and use thinning scissors to make a few cuts. Repeat the process until you have a look you want.
Thinning shears are great for beginners because they give a forgiving, blended look. If you want a more sculpted look, you can use regular grooming scissors to trim longer feathers. You still want to keep some feathers on your legs, but you can make it shorter and more sculpted.
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How To Get A Golden Retriever With A Shorter Coat
When my golden retriever, Oliver, was about six months old, I started to get a little worried.
He was lanky, had a really short coat, and looked exactly like my friends labrador
Was he a part lab?
Was he a short-hair golden retriever?
Check out the video below to see his adorable, short-haired lankiness.
As it turns out, hes not a lab, nor is he a short-haired golden retriever.
Hes just a regular golden retriever with a relatively short coat compared to some goldens .
And Im very thankful his coat is short because he doesnt shed that much!
Now where did he get his shorter coat?
From his parents, of course!
Coat length is hereditary, so if you want to find a golden retriever with a shorter coat, you need to find a breeder whos breeding goldens with short coats.
Olivers parents had relatively short coats, so he has a shorter coat, too.
Of course, when choosing a breeder you need to consider more than just coat length, but you can learn more about choosing a breeder here.
Golden Retriever Swimmers Cut
A swimmers cut often refers to a grooming style that is used on dogs who spend a lot of their time swimming or in the water. Common wisdom would suggest that having a shorter coat would be beneficial for a dog who spends a lot of time in the water as a close trim will decrease their body weight making it easier for them to swim for more extended periods, in addition to being able to dry off at a quicker rate. However, this isnt always the case. Dogs who spend a lot of time in swimming pools will benefit from a swimmers cut as the chemicals found in pools can have adverse effects on a dogs coat; however, in the case of a golden retriever, their double-coat is there to protect them and repel water, so unless theyre going to be spending the lions share of the time in a pool rather than natural water sources, a swimmers cut isnt the best idea.;
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Can You Shave A Golden Retriever Mix
NEVER shave your golden. Their hair is the way it is for a reasoneven in warm weather, they need their double coat to keep them cool and protect them from the sun, bugs and other issues. This breed has a tendency to get ear infections, so its important to have their ears checked and cleaned regularly.
Do Golden Retriever Whiskers Need Trimming
How to cut golden retriever hair? Whiskers grow on your dogs cheeks, including the chin area and area above the eyes. It is vital to your dog since it helps them navigate their surroundings.
Whiskers are a vital part of your dogs senses. It helps them in the dark and is crucial to their role in hunting and retrieving as well as other activities.
Some owners prefer not to trim their golden retrievers whiskers since there is really no need. However, it is your personal choice. If you do accidentally trim it, you have the assurance that it will grow back.
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Moderation Is The Key
There is constant debate about whats proper when it comes to proper shaving of a Golden retriever. On one side of the fence, there are those who say that the coat of a Golden retriever should;never;be cut, while others say that its okay to trim them in certain conditions and certain ways.
While everyone is entitled to their own opinion, the research suggests that;a moderate trimming;during hotter summer months is perfectly fine. The keyword here is;moderate.;A Golden retriever should never be completely shaved, but only moderately groomed and trimmed at the most. The reason for this is because a Golden retriever doesnt have;hair;in the same way that some other breeds of dogs do. Instead,;they have two coats of fur; an outer-coat and an under-coat. These coats of fur actually serve necessary purposes and aid in the dogs health. If the coats are shaved off or cut down significantly, it;can actually cause some health issues. So care should be taken when introducing a razor to your retriever.
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 golden 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.; Find out how to trim a Golden Retriever easily at home by yourself.
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Your Golden Retriever Has A Double
The thick water-repellent double coat of a Golden Retriever requires a lot of care to keep it looking its best. The coat consists of a dense undercoat of short hairs that are woolly in texture, and an outer coat of long hairs called guard hairs.
You can blame your dogs undercoat for all of that heavy shedding! ;It sheds heavily twice a year, in the spring and fall. ;The rest of the year you will notice moderate shedding or hair turn-over.
The undercoat and outer coat grow at different speeds and lengths from each other. The undercoat is shorter and grows faster whereas the outer coat is longer and grows slower.
In extreme temperatures, the undercoat works as an insulator keeping your dog warm in cold, wet weather and cool in hot, and humid weather.
The long guard hairs that make up the outer coat work to repel water and catch dirt and debris. The outer coat also protects your dog from the harmful UV rays.
In the summer the undercoat is much thinner because of the shedding, and the outer coat will protect your Golden from sun and heat.
Other Options If You Want A Short Haired Golden Retriever
If you want a golden retriever but dont want to deal with the long hair, you might want to consider another type of dog.
