Golden Retriever Grooming

Golden Retrievers have long-haired, thick coats, and those coats have two layers. One is an undercoat that has the dog's essential oils (and which protect the dogs when they jump in cold water), and the other is a guard coat that protects the soft, delicate undercoat. You can expect to brush them daily or at least several times a week, and this will be detailed under Brushing and related sections on this page.

Even if you take your beloved Goldie to a pro groomer for bathing, trimming and clipping, you will need to brush her on a near-daily basis. This will reduce the amount of hair shed as well as help keep debris from creating mats and tangles. It will also help the dog's coat remain clean and free of the dirt and dander — which in turn means a cleaner home and fewer times for doggy bathing! It is best to start brushing her when she's a puppy so she gets used to grooming. It is also good to pick a time and place that's free of noise, TV and foot traffic so that she doesn't get anxious from the activity. One thing you should never do, however, is shave a Goldie unless it's for a "hot spot" or for surgery. This can damage the coat and impact the dog's health significantly.

Brushing your Golden Retriever is more than merely grabbing an old hairbrush and having at the dog's coat. While there are a number of different types of dog brushes for different parts to brush, one of the best over-all brushes you can get is a slicker brush. One of the best brushes for your Retriever, also recommended by many groomers, is a long pin slicker brush. Many Goldie owners recommend not using a FURminator deShedding type tool brush because it tends to pull the softer outer coat and cut it like a razor. A pin brush and slicker will focus on removing the loose undercoat and save the fur.

It's best to brush the coat daily, but the least you should do it is a few times every week. Depending on the weather, your Golden may shed more excessively than usual; if so, increase the brushing time or frequency.

Here are some tips for brushing:

• Start by carefully brushing from tail to head
• Be sure to get the ears inside and out
• Then brush the entire coat from head to tail
• Be sure to brush out the tail thoroughly
• Don't skip the base of the tail where there may be debris and matting
• Have a large bag can to collect the hair
• Have all your combs and brushes laid out and clean
• Don't rush, and be sure to be careful of deep tangles
• Be aware of fleas or other bugs that may be in the hair
• A chamois is good for post-brushing wipe-down

The thick double-coat of the Golden Retriever is somewhat prone to tangles. If they are left unbrushed or not combed often enough, the fur can easily become matted which can be difficult to remove. This can allow for health problems to arise. If brushed at least weekly, the mats and tangles that develop will be minimal. Matted fur too tough to comb or brush out may need to be cut out with grooming scissors. A good rake with remove loose or dead hair which is essential to keeping your dog's coat free of tangles. There are also detangler sprays to help hydrate and strengthen the hairs for easier brushing. a detangler can also keep your Retriever smelling fresh and give the coat a healthy shine.

While a slicker brush will help avoid tangles and matted hair, an undercoat rake will aid in removal of these pesky tangles. A rake is a specialized dog comb. This will get to the undercoat without cutting or hurting the guard hairs that help keep the undercoat soft, oily and unbroken. You can also (carefully) use a long hair furminator, but in some cases these types of deshedding tools might cut the guard hairs and expose the undercoat.

Here are some tips when it comes to combing out tangles:

• Use your fingers to find any tangles, mats or debris in the hair
• Lightly spray detangler, and rub it into the hair
• Use the rake to carefully comb out the hair
• Follow-up with the slicker brush
• Tangles too tough to combed out may need to be cut

Bathing your Goldie should not be a chore. If you feel it will be, it's best to take her to a professional groomer. If you are curious as to how often should you wash your Golden Retriever, it depends. If she gets dirty from playing in a lake or mud, or if she is really smelly or stinks, then bathe her that day. If she stays relatively clean, she should have a bath every 6-8 weeks. You should be sure to get a good, mild dog shampoo and conditioner too.

When it comes to the bath, you should first do it when she's a puppy. Have all your tools on hand. After the bath, be sure to have treats so she understands that she did well. This is an activity that will build trust and help you two bond, so make sure both of you are comfortable and enjoying this shared time!

