Golden Retrievers are known to be great family dogs. They are popular for their loyalty, intelligence and gorgeous coats. If you have never owned a Golden Retriever or have perhaps just brought home a Golden Retriever puppy, you may be overwhelmed with the amount of hair they have.
It is important for dog owners to perform proper and regular grooming for their dog’s hair in order to keep a healthy coat and prevent skin conditions.
A Golden Retriever’s coat should never be shaved. Golden Retrievers are considered a double-coated dog, meaning their outer coat and undercoat hair work together to provide natural protection for your pup in both the winter and the summer months. To keep your Golden’s coat in check, it’s a good idea to bathe and groom on a regular basis, either yourself or by visiting a professional groomer.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at your dog’s coat, how often they should be groomed, and the best options for grooming a Golden Retriever. Pet owners stick around to learn how to keep your pup happy and prevent health issues.
Should You Shave a Golden Retriever?
You may have seen other dogs with shaved coats for the warmer months to keep the dog cool. While this is a great idea, it is important to understand your dog’s body and their needs. Different dog breeds require different grooming techniques. You should never shave your Golden Retriever for multiple reasons.
A Golden Retriever’s double coat is designed to protect your dog in all weather conditions and environmental irritants. The outer coat consists of longer guard hairs that repel water, catch dirt and debris and prevent it from penetrating the under layer. In warm weather, the soft undercoat of your furry friend is shed to allow cool air to flow through and regulate body temperature.
Their layers of fur also protect your dog’s skin from allergens and insect bites. A shaved Golden Retriever can leave their skin at risk to sunburn, skin cancer and other skin conditions.
Shaving double-coated breeds can lead to permanent damage to the dog’s fur, because it will not grow back correctly. The only reason you should consider shaving a Golden Retriever is for medical reasons such as hot spots or severe or painful matting of the fur.
Best Ways to Groom a Golden Retriever
As you probably know, Golden Retrievers have a lot of hair. You may be wondering the best way to tame your Golden Retriever’s fur and properly groom them. Take a look at some tips recommended by professional dog groomers on how to keep your pup’s thick coat in beautiful condition.
Brush Daily
Brushing your dog’s coat is the best way to maintain their coat, especially dogs with long hair. Regular brushing removes loose fur which prevents heavy shedding and distributes your dog’s natural oils throughout to promote shine and softness.
Brushing should be done daily or every few days. Brush your pup from head to toe and spend extra time on the thicker parts of their golden coat. Some of the best brushes include slicker brushes, bristle brushes or pin brushes. An undercoat rake may also be a good option for super heavy shedders.
Regular Baths and Full Grooming Sessions
Bathing your dog is an important part of being a pet owner, and with good reason. Regular bathing is a great way to remove dead hair which reduces shedding and promotes a healthy hair follicle. Ear cleaning, nail trimming, and brushing your dog’s teeth should also be a part of regular grooming. A breakdown of the importance of these elements of grooming is listed below.
- Ears: Golden Retriever ears require grooming on the inside and outside. Apart from cutting the hair on the outside of the ear, the inside of the ear should be kept neat and clean to prevent ear infections. This can be done by trimming the hairs and using a gentle ear cleanser.
- Nails: Long nails are uncomfortable for the dog and can even interfere with their walking abilities if left for a long time. When trimming your dog’s nails, clip just the tip of the nail. Going too short can cause bleeding and injury.
- Teeth: Just like humans, dogs need their teeth brushed to remove plaque build up and reduce bad breath. Neglecting your dog’s teeth can lead to a number of oral conditions such as tooth loss or infections.
Photo by Leah Kelley
How Often Should You Groom a Golden Retriever?
Keeping your Golden properly groomed is a good choice to prevent injury, discomfort and possible health conditions. Now that we have gone over the best ways to groom your dog and important elements to consider when grooming, you’re probably asking yourself “how often do I have to do all of this?” Luckily, dogs do not need to be fully groomed as often as humans do.
With a Golden Retriever’s specific type of coat, it is best to brush them daily or every other day. When it comes to bathing and taking care of their nails, teeth, and ears, this can be done less frequently. While neglecting your dog’s grooming can be dangerous, it is also not beneficial to over-bathe your dog as it can strip the natural oils from their hair. In general, a good grooming schedule is around once per month.
How Should You Groom A Golden Retriever for Summer?
If you are still worried about alleviating your pup from the summer heat, there are a few grooming methods apart from shaving to consider. The most popular are the puppy cut and teddy cut. Although these grooming methods can be done at home if you are skilled with trimming scissors, you should reach out to your local groomer for the best results and to prevent damage to your dog’s undercoat.
Puppy Cut
The puppy cut, or “summer cut” is a cutting method that doesn’t touch the important undercoat. The groomer will focus on trimming your dog’s top coat more or less evenly all over to 1-2 inches. This will basically leave your dog looking like they did when they were a puppy. The short hair keeps your Golden Retriever cool and is one of the best options for hot weather. Although the name may be misleading, even adult dogs can benefit from the puppy cut.
Teddy Cut
The teddy cut is a great option for summer. This specialized style is ideal for dogs with double-coat breeds since it helps them maintain a proper body temperature. With this grooming technique, the leg and tail hair is kept long and their body hair is cut shorter, giving your dog a distinctively curved look. This draws attention to the tail and hind area, and leaves your pup looking a bit like the name suggests: a teddy bear.
Summary
Golden Retrievers are a popular dog breed across the nation. They are known as being the “All-American” dog and loved for their loyalty, kindness and good looks. Golden Retrievers have a double coat, similar to breeds such as the Shepherd, Husky, and Border Collies. Because of this, they should never have a shaved coat.
Shaving a Golden Retriever’s coat can permanently damage their coat and leave them susceptible to insect bites, sunburn, skin cancer, and other health conditions. A dog’s fur acts as a shield to protect them from these elements and keep them healthy. In warm weather, the thick undercoat will shed to allow your pup to regulate their body temperature.
To properly groom your Golden Retriever, you should brush them daily and bathe regularly. Ear cleaning, nail trimming, and teeth brushing is also an important part of fully grooming your dog. Full grooming can be scheduled for once a month for most dogs, depending on their home conditions.
If you are still worried about keeping your Golden Retriever cool during warm summer months, consider specialized grooming styles that consist of cutting their body hair short to allow cool air to flow through. These should be done by a professional groomer for the best results.
We hope you enjoyed this article and learned everything you need to know about Golden Retriever grooming! Stay tuned for more helpful articles.
Sources
https://firsttimedogmom.com/grooming-a-golden-retriever-in-the-summer-what-not-to-do/
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