Goldendoodles could be a good option, or labradors, or golden retriever mixes.
I have a friend who had a golden retriever and lab mix and he essentially looks like a short-haired golden retriever.
Hes sweet like labs and goldens, has a blocky head, and has lots of energy.
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How Short Can You Trim A Golden Retriever
- You can trim their tail for any length you want but you dont want it to be too short
- Trimming; the fur on your dogs feet to be around a ½ inch long
- When you trim their neck fur you should just shorten it a little bit and avoid changing the fur natural curve.
A reminder; you should NEVER shave your golden retriever or trim their hair too short. You can learn why shaving a golden retriever is a terrible idea here.
Are You Supposed To Trim Golden Retrievers
Yes, you are supposed to trim your golden retriever but only on the ears, neck, tail, and feet, They shouldnt have a full haircut and never shave your golden retriever even in hot weather and you should groom them regularly.
If you do live somewhere thats hot, there are other ways to cool down your dog. You can learn how to help your golden retriever adapt to hot weather here.
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The Truth About Short Haired Golden Retrievers
Although theres no such thing as a short-haired golden retriever, some golden retrievers do have shorter hair than others.
Some types of goldens, like field golden retrievers, typically have shorter hair than other types, such as those bred for shows.
And although you might be tempted to turn your regular golden retriever into a short-haired golden by giving them a haircut, that could actually put their health in jeopardy, as well as ruin their beautiful coats.
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Do They Require A Lot Of Grooming
Golden Retrievers are a very active breed. A bath and a blowout are necessary to keep the shedding under control and maintain healthy skin and coat. ;Regular grooming should be done every 4 6 weeks. ;Make it a habit to spend some quality time brushing your dog to keep the coat separated and divided which, in turn, will allow the skin to breathe.
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Bathing A Golden Retriever:
Before we start with the steps to bathe a Golden Retriever, we recommend that you read our article on natural products to bathe your dog. When it comes to bathing a Golden Retriever, you should always use a specific pH-neutral shampoo for dogs, since this breed is prone to suffering skin problems.
You should always have towels, an eye cleaner and an ear cleaner at hand. Whether you want to bathe your Golden Retriever at home or you’re a professional dog groomer, you should keep in mind that many manufacturers of canine cosmetic products recommend mixing shampoos with water – consult the manufacturer for the right proportion.
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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Can You Use Clippers On A Golden Retriever
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.
This area usually has excess hair growth. Begin by trimming the golden retrievers shoulders if a ridge of fur has formed. Then start thinning the hair on the chest of the dog until it stays there flat. The length of the fur can vary since golden retrievers are known for their long hair.
How Often To Groom Golden Retriever Tail
You should groom your golden retrievers tail at least 3 to 5 times a week to make sure that their tail is clean and to prevent any tangling, infection, mites living in their coat, and to remove any dead hair that can cause an odor.
It can be a serious issue if unwanted bacteria lodge in and can cause them an infection.
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Drying A Golden Retriever:
Once you have finished bathing your dog, start the final stage – drying the dog’s hair. Whether by habit or routine, most people usually leave their dog to dry naturally without intervening, although this can be harmful for the dog’s hair and skin.
Pick up towels, a hair dryer and a good slicker brush and start drying the hair, preventing your Golden Retriever from suffering any hair or skin conditions, as well as from getting cold.
As a last recommendation: never shave the hair of a Golden Retriever. When cutting a Golden Retriever’s hair, all that using a machine will do is cause its fur to spoil and much more hair to fall out at home. Keep that in mind!
Here you can find more guides to care for your Golden Retriever:
Styles To Groom A Golden Retriever
3 Steps Bath, brush out and follow a video guide of your choice for trimming.
Simple Groomers cut Best Style!
This is probably the most common type of groom that you would have come across in the past. it involves using scissors and trimming shears over clippers. Thats why its my go-to style and method that I recommend to readers and friends or family.
Method
The idea of a cut is purely to neaten up your dogs coat whilst avoiding any damage in the process. As you can see from the video you want to leave enough padding around the feet to make them look weak or thin, the idea is to go for a rounded cat-like look opposed to a skinny look.
When it comes to the hock, you are looking to trim down the area to align it with the rear bottom of your dog.
When you move onto the front you, first of all, want to use the trimming shears around the neck and ear. The idea is to go for a natural look and create a picture of balance and symmetry.
For the tail, youll want to taper it to the tip, which means youll need to hold it up and use thinners to maintain a nice natural look to the cut.
Teddy Cut
I dont usually recommend any kind of cut that involves taking your dogs coat away, but if you decide that you want a teddy cut, then here are a few steps.;
Method
Summer cut;
Method
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