DOG FAQ - I can't handle all the hair! What is your opinion on shaving a Golden?

Do not shave your Golden Retriever. An undercoat rake and a steady routine of brushing will solve the problem. Golden Retrievers actually have two coats of hair. Their coat is designed to keep them comfortable and protect them in both winter and summer. During the winter, the undercoat grows, and in the spring they being to blow that coat. The undercoat rake is designed to remove all of the dead undercoat. When first using one, it will take a few sessions of raking and brushing to remove all of the dead coat, but once you have done that, a weekly routine of brushing and using the undercoat rake will keep shedding to a minimum. The first time you use it, you will be shocked at the amount of hair you remove.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

GROOMING

Matting, shedding and hot spots are the hurdles for the Golden Retriever owner when it concerns Golden Retriever grooming. Not only that, puppies should be accustomed to Golden Retriever grooming supplies at an early age so they will welcome grooming sessions as they mature. Young puppies do not need grooming yet you should groom the puppies anyway with the array of proper Golden Retriever grooming supplies. Regular Golden Retriever grooming will prevent and reduce the occurrence of matting for feathery-coated Golden Retrievers. The correct smooth coated Golden Retriever is also prone to matting if its undercoat does not receive regular brushing. A thorough session of Golden Retriever grooming takes one half hour to perform. An owner with a feathery-coated dog should devote time to daily grooming to prevent matting. Once a week, a thorough grooming should be done for smooth coated Golden Retrievers.

During shedding season, these dogs will shed a large amount of hair, which can be controlled with daily grooming. Hot spots are an irritated skin condition to which Golden Retrievers are prone. Regular Golden Retriever grooming will help with matting problems. Unless a mat is cared for with thorough Golden Retriever grooming, it will grow larger and more painful for the dog as it pulls at more hair and skin. This can irritate the dog’s skin. As well, fleas are attracted to the matting. For dogs with an abundance of feathery hair, mats can appear overnight. It is important that feathery-coated dog owners include Golden Retriever grooming in their daily schedule.

You will need a few Golden Retriever grooming supplies to deal with mats. A mat must be carefully untangled with a wide toothed comb by starting at the edges and then working into the mat. Plain water will tighten the mat so you may use oil or detangle formula conditioner to untangle the mat. A mat can be cut away easily and safely with a mat breaker. Try to avoid using sharp edged scissors on a mat, use rounded edged scissor if necessary. Use the services of a groomer as necessary. With the right Golden Retriever grooming supplies, you can groom your dog well. With the right Golden Retriever grooming supplies and regular grooming sessions, you can effectively control any shedding, matting and skin conditions for your dog. Frequent checks for matting and the immediate removal of particles will control potential problems.

Two brushes will be good additions to your Golden Retriever grooming supplies toolkit. The slicker brush has a wide head with short bristles and can be used on a wide area. The pin brush has wide set long bristles for feathering. Give your dog a thorough brushing before a bath or wetting its coat. Tangles will worsen when wet with water. Detergent based shampoo will remove natural skin oils and can irritate sensitive skin. Oil can be gently worked to detangle a knot. The undercoat can be lost if too much bathing occurs. To avoid this, brush out dirt and wash the legs and underside with plain water.

During regular Golden Retriever grooming, check for hot spots while using a flea comb to inspect the skin beneath the undercoat and to detangle the undercoat. Gently check and clean your dog’s ears and nails once a week. Trim nails as necessary as a part of your Golden Retriever grooming schedule.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover

COAT AND COLOR

Golden Retrievers vary widely in color.As indicated by their name, their coat comes in light golden colors to dark golden colors. The coat is dense and waterproof, and may be straight or moderately wavy. It usually lies flat against the belly. The American Kennel Club (AKC) standard states that the coat is a "rich, lustrous golden of various shades", disallowing coats that are extremely light or extremely dark. This leaves the outer ranges of coat color up to a judge's discretion when competing in conformation shows. Therefore, "pure white" and "red" are unacceptable colors for the Golden coat.

The Kennel Club (UK) also permits cream as an acceptable coat color. Judges may also disallow Goldens with pink noses, or those lacking pigment. The Golden's coat can also be of a mahogany color, referred to as "redheads", although this is not accepted in the British show ring. As a Golden grows older, its coat can become darker or lighter, along with a noticeable whitening of the fur on and around the muzzle. Puppy coats are usually much lighter than their adult coats, but a dark dog a darker colouration at the tips of the ears may indicate a darker adult color. A golden's coat should never be too long, as this may prove to be a disservice to them in the field, especially when retrieving game.

Golden Retriever - Dog Lover