Unlike most dogs, Golden Retrievers don't have many coat styles, and many of them may look alike to the lay eye. While you don't want a totally shaggy Goldie, you don't want to damage the guard hairs or undercoat either. Goldens tend to get scruffy around the neck, ears, and tail first, so when you see this, it may be time for a light trim. Keeping the hair between and around their feet and pads is essential too, so don't forget those parts.

Here are some haircut styles for Golden Retrievers:

Puppy Cut
It's the easiest and most basic haircut. You don't want it clipped too short as exposure of the undercoat will damage the coat and skin. This style will keep your Goldie cool in summer, lessen the shedding and make the grooming easier too.

Retriever
You have a Retriever, and this is the cut that most folks prefer for these dogs. It's another basic summer cut. The face and tail are trimmed somewhat shorter than the rest of the coat length. Feathering of the tail, chest, and legs can be done with this to wonderful effect. It can also be done in a long style, but this means more grooming to prevent tangles and mats.

Golden Retriever Lion Mane
This eye-catching style is best for little dogs with very long hair, but due to the color of Golden Retrievers, some people like this. It's best to let the "mane" and tail tuft grow over time while keeping the rest of the coat trimmed but not shaved.

Kennel Cut
This one is best for the least amount of grooming, and it may be the least appealing. You may think your Goldie just got out of boot camp! It's a short cut that leaves the coat uniform all over, from face, to neck, to ears, to toes, to tail.

When it comes to shaving a Golden Retriever, this should not be done. It may be hot and you may think that cutting off a Goldie's hair will cool her down, but it will actually make her hot. Her coat regulates her body temperature, keeps her skin from being sunburned, and prevents all sorts of other health problems from happening. If you must fashion your Golden like a lion, it's best to just buy one of those fake lion manes for her.

Letting a pro groomer cut your Goldie's coat the first or few times is strongly recommended until you get the hang of it. Unlike the single coats of some dogs, improper trimming of a Golden's double-coat can lead to all sorts of health, visual and grooming problems.

You should be sure to pay close attention to your dog's paws. Many people may shrink from Golden Retriever nail clipping, but it must be done. If you are unsure or uncomfortable with this, have a groomer do it. If the fur is allowed to grow too thick, or the nails become too long, this can affect the dog's ability to walk correctly and cause health issues.

When you are ready to trim your Goldie's nails, one of the best tools for this is a Dremel tool for grinding nails. There are many of them available, and you should get one that is for large dogs. You can also get nail clippers too, but be sure to get a very good pair. The guillotine type is recommended if you prefer clippers over a grinder.

Here are some tips for trimming your Golden's nails:

• Have your tools on hand before you start
• In case there is bleeding, have styptic powder or corn starch
• Make sure you know how to find the quick and don't cut to it
• Make sure it is a calm time and area
• Be sure to praise her when you are through with each nail and paw
• Have doggie treats for after the work is done

As with all hunting dogs, especially those used in the field for retrieval, fleas and ticks can be a daily concern — and a very serious one. Lyme and other blood diseases from these pests can wreck a dog's health for the rest of her life. Careful grooming after a hunt or run in the woods is essential to getting any such parasites off your dog, but prevention is always best. Many people prefer natural methods such as garlic pills and brewer's yeast, but there are safe "spot-on" solutions too. Be sure to get advice from your vet regarding the age, size, and health of your Goldie if you are going with one of these medicines.

If your Goldie has bad doggy breath, there could be a number of problems ranging from dental issues to digestion problems, to liver or kidney disease. Daily brushing of her teeth will help prevent the dental problems that can crop up. Be sure to use a dog toothpaste because human toothpaste causes digestion problems. A good dog toothbrush and paste are the C.E.T. Pet Toothbrush and Toothpaste which comes in chicken, beef, and other flavors. If there appears to be no problem in the dog's mouth, you'll want to get to a vet for a check-up. Regardless, Golden Retriever bad breath is no laughing matter.

Another health issue that may be bigger than it seems are Golden Retriever tear stains. Although this is rare in Goldens, it can happen and might be just small amounts of the iron that sometimes naturally escapes through a dog's tears (and saliva, etc.). The lighter the dog, the easier it is for stains to appear. It might also mean there's a yeast infection, so if something such as Burt's Bees Dog Tear Stain Remover fails to stop the stains, you'll want to get a vet appointment.