How to Groom a Golden Retriever

The Golden Retriever is a beautiful medium-sized dog. Its rich cream to golden coat is medium to long in length, silky and smooth with feathering on its legs and tail. With warm brown eyes, pendant-shaped ears and a long straight tail, Golden Retrievers are easily recognizable. Although they are heavy shedders, regular grooming can keep them neat and your home clean.

Difficulty: Moderately Easy

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• Dog bristle brush
• Cotton tip applicator or cotton swab
• Grooming shears
• Undercoat rake
• Dog shampoo
• Pair of dog nail clippers
• Ear cleansing solution
• Styptic Powder

1. Comb and brush your dog with a bristle brush at least twice a week. Make sure to brush his dense undercoat with an undercoat rake, which will greatly reduce shedding.

2. Bathe your Golden Retriever as needed with a quality dog shampoo. Ask your veterinarian for shampoo recommendations. This breed can be bathed often without causing coat or skin damage.

3. Clip your dog's nails regularly to avoid foot problems. Using a pair of dog nail clippers, trim just the tips and be careful to avoid cutting the quick, which will cause the nail to bleed.

4. Groom the hair on your dog's feet with grooming shears. Remove excess hair from around his pads.

5. Trim the hair on your dog's tail, so it has the appearance of a fan. Start by trimming at the tip of his tail and work toward the base.

6. Keep your dog's ear hair thinned and neatly trimmed, inside and on the outer ear along the edges.

7. Clean your Golden Retriever's ears at least twice a month with an ear cleansing solution, found in any pet store. Squeeze a few drops of the solution into your dog's ear canals, working it in by gently rubbing the base of your dog's ears. Use a cotton-tip applicator or cotton swab to remove any dirt, debris and excess solution.

Tips & Warnings

• Call your veterinarian if you notice any bare patches in your dog's coat or skin rashes.
• This breed tends to develop a lot of ear infections if they're not kept clean.
• Avoid cutting your dog's nail beyond just the tip. If you do cut the quick, and your dog's nail begins to bleed, apply styptic powder to stop the bleeding quickly.
• When cleaning your dog's ears, never insert a cotton-tip applicator or swab into the part of his ears you can't see. This could result in serious eardrum damage.
• When bathing your dog, avoid getting any water in his ears, as this will contribute to ear infections.