Are you worried that grooming Golden Retrievers might be more trouble than it's worth? Not at all!
It's really a great bonding time, as most dogs love being brushed, and they love you for doing it!
If you've ever wondered how to groom a dog, read on for some helpful tips.
Dog grooming does a lot more than just untangle and remove dead hair.
A thorough brushing stimulates the oil glands, which reduces dander and keeps that Golden fur coat gleaming.
It also massages your dog's muscles, which is especially helpful for Golden oldies who don't get much exercise. And who doesn't like a good massage?
Grooming Golden Retrievers regularly helps you find any lumps or bumps on or under the skin so you can take care of them before they get to be a big problem.
It?s also a good time to take care of your dog?s eyes, ears, teeth, and nails.
By the way, parasites such as fleas, lice, mites and ticks hate to be disturbed. Brushing your dog daily to loosen his hair will stir up these little critters and help you find them easier.
Methods and frequency of grooming Golden Retrievers vary depending on their coats. Golden coats range from short to long, thin to thick and straight to curly. What works great for one Golden may be too much or too little care for another.
My own Golden, Peaches (pictured here with Bitsy), had a thinner coat than most, and didn't need as much attention as some others might.
You can get away with a weekly brushing for the nearly maintenance-free coat described in the breed standard, but that won't work for a heavily coated dog. He'll need to be brushed daily to keep his thick coat in the best condition.
Your own Golden's grooming needs may lie somewhere between these two. Your dog would love to be brushed every day, but if you're short on time, you'll need to at least brush him often enough to avoid mats and keep an eye on his coat condition.
Did you know that Golden Retrievers have a double coat? That's why using a flat brush may groom the topcoat on the surface but leave the undercoat still matted. As you're grooming, you need to keep checking to make sure you've gotten to the bottom of the undercoat.You don't need to invest in a lot of dog grooming supplies, and pet grooming techniques vary a bit from one dog to another, but here?s a good routine to follow when you groom a Golden Retriever:
Using a slicker brush, begin at the front of your dog and work your way back, being sure to thoroughly brush his neck and throat and behind his ears. Work backward from the neck, to the shoulder, to the elbows and legs. Groom the belly, working upward over the rib cage to the back. Work on the hind legs, and finish with the tail. As a continuation of the spine, the tail is a particularly sensitive part of the dog's body, so be very gentle.Here are some more helpful tips for grooming Golden Retrievers:
Always brush him the same way every time so he'll learn what to expect. Brush in the same direction as the hair grows. While brushing, be sure to give your dog a lot of praise and let him know what a goooood dog he is! Only move your dog's legs in natural positions. Be careful not to pull or twist his legs or raise them too high as you groom. Check between his toes where hair often grows in clumps. You'll probably need to trim this toe hair from time to time. Brush all the way down to the skin, letting the massaging action stimulate blood circulation, and loosen and remove flakes of dandruff. Watch for any cuts or scrapes on the skin itself. Use a comb on those long, pretty "feathers" on his legs and tail. They're a great catchall for burrs and other junk.
It's just a fact of life--most Golden Retrievers shed a lot, all year round. But you can expect even bigger clouds of golden fluff in your house during the spring and fall.
When your dog goes through these major twice-a-year sheddings, his undercoat (the soft, downy white fur) often comes out in big clumps. It's everywhere!
During these extra-hairy times, grooming Golden Retrievers several times a day is really the only way to keep that fluffy undercoat from ending up all over the house. (And don't even think about wearing black!)
The best way to make sure your Golden's new undercoat grows in lovely and healthy is to remove as much of the old undercoat as possible.
You can help loosen the old hair by running your hands through his coat, massaging the skin of his shoulders, neck, back, sides and rear legs (and collecting handfuls of hair in the process!).
This is a good time to invest in one of the best pet grooming accessories on the market--a grooming rake. It works really well to help you remove the dead undercoat, taking it out in huge chunks.
Clumps of matted hair can quickly form in your dog's "armpits" where his legs rub against each other, as well as under his ears, between his toes, and basically anywhere he scratches or chews more than usual.
Mats don't go away by themselves. They get bigger and more knotted as they work their way closer to the skin.
They can get very painful as they pull and pinch at your pooch's skin.
The easiest way to remove mats is by dealing with them before they get too big.
Grooming Golden Retrievers daily will help you find the mats while they're still manageable.
If you discover a mat, you can gently comb it out by separating the individual hairs with your fingers or a comb (just like knots in your own hair). If the mats are too big to untangle, they should be carefully cut out.
First, slip a comb between the mat and the skin to make sure you don't cut your dog. Then, using a pair of blunt-end scissors, cut upward into the mat (rather than straight across), to make a smaller mark in his lovely coat. Don't worry--it will fill in soon enough.
Goldens are great explorers, and picking up burrs on their travels is just what they do. You can usually get these out with a comb. But if they're really stuck, just apply a bit of mineral oil, then work the burr out gently.
While grooming Golden Retrievers, it?s important to keep an eye out for seasonal grass seeds in the coat.
These seeds can penetrate under the skin, causing major problems if they?re not removed.
You can usually deal with a dirty dog by letting the mud dry and then brushing it out. But if your Golden has found something really stinky to roll in, you may need to resort to a bath.
If your dog gets into a can of paint or a bunch of tree sap, do NOT apply turpentine! It irritates the skin and can poison your dog if he licks himself (as he will, for sure).
Mineral oil is a slower remedy, but it works. As a last resort, you can also carefully cut out the paint or sappy spot.
Here's an easy way to remove the chewing gum or tar that your dog stepped on or rolled in: Hold an ice cube to the sticky stuff. When it hardens, work it out gently with your fingers.
If it's really stuck, pour some mineral oil on the hardened tar or gum, and ease it out with your fingers. Yes, this also works when your kids get gum in their hair!
Grooming Golden Retrievers is easier if you start early, with good puppy grooming. Of course, a Golden puppy coat doesn't really need much attention. But if he gets used to a grooming routine from an early age, he'll love spending that time with you.
And he's so cute and fluffy, how could you not want to brush him?
Just give him a quick brushing with a good rounded bristle brush every day. Rub his ears, play with his feet, tickle his belly, and check his teeth daily. It's all one big game to Puppy Pete, anyway!
If you get your puppy used to being handled like this every day, it'll be easier when you need to give him medicine, have your vet examine him, or anything else you need to do with him.
And, with your hands on your pup like this for a few minutes each day, you won't miss a single burr, tick, cut, mat or developing skin problem.
Who knew that grooming Golden Retrievers could be so easy?
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