Golden Retrievers are one of the breeds equipped with some of the the most lustrous coats out there, ranging from a creamy blond color to a rich, lustrous gold. Even within the breed, coat variances are not uncommon, therefore you may ultimately notice some Golden Retrievers with longer or shorter coats, thinner or thicker textures, and straight or wavy hairs.
Regardless of the variable qualities, most Golden Retrievers share a medium coat with a short, dense, downy undercoat essential in protecting this breed from the cold and keeping the coat waterproof when swimming in those icy-cold lakes. On top of the undercoat, lays a longer outer coat mostly made of firm and resilient, guard hairs.
The American Kennel Club further details that these hairs must be neither coarse nor silky, but can be straight or wavy. A Golden Retriever’s forelegs and underbody also display a nice moderate feathering with heavier feathering on front of the neck, back of thighs and underside of tail which functions as a protective layer, when running through the brier.
Because they are double-coated, Goldens tend to shed a lot during the year, but the process is at its peak in the spring when the undercoat is shed in huge quantities. Grooming a Golden Retriever is a must therefore, and with the right tools, you can do it yourself, or decide to pay a groomer, which can ultimately turn up costly in the long run. Learning how to groom a Golden Retriever may be the best solution for both your wallet and for your dog.
Benefits of Grooming Your Golden Retriever
There are ample benefits when you choose to groom your Golden Retriever yourself. First and foremost, upon grooming your Golden, you may be able to detect any medical issues before they get worse. You may detect abnormalities such as cuts and scrapes, irritated skin, hot spots and even lumps under the skin, that require veterinarian attention. Owners ultimately know their dog best and with daily grooming, it becomes quite easy to determine if there is something out of the norm.
You may have already noticed how your Golden’s coat attracts foreign matter like a magnet. If you allow your Golden Retriever to romp in the woods, you will notice all sort of plant materials sticking to the coat. You must work on removing burrs, thorns and all other material that likes to cling on the coat, before they cause mats and tangles. Grooming will help you protect your Golden’s coat and prevent it from bigger problems later.
The length of a Golden Retriever’s coat also attracts pesky parasites and a scrupulous investigation may reveal their presence. If you notice several brownish-black specks you may be dealing with fleas. If you are unsure, place the specks on a wet white paper towel: if they stain red upon rubbing, your are dealing with flea droppings, and yes, the red stains are basically your dog’s digested blood. An abnormal small lump, resembling a corn kennel may be a tick. Get your magnifying glass and if you see wriggly legs, you know you are dealing with one of these vectors of tick-born diseases. Remove the tick as soon as possible using gloves and tweezers: when removed within 24 hours, the chances of transmitting diseases are much lower.
Grooming is essential for reducing the presence of stray hairs all around your carpet, upholstery and clothes. Frequent brushing will keep the dead fur volume to a minimum, especially during the spring, when Goldens blow their coats. Groom your dog outdoors to minimize the mess. Daily brushing is a must if you are particularly concerned about stray hairs, and at least twice a week is essential if you do not mind clouds of dog down around your home.
Last but not least, grooming your Golden will help you bond more. Most Golden Retrievers love to be brushed, especially if you were diligent in training your Golden Retriever to being groomed from puppyhood and made it a pleasant experience. Your dog will look forward to your grooming sessions and will be particularly happy to spend this special time with you.
Best Tools For Grooming Your Retriever
In order to groom your Golden’s coat and make it look at its very best, you need the right tools. Investing in good grooming tools is essential, and often spending a little bit more for stronger and more effective tools, is worth every dime. To groom your Golden’s coat you will need a flat slicker brush, a straight pair of scissors, thinning shears, English comb and a pin brush. If you are planning to give a bath, a gentle shampoo formulated for dogs is a must. And don’t forget treats to make the grooming experience extra pleasant! Following are some more grooming tips and secrets of the trade.
