Grooming

Originally written in 2011. Product names, prices, and availability may have changed.

If you own a golden retriever, you know all about dog hair. We vacuum constantly and lint rollers are our best friend. We prefer grooming our dogs at home rather than taking them to a professional groomer. It saves money and the dogs are more comfortable in their own environment.

Products

Shampoo

We use Top Paw Oatmeal Baking Soda Shampoo from PetSmart. It keeps their coats soft and smelling great. The oatmeal formula is gentle on their skin and the baking soda helps neutralize odors.

Brush

We use a combination of a pinhead brush, a slicker brush, and The Furminator. The Furminator is amazing at removing the undercoat and we highly recommend picking one up on Amazon. We try to brush the dogs at least twice a week and always do it outside to keep the hair out of the house.

Nail Trimmers

We actually don't need nail trimmers. Our daily walks on the sidewalk and pavement file their nails down naturally, so they stay at a good length without any trimming.

Teeth

Nylabone chewing toys are great for keeping our dogs' teeth healthy. The chewing action helps remove plaque and tartar buildup, and the dogs love them.

Ears

We clean their ears regularly with an anti-microbial solution and a cotton ball. Golden retrievers are prone to ear infections because of their floppy ears, so keeping them clean is important. For Roxy, we also use ear powder in the summer months to help keep moisture out and prevent infections.

Bathing

We bathe our dogs every one to two weeks. We use the pool cool-decking area in our backyard with a hose that has a shower attachment. The key is to get their coat fully wet all the way down to the skin before applying shampoo, and then rinse completely to make sure no soap residue is left behind. Our dogs actually love bath time!

Shaving

We have considered shaving our goldens, especially during the hot summer months, but we just love their beautiful fluffy coats too much. We have also heard mixed opinions on whether the coat grows back the same way after being shaved. If you have experience with shaving your golden, we'd love to hear about it!