Things to Remember While Caring for Your Golden Retriever

Grooming your Golden Retriever can be a messy task. Not only that, it is also an ongoing process. Happy are those who can hire a service to groom their dog. However, more often than not, most people have to do it themselves. Here are some ways you can easily groom your Golden Retriever. It is necessary to follow a grooming cycle, and it is advised that this cycle be repeated once or twice a week. Remember, you cannot neglect your duty as a dog owner. You need to have a regular routine to groom your dog. The process shouldn’t take you more than half an hour at a time.

You can start by brushing your Golden Retriever to ensure you reduce her shedding. This is important as they are a double coated breed of dog. The double layer protects and insulates them throughout the year. During the winter, the undercoat protects them, but they begin to shed during the warmer months. Therefore, you will often notice that you are shedding a lot of hair at this time.

Regular brushing will go a long way to solving this problem, especially if done with a quality bristle brush and undercoat rake. Chances are your dog will love it too and love you for it. Most goldens love the feel of a good brush and will often sit idly by while you brush them. Remember to brush in one direction, downwards, and try to do it gently so as not to pull out any hair in the process.

Regular baths are a must, especially in hot weather conditions. You can wash your Golden Retriever as many times as you want, as it will not damage the skin. Just make sure you use a good quality shampoo. You may have a bit of a problem getting your Golden Retriever to sit still if your dog doesn’t like bathing. After a nice soak, it’s time for a nail inspection.

Long nails should be trimmed regularly, as they can cause irritation to the dog and much injury to anyone who steps on them. Trimming the nails ensures that the shape of your dog’s paw is intact and that it does not split. If you’re lucky, you’ll see the nails clearly. Use a good pair of nail clippers, but try not to cut too close. Keep some styptic powder handy in case you accidentally cut yourself too close. If you see blood, use it immediately. This will help stop the bleeding quickly. Try to make this a weekly exercise.

Whatever you do, while caring for your Golden Retriever, never shave him. Remember, as we mentioned earlier, the golden retriever’s double coat protects him in all kinds of weather. Groom only tail, legs, and in and around ears. You can trim around the pads with an ordinary pair of grooming scissors to make it flush with the pads. If you take care of your dog properly, it will be clean and tidy, and it will look good.