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Cutting a Golden Retriever's Hair

 
Josie F. Turner
By Josie F. Turner, Journalist specialized in Animal Welfare. Updated: February 22, 2018
Cutting a Golden Retriever's Hair
Golden Retriever

Animal file: Golden Retriever

Do you want to prevent your Golden Retriever from leaving hair all over your house?

Golden Retrievers have a double coat, meaning that they have a layer of fur that protects them from water and sun, and underneath it lies an inner layer. This inner layer below molts with the seasons, which is why Golden Retrievers shed so much hair.

This AnimalWised article is a step by step guide to cutting a Golden Retriever's hair, which will help you avoid all that sweeping and hovering. If after reading this article you're still not sure about how to do it properly, we recommend you visit a dog grooming salon and see how a professional does it.

You may also be interested in: Can You Cut Pomeranian Hair at Home?
Steps to follow:
1

You should first de-shed your Golden Retriever's entire body using a slicker brush - a rectangular wire brush - and a coat, which is a specially designed tool for this type of work. This de-shedding will also favor the molting of the dog's hair.

Cutting a Golden Retriever's Hair - Step 1
2

The next step will be give the dog a general hygiene check. This includes cleaning its pads, anus and inner ears. You need to shave the inner groin and stomach, and you should also trim its claws if necessary.

Cutting a Golden Retriever's Hair - Step 2
3

The entire body must be de-shedded. Start the process by untangling the hair where it is fairly long, and then lightly trimming the shoulders and sides of the neck with thinning scissors.

4

Next, trim the front side of the hind legs with thinning scissors or by hand, using the dog grooming technique known as plucking.

The hair on the back of the front legs should be left to stop the elbow looking out of place. Trim the loose hair between the pads with thinning scissors, leaving them clean, neat and tidy.

5

Finally, you should go over the tips to even out all the hair in the semi-long areas. Join up the chest with the sides and go over the tips of the tail so that it looks like a flag.

6

Bathing a Golden Retriever:

Before we start with the steps to bathe a Golden Retriever, we recommend that you read our article on natural products to bathe your dog. When it comes to bathing a Golden Retriever, you should always use a specific pH-neutral shampoo for dogs, since this breed is prone to suffering skin problems.

You should always have towels, an eye cleaner and an ear cleaner at hand. Whether you want to bathe your Golden Retriever at home or you're a professional dog groomer, you should keep in mind that many manufacturers of canine cosmetic products recommend mixing shampoos with water - consult the manufacturer for the right proportion.

  1. Dilute the shampoo and get all the materials ready.
  2. Get the Golden Retriever thoroughly wet. The water should reach the skin; you should calmly soak your dog for a few minutes.
  3. When you're sure that the water has reached every skin pore, start applying the shampoo. It should be applied with circular motions, always in the same direction as the hair grows.
  4. Leave the shampoo to work for 5 to 10 minutes.
  5. Once this time has elapsed, rinse completely and repeat the same process.
Cutting a Golden Retriever's Hair - Step 6
7

Drying a Golden Retriever:

Once you have finished bathing your dog, start the final stage - drying the dog's hair. Whether by habit or routine, most people usually leave their dog to dry naturally without intervening, although this can be harmful for the dog's hair and skin.

Pick up towels, a hair dryer and a good slicker brush and start drying the hair, preventing your Golden Retriever from suffering any hair or skin conditions, as well as from getting cold.

Cutting a Golden Retriever's Hair - Step 7
8

As a last recommendation: never shave the hair of a Golden Retriever. When cutting a Golden Retriever's hair, all that using a machine will do is cause its fur to spoil and much more hair to fall out at home. Keep that in mind!

Here you can find more guides to care for your Golden Retriever:

If you want to read similar articles to Cutting a Golden Retriever's Hair, we recommend you visit our Fur care category.

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