How To Trim a Golden Retriever (Step-by-Step Guide)

There is no need to bring your dog to a professional groomer every time to keep its coat neat, clean, and free from tangles. However, you will need some practice and patience.

The tricky part is to figure out how to cut golden retriever hair without frustrating the dog. A few goldens can sit patiently without moving for so long.

Take things slowly. Start by introducing your dog to the tools, and don’t forget to reward it frequently for good behavior.

Brush

One of the biggest mistakes in golden retriever grooming is trimming the feathers before brushing its coat first. But since golden retrievers need daily brushing anyway, this mistake is unlikely.

Start from the back and move on to the legs, then brush the tail, chest, and ears. Use a slicker brush to detangle fur and remove dirt and debris.

A slicker brush is the best brush for golden retrievers because it simultaneously works on the overcoat and undercoat.

If your golden is undergoing a seasonal shedding phase, use an undercoat rake to remove loose fur in the undercoat. Be slow and gentle to avoid hurting your pet.

If the tangles are persistent, use oil or a leave-in conditioner. Only use products safe for pets, either specialized dog conditioner or baby oil, without artificial add-ons.

Don’t use oil or conditioner for mats because it will only make matters worse. If the mat isn’t big, apply some baking soda or flour onto the mat and detangle it gently using a pin brush.

If the mat is large, the best way to get rid of it is to cut it off using blunt-end scissors. Don’t cut mats lying close to the skin – instead, opt for the help of a professional groomer.

Bathe & Dry

Your dog’s fur should be clean before you trim its feathers. Gather shampoo, a slicker brush, towels, a blow dryer, and some treats, and prepare the water. It should be lukewarm, neither too hot nor too cold.

Choose a moment when your dog is calm – for example, after a long walk or playing session. Put a rubber mat into the bathtub to prevent your dog’s feet from slipping. The more comfortable your dog feels, the less likely it is to escape.

Let your golden retriever soak in the water for some time. Then, apply the shampoo, starting with the back and moving on to the legs, tail, and chest. Cover your dog’s ears with your hands to prevent water from getting into the ear canal.

Let the shampoo do its magic for some minutes, and brush your dog again in the meantime. Then, rinse the shampoo thoroughly until the water is clean. Shampoo residue can irritate your dog’s skin.

Brush your dog again, blot it with towels, and dry it with a blow dryer on the lowest heat setting. Don’t let your golden air dry because it can make a mess in the house, and moisture trapped in the undercoat leads to skin conditions.

Brush Again

Brush your golden again after bathing. Like always, start with the back. Then, move on to the legs, then to the tail, and end with the chest and ears.

If you didn’t forget to brush your dog after applying shampoo and rinsing, there shouldn’t be any tangles or mats. Still, you want to ensure the coat is as smooth and straight as possible to make grooming easier.

Pick the Right Moment

Golden retriever feather trimming takes time, so you want to pick a moment when your dog is calm. Don’t trim your golden retriever’s feathers when it’s full of energy because it will be wiggly, and you may accidentally hurt your pet.

If your dog gets impatient in the process, give it a break. You can resume the grooming in a few hours or the next day.

Gather the Tools

Now, it’s time to gather your golden retriever grooming tools. You will need a brush or comb, clippers, and thinning shears. Some owners use scissors, but thinning shears help achieve a more natural result because they don’t cut all the fur.

Choose thinning shears from hard metal with a long blade. The longer the blade, the neater the result will be, and the faster you can work. However, you can get shorter thinning shears for feet and ears.

Start with the Legs

Professional groomers typically begin golden retriever grooming from the legs – specifically, from the feet. Golden retriever “Grinch feet” may be cute, but they quickly collect dirt and debris, making a mess in your home.

Ensure that your dog doesn’t have any mats or tangles on its paws. If you spot mats, it’s best to seek the help of a professional because paws are very sensitive. Assuming your dog’s paws are alright, take clippers with blade 10.

Take your dog’s foot in one hand so that you see the paw pads. Remove fur between the toes and paw pads with scooping motions. When there is no more long hair between the toes, move on to the foot’s front.

Take thinning shears and trim the paw round, starting with the bottom. Leave about a quarter to half-inch of hair. Then, trim the foot at the top. Brush the foot to get out any remaining long hairs and cut them with scissors.

Now, you can work your way up the legs. Some owners use clippers for the bottom half of the legs, but thinning shears give a more natural look. Don’t use clippers for the top of the legs or anywhere else on your dog’s body.

There is no specific prescription for the fur length – your goal is to remove the volume. The feathers shouldn’t be too short or thin. Simply comb your dog’s legs and remove a few inches of the feathering.

Reward your dog after every successfully trimmed leg to encourage it to be patient. If your golden retriever is impatient during grooming, let it rest and resume the next day or after some hours.

Trim the Chest & Belly

When you’re done with the legs, move on to the belly. Note that this area is sensitive, so your dog needs to be relaxed. Don’t trim the feathers too long, just a few inches to prevent them from collecting debris.

Then, trim your golden retriever’s mane. This step is optional because some owners like the majestic look of golden retriever chest feathering, but trimming reduces tangling and prevents the fur from collecting so much dirt.

Remove excess volume using thinning shears but don’t cut the fur too short. Strive to maintain the mane’s natural rounded shape. Then, brush the fur and trim a bit more, removing hairs that stick out.

Always point the thinning shears up, keeping them parallelly to your dog’s skin to avoid cutting your pet.

Trim the Ears

Trimming feathering on golden retriever legs and belly is straightforward, but grooming the ears requires some practice. You will find shorter blades more convenient for small areas like ears.

Brush the area around the ears. Start with the fuzzy fur behind the ear, where it’s the longest. Hold your golden’s ear flap and gently pull it forward to get it out of the way.

Always hold the thinning shears vertically, parallelly to your dog’s skin, to avoid hurting it. There is no universally correct length, so use your judgment. Brush the fur frequently and evaluate the results.

Then, fold the ear flap over to expose the inner part. Carefully trim the fur on the inside, ensuring it doesn’t get into the ear canal.

You don’t need to make the ear perfectly smooth, only to thin the hair to minimize the risk of ear infections. Continue to hold the ear folded over and move on to the ear’s base.

Again, you don’t need to make the fur very short but only to thin it. Cut, then brush, and cut again until you’re satisfied with the result.

Trim the feathering under the ear’s base to smooth the transitioning from the ear to the neck. Now, release your dog’s ear flap and evaluate the result. You will notice that the fur on the ear’s top is naturally longer than on the bottom.

Trim the fur on the top slightly, maintaining the natural look. Don’t forget to reward your dog for sitting patiently every so often.

Trim the Tail

Finally, it’s time to move on to the tail. Golden retriever feathering is usually the longest on the tail, so you can cut more than on the legs or belly.

Comb the tail thoroughly, then remove excess length and volume using thinning shears. Usually, the tail feathering is three to five inches long, but you can use your judgment. The tail should never be too short.

Hold the tail horizontally so that the hair falls down naturally. Move the thinning shears towards the tail’s end, creating a fan-like shape. The tail should be rounded rather than straight.

Brush the tail after thinning it and evaluate the result. If any hairs are sticking out, cut them with blunt-end scissors.

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