- Use the flat slicker brush to remove the dead hair from your Retriever’s coat. This is a good tool to keep handy during peak shedding season since it will help collect the dead hairs from the undercoat and general dead hair from the body and feathering on the legs. Many owners like to use a ”Furminator” for containing the spread of dead hairs around the home.
- If you must give your Golden a bath, remove the mats first. Mats tend to tighten when the coat is wet and will be more difficult to remove. Do not bathe your Golden too frequently, doing so may strip away healthy oils from the coat. Inserting cotton balls into the ear, as many professional groomers do, helps prevent moisture from entering the ears which can lead to potential ear infections.
- Estimate to bathe your Golden on average every eight to ten weeks, unless your dog rolled into something terribly smelly. If there is mud in the coat, allow it to dry and then simply brush it out.
- Use the English comb to find and remove mats and tangles. Should you find a mat, keep the comb under the mat held close to the skin. Trim off the mat by cutting away from the skin with the straight scissors. Use the thinning shears to even out the hair.
- Use the pin brush and brush your Golden Retriever from head to tail.
- Use the straight scissors to trim the fur on your Golden Retriever’s paws. Excess fur between the toes can hasten traction on slippery floors and cause the build up of snow and ice on the feet during the winter months, explain Gerilyn J. Bielakiewicz and Paul S. Bielakiewicz in the book The Everything Golden Retriever Book. To prevent injury, rest your scissors on the paw pad and trim the hair by cutting away from the skin. A helper may feed treats while the hair is being trimmed off. Afterward, let your Golden stand up and cut around the outline of each foot.
- Use the thinning shears to blend the hair and make it look less choppy.This will also provide a sleek outline to your Golden Retriever’s foot.
- Use the treats to distract your dog in case he may dislike some part of grooming. Make grooming sessions brief and split them up if need be, rather than forcing your Golden to a tedious, lengthy session. Always thank your dog for cooperating with praise and rewards.
Grooming is More than Simple Coat Care
Grooming is not only about the coat. If you really want to learn how to groom a Golden Retriever thoroughly you must also clip its nails, brush its teeth and clean its ears.
- Clipping nails is no longer a tedious job. You can invest in a PediPaws dog nail trimmer for rounded and smooth nails. Your Golden must be be taught to be desensitized to the noise by gradual exposure and positive associations using tasty treats. Always be careful to not over-trim or you will hit the quick and cause bleeding. Trimming in a well-lit area may help you see the quick and avoid it. The quick is basically a highly vascularized pinkish area, found just above the dog’s nail. Keeping some styptic powder on hand is recommended for stopping a quick from bleeding.
- Brushing your Golden Retriever’s teeth on a frequent basis may cut down on expensive dental cleanings. Toothpastes today come in tasty flavors that will likely make your Golden happy. Use a soft brush or a gauze to rub it on the teeth and gum lines. No rinsing out is required as these toothpastes are totally edible!
- You should clean your Golden’s ears at least once a week. This breed’s floppy ears tend to trap moisture and debris making them prone to ear infections. Ask your veterinarian to recommend you a good ear cleaning product. Turn the ear inside out and squirt some of the ear solution into the ear canal. Avoid going too deep with the point of the bottle. Massage the ear using the ear flap until you start hearing squishing sounds. Allow your dog to shake its head to dislodge wax, debris and shake out the excess product. With a gauze clean the ear out. Avoid using q-tips or swabs which can puncture the ear drum. Dry the ear thoroughly with a dry gauze pad or use an ear drying powder.
- Trimming the hair inside and around your Golden’s ears using thinning shears is also recommended.
- Last but not least, feed your dog a reputable and nutritionally balanced diet, including essential fatty acids. This promotes healthy skin and a shiny coat, explains veterinarian Dawn Logas, a diplomate of the American College of Veterinary Dermatology.
As seen, grooming plays an essential role for the health and well-being of your Golden Retriever. If you have a puppy, work early on getting your puppy accustomed to being groomed for a more cooperative dog. A bright and shiny coat is not only a pleasure to look at, but it is also a sign of a healthy, happy dog.
