Friendly and furry with a luxurious coat, golden retrievers make wonderful family pets, and often work as service animals. As loving and smart as this breed may be, their fur needs constant TLC because goldens shed a lot. (And we mean a LOT.)
Isn’t it nice to waltz out of your own hair salon with a trendy new ‘do’ -- feelin’ like a brand new you? Well, your furry friend can also feel like “a million bucks” after a professional grooming at the doggie day spa!
Neat and natural
Keeping your Golden clean and stylish is a must. Experts say Goldens should be groomed professionally every 8 to 10 weeks—keep in mind they shed most in spring and fall.
“The most popular look for Goldens is au natural,” says Colleen Brennan, professional dog groomer and owner of Bazil & Ruby’s Pet Empire. “Goldens don't really have a coat that can be 'styled' like Poodles and Bichons have.”
With Goldens, “it's all about getting them clean and eliminating dead hair/shedding hair off them. If done well, then minimal trimming and styling is required. Their natural beauty shows, which is the only look they need.”
Trim and prim
While clean and simple is the way to go, some Golden owners will request a “puppy” cut—common in all breeds. Your dog’s fur is trimmed half an inch, lengthwise, all over their body. It’s basically a short ‘do.'
Remember Goldens have two layers of fur: "The soft, fluffy undercoat hair helps with temperature regulation and sheds on a constant basis,” says Brennan.
Their double-coat keeps them warm in winter and cool in the summer—so don’t shave your dog's fur off.
Furry and stylin'
Some pet parents like the “Summer” cut for their Goldens: Groomers nicely trim Fido's feet, ears, chest, and privates. This look is best for very hot temps and fashion-wise maintains the existing shape of your dog’s blonde fur. (It’s just trimmed down.)
There’s also the “Teddy Bear cut,” which keeps your Golden’s double-coat fluffy: the body hair is kept short, legs remain natural length, and the Golden’s tail and feet are trimmed.
Combing and spraying
A good brush will remove matted chunks in your dog’s fur. Plus, frequent combing and brushing helps you check Fido for ticks and fleas.
“For grooming at home, I recommend a sturdy pin brush as opposed to a slicker brush,” says Molly Bissantz, owner of Grooming by Molly based in Boise, Idaho. “The pin brush will not cause as much damage to the Golden’s coat like a slicker brush will. However, a pin brush will not remove heavy shedding and matting like the slicker brush.”
Add a conditioning spray while brushing, “as you never want to brush a Golden Retriever with a dry coat. A conditioning spray will help prevent breakage during brushing and it will keep the coat hydrated.”
Adds Bissantz: “I also like an undercoat rake brush in medium. You only need to do three to five passes in one spot during a brushing session.”
When brushing your dog, she explains, start from the toes and go up to the spine and from the back end to the head, using the line brushing technique, which your groomer can teach you. With the undercoat rake, just go over each "section" (legs, back, sides, chest, etc.) 3 to 5 times with medium pressure.
Whatever look your like for your Golden, we know your pet will be TOP DOG. Happy Grooming!
