Golden Retriever Grooming

When it comes to Golden Retriever grooming you want introduce your puppy to grooming practices from the moment you bring him home. Goldens love and need grooming.

Owners create trust and understanding with handling of a puppy.

The puppy learns proper grooming manners such as remaining motionless and allowing his paws, ears, and tail to be checked, brushed and occasionally trimmed.

Grooming techniques for a Golden retriever are that simple.

Basic upkeep includes trimming, brushing and the occasional bath.

Grooming time is bonding time and one-on-one experiences establish confidence for both owner and pet.

The Golden retriever has a double coat, requiring regular brushing. As an owner, you must trim the hair around the ears and chest, since those areas can become a bit thick.

Trimming the fur around the feet regularly avoids "slippers," a deep overgrowth of hair over the paws and nails.

Brushing provides many important things. Dead hair is removed; healthy hair is untangled.

Brushing stimulates oil glands, reducing dander and maintaining a shiny coat.

Brushing massages muscles. It helps locate lumps under the skin that need early care and discourages fleas, ticks and mites.

Undercoats grow to protect the golden from cold during the winter. Warm weather causes shedding. Hair depth is reachable with an undercoat rake and a quality bristle brush.

Brushing removes shedding hair and feels good to the dog. Do not shave him. Grooming shears trim hair around the pads.

Thinning shears manage the growth on the outer ear and along the edge. Groom the tail to look like a fan.

Grooming requires practice and gets easier as you go along.

Golden retrievers are water dogs, so you can give him a bath every day if it is needed. Use a good dog shampoo and keep the suds from his eyes.

Nails need trimmed. It can be tricky to clip them. Trimming nails weekly maintains control.

Like other retrievers, Goldens get ear infections if their ears are not cleaned on a regular basis. Use an ear cleaning solution weekly to avoid problems.

Establish a grooming rhythm Your Golden retriever stands still when he knows what to expect. Establish a routine that he is familiar with.

Brush him from the front and work your way back. Watch his eyes as you brush the neck, throat and behind his ears.

They reflect contentment. Next brush his shoulder, elbows and legs. Comb or brush his belly.

Work upwards over his ribs to the rear of the dog. Brush the hind legs. Complete the grooming by working on the tail, using a comb to detangle the feathery parts.

Remember the tail is part of the spine and extra-sensitive. Speak praise tones to the dog for being good, holding still and looking beautiful.

Follow the same routine every time you brush your dog.

During shedding season, brush your dog several times a day to help eliminate the unneeded hair.

You can remove lots of fluffy hair by running your hands down his coat. A nice neck massage will make him content while you remove much of that loose hair.

Check the armpits and remove collections of fur to avoid matting.

As your golden grows, you will become familiar with his Golden Retriever grooming needs.

Short, straight hair will not require as much brushing and combing as a thick, curly coat. Golden retrievers are smart dogs and often encourage a good grooming because it feels so good.

For more information on Golden Retrievers:

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Article written by:

Edie MacKenzie