To keep your Golden Retriever’s coat in good shape, brush it head to toe at least once a week, if not every day. This will help avoid matting and will also help decrease the amount of fur your dog sheds in your home.
Before cutting out a mat, you should try to brush it out. Hold the fur above the mat close to the dog’s skin in order to protect the dog from excessive pulling. Brush or comb the fur out gently, starting at the very tip of the mat and working your way in towards the skin.
Lather the shampoo all over your dog’s body, rinse thoroughly and rub dry with a large towel. [2] X Research source If you want a show-worthy coat, it may be necessary to blow dry the pup’s fur. Just remember to keep the heat low and move in the direction of the fur’s growth. [3] X Research source While many Golden Retriever owners only bathe their pups when the dog is especially dirty, some choose to bathe them on a regular schedule, such as once every two months. The choice is yours.
You should not need to use clippers to trim a Golden Retriever. [5] X Research source A pair of scissors and a pair of thinning shears should be enough to do the necessary fur trimming.
The fur on your dog’s feet should be short, around a 1/2 inch long, and should lay down smooth against the surface of the foot. Also inspect the Golden Retriever’s pads while you are focusing on their feet. Apply Vaseline if you find any cracked pads and decide whether your pup needs its nails trimmed.
The fur on the back of the legs will be longer than the fur on the front of the legs. The hair on the back of the legs should be a few inches long, flaring out a bit behind the dog, while the fur on the front will lay flat against the dog.
The length of your dog’s fur will vary. A Golden Retriever doesn’t have a short, tight coat, but instead has some length to it. When trimming your dog’s coat, focus more on trimming fuzzy and unkempt fur, instead of trimming to a specific length. If you are unsure if you have removed enough hair, comb the coat out and see if the coat is lying flat. The goal is to have a nice flat coat that is balanced and symmetrical. As you trim, move the thinning shears with the direction of the growth. Using the thinning shears to trim the neck and chest will give the dog a more natural look.
The length of your dog’s trimmed nails will vary, depending on the dog. The goal it to cut your dog’s nails below the quick but to take some length off of them. Nails that are too long can break, possibly causing infection or an irregular gait. [12] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source Train your dog to associate good things with its feet being handled by giving it a treat whenever you trim its nails. [13] X Trustworthy Source American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Leading organization dedicated to the prevention of animal cruelty Go to source
