Golden Retriever Grooming

Basic Golden Retriever Grooming Techniques

When you bring your new Golden Retriever home for the first time, the last thing on your mind is grooming. It is usually one of those things that you have to put off until another day. It is understandable, though. Your new puppy probably hasn’t eaten or had any bathroom breaks yet, and you don’t want him running around your house dirtying everything he can reach. The good news is, though, that Golden Retriever grooming is relatively easy and quick and doesn’t require too much time.

To groom a golden retriever easily, effectively, and quickly you only need a little information and some basic tools. Grooming will keep you on top of your heavy shedding, but it may not be all that hard work. Here’s what you should do to start trimming your golden retriever’s hair.

First, when you brush out your puppy’s hair use a comb. This will free up the area under his nose and ear that you normally would use when you are brushing out his fur. Be careful, though, because the skin under the eye and the eyelids can be very sensitive. Also, be very gentle as you work on the different areas of his face and head. If you are unsure of how to handle something, don’t try it until you are more familiar with your retriever.

Next, you should cut away some of the loose hair.

You should only cut away hairs that are really close to the face and eyes. If you accidentally cut away some sensitive skin, your retriever may not be too happy about it. So, use your comb to carefully remove any unnecessary hair. Then, you will be able to comb through his coat and remove all the extra straggling hairs.

Now that you have managed to cut off all of the excess skin, you should trim all of the excess hair in the same manner. Your Golden Retriever’s nails should be trimmed every six to eight weeks. Do this by hand, slowly, and evenly cutting the nails down to the edge of the nail bed. You can also buy special nail trimmers made specifically for Golden Retrievers, although you should never use regular clippers as they are too sharp for a dog with shorter nails.

Ears are another important part of your dog’s double coat of fur and should receive extra attention. Golden retrievers that getting a regular clipping of their ears will have fewer ear mites than dogs that do not receive such grooming. In addition to an ear trim, you should also clip your retriever’s eyelashes and under eye area once a month. Golden retrievers can develop eye problems such as cataracts at an advanced age, so having their eyes trimmed is extremely important. You should always bathe your golden retriever in warm water and only use a mild shampoo when bathing them.

The chest and rear half of your Golden Retriever’s double coat will need to be trimmed every six months to one year.

If you already have a lab, you may want to trim these areas yourself, but if you have not, you should purchase a Golden Retriever grooming kit from a pet supply store or an online dealer. Once you have completed these procedures, your Golden Retriever’s undercoat will be shiny and ready to show off to everyone! Remember to always brush your Golden Retriever’s double coat in the same direction as it grows.

When it comes time to take your Golden Retriever for a walk, you should only use a professional dryer for your furry friend. Some people think that they can use the regular dryer on their retriever, but they can actually do more damage than good. Dryers with special pads on the bottom are especially gentle on a Golden Retriever and will ensure that they do not suffer from burns when you use the dryer on them. Golden retrievers are actually very delicate animals, and any sort of mistreatment can lead to possible skin problems, so use the dryer carefully.