Learning Golden Retriever grooming at home has many benefits. Not only does your dog feel calmer and safer being groomed by you in familiar surroundings, but there is no need for a lengthy salon stay.
And a grooming routine is something you want to start right from the time your cute puppy comes home. This might simply be getting him used to the feel of a gentle brush down his back. And as he matures, you will find he is quite used to you “doing things” with his hair.
DIY grooming also helps to forge a special bond between you and your dog. Of course it is also more economical in the long run.
A Video Demonstrating Golden Retriever Grooming Tools
Before we launch into a list of other tools you might need, let’s watch a groomer at work, as he goes through the most important steps in grooming a Golden Retriever such as:
- How to go about drying the coat (a very important step)
- How to trim the feet with scissors
- How to trim the body hair so that it looks really smooth
- How to trim the ears and around the face
- How to trim the legs and tail area so that the hair is an even length
- How often a trim would be needed for this particular breed.
Let’s watch a professional groomer at work:
Equipment for Golden Retriever Grooming
Before getting started with your grooming regime, collect the tools that you plan to use.
Click here to view one grooming kit (affiliate link) that you could consider for your Golden Retriever. This kit includes popular low-noise clippers as well as a comb, scissors, thinning shears and toe nail clippers.
And here we have a Grooming Scissors Kit ideal (affiliate link) for Golden Retriever.
Other Very Useful Grooming Tools
Some other tools (affiliate links) that can come in very handy in taking care of your Retriever’s coat include the following.
- Straight scissors – choose one of these good quality options (ideally 7 inches)
- Small Round Tipped Scissors – For face work, especially around the eyes. which are a Tricky Part of Golden Retriever Grooming
- Non-Slip Table or Surface to Make Golden Retriever Grooming Much Easier
Ideally a dog grooming table; otherwise make sure you have a rubberized matting placed on the table that you use so that the dog is more secure. A table with a grooming arm and noose can definitely make the process much easier.
- A Good Quality Blow Dryer for Dogs
Tips On How to Groom a Golden Retriever at Home
Regardless of whether you are a competitor in performance venues or a conformation competitor or a Retriever owner wishing to do your own grooming, then it is useful to know how to groom your Golden Retriever at home to make her look like a champion.
Understanding the Golden Retriever’s nature will also go a long way towards helping you to prepare and easy-to-do grooming routine.
The Golden Retriever’s Coat
You will find that a heavy undercoat in the neck and shoulder area can take away from the outline, so comb with a fine comb to remove some of the undercoat in this area. You can also use thinning scissors to clean the neck and shoulders.
Grooming Golden Retrievers’ Ears, Tail & Feet
The ears, tail and feet are usually the biggest focus when it comes to grooming your Golden.
The feet of a Golden Retriever should appear compact and round. Untidy hair should be removed with straight scissors, following the outline of the foot as close as possible.
For the back feet, the pasterns and excess feathering from hock to foot should be trimmed by brushing hair upwards and holding scissors parallel to trim off excess.
Use thinning scissors for the ears – they hide mistakes. Remember not to trim too much, and to follow the natural, soft expression of your dog.
The tail should be made tidy and proportionate to the rest of the body – a long tail for dogs with longish bodies. Tail feathers should appear as a curve, shaped like a crescent.
Golden Retriever Face Grooming
A Golden can be shown with whiskers, but if you want, you can trim the crooked, heavy ones and leave the fine ones alone.
Use blunt, small Ball Tipped Scissors for ear, nose and face trimming and always use good lighting or natural light while working.
Drying Your Golden Retriever
Show standards require that your dog has straight hair, not curly.
Show dogs get that nice straight coat from blow drying, so this is where a Metro Air Force Steel Commander Variable Speed Dog Dryer would come in handy.
You can start trimming with your dog bathed and almost dry, or you can trim before bathing and then follow up afterwards with finishing touches and a blow dry.
Golden Retriever Grooming for Show
Grooming should be done well before show date, and the dog should be bathed a day before the show. Any trimming afterwards should be only for the purpose of neatening the coat. Also, it tends to be easier to trim a little at a time, or it can become a tedious job.
Mixed Golden Retriever Breeds
Now if you have a mixed breed or are thinking of getting one, then you might be interested in grooming Goldendoodle haircuts styles or in reading some tips on managing the Goldendoodle breed.
Hi there! This is a great guide on what dog owners need to sufficiently groom their golden retrievers. I would add an undercoat rake to this list just for that extra shedding feature that it adds. For ears and nails, I follow this simple guide: https://goldenretrieverlove.com/golden-retriever-grooming-cuts-trimming-and-styles
Thanks for the suggested addition.
I like your guide that you have linked to as well.