Stop! Make no further movements. What are your plans? To the groomers, perhaps? If you feel compelled, go ahead and do it, but not before performing some of the golden retriever grooming tasks yourself.
Don’t grumble: many Golden Retriever owners see grooming their beloved family member as a fantastic opportunity to bond with him rather than a chore. They use this time to give their puppy a thorough grooming, from brushing to washing to trimming.
The way you view your newfound responsibilities can often make a huge difference in how you tackle them. And, believe it or not, your Golden Retriever will reciprocate. Guaranteed!
While you’re grooming him, speak to him softly and tenderly, as though you adore him. It won’t be long before he starts looking forwards to these sessions. Before you know it, he’ll trust your hands and even enjoy the way you nurture him by touching his body.
How To Groom A Golden Retriever: Brushing
Prepare to brush your Golden Retriever on a regular basis, as golden retrievers shed a lot. There really isn’t any other option.
Brushing reduces his shedding on your clothes and furniture, but it also keeps his coat neat, tangle-free, and, most importantly, dazzling.
You should brush him at least once a week, and sometimes twice a week.
Brushing your teeth also has a very important health benefit. It improves his circulation and helps him maintain healthy skin.
Brushing a Golden Retriever requires a specific technique, even though it appears to be a simple task.
Spritz your dog’s coat with water before you even touch it with a brush. Some golden owners like to use a diluted conditioner as a spritz. In a spray bottle, combine one tablespoon of conditioner with 16 ounces of water.
The conditioner helps to prevent hair damage caused by static electricity. As soon as you’ve spritzed his coat, brush or comb his hair in the way it naturally grows.
Simply split his hair into sections where it is longer than other parts of his body, such as his tail, the back of his legs, his rear end, and behind his ears.
Brush or comb each of these pieces separately, then smooth them back together.
Check to see if you’re brushing all the way to his skin. Matting is avoided as a result of this. However, do not apply excessive pressure to his skin. This is especially true if you’re using a brush with sharp metal pointers that could scratch him.
Bathing
You do not need to be concerned about your Golden Retriever’s dislike of water. This is a water dog breed that enjoys jumping into water, whether it’s a puddle or a lake. Taking a bath, on the other hand, could be an entirely different story.
However, here is your chance to show your pet dog that baths aren’t the devils they think they are— and you’ll both benefit!
Even before you give your golden retriever her first bathing experience, teach her to love— or at the very least not be afraid of— the tub. This is what I refer to as “pre-bath” preparation.
It will require some effort and preparation on your part, but it will be well worth it! The activities will educate your Golden to take a bath without resisting or getting terrified of it.
To begin, simply place him in the tub that is empty. Gratify him. You might even want to offer him a reward. Allow him to leave if he stays calm in the tub, but if he struggles, hold him firmly but gently in the tub while you chat with him gently.
After he stops resisting, you can give him a treat and remove him out of the tub.
Don’t celebrate or encourage him if he resists and wants to get out of the tub. The exercise’s purpose is to provide him with an incentive to stay in the tub.
At least once, ideally twice, a day, repeat this method. Carry on like this for a few days. Increasing the time span each time allows you to stay in for longer lengths of time.
Once you’re sure he’s comfy in the dry tub, fill it with lukewarm water. Just enough water to get his feet wet, but no more. Do this on a daily basis. When you’re sure he’s okay with the increase in water, move on to the next stage.
Place him in the tub and use a sprayer or simply pour water on him to dampen his body. Reward him when he does not resist or make a fuss. While you’re moistening him, give him some praise.
Once he accepts everything, he’ll be ready for the real deal.
All you have to do now is get yourself ready as well.
Getting Your (Rubber) Ducks in a Row
It’s time to take a bath! Even before you pour a single drop of water into the tub, organisation is essential. I’m sure you’ve experienced it before. You sink into the tub, only to discover that a key component of your bathing experience is missing. (I usually discover the towel is still hanging on the rack!) By the way, when it comes to bath time, the following products are your basic tools of the trade. You’re ready to go if you have these lined up!
> Quality shampoo
> Nonslip mat
> Towels– one or two
> Hose or solid container– for rinsing
> Cotton balls
> Eye lotion
> Brush.
Brush your pet even before you wet him down. This gets rid of a lot of the loose hair, as well as any contaminants. After that, you’ll put a cotton ball in each ear’s opening to keep the ear canal safe.
Apply the eye ointment now as well. Soap should never come into touch with your dog’s eyes since it might burn them. This ointment is available at any pet store, as well as from your groomer or veterinarian.
After you’ve completed all of this, it’s time to place Goldie in the tub. Praise and thank her for her efforts. The first thing you should do is completely calm her down. The water should be lukewarm at all times.
Apply the shampoo to her hair and work it in thoroughly with your fingertips. Begin at your pal’s neck and work your way down to the tail (don’t worry about the face just yet; we’ll get to it later!).
Don’t forget to wash his belly, beneath his back legs, and all the way down his tail! Use a wash face towel to clean his face. This significantly lowers the chances of soap going into his eyes.
Home Remedies To Bathe Dogs For Fleas
It happens far too frequently. And, in most cases, there isn’t much we can do about it. If your Golden gets fleas, you can typically get rid of them using standard canine hair washing, but there is a special approach to employ in this situation.
Begin by creating a “lather collar” around your dog’s neck. This ensures that none of the fleas are able to hide in his ears. You can now lather the remainder of his body.
Before you wash him off, leave him to lather for around ten minutes. You’ll drown the fleas this way.
Examine his ears and head for fleas throughout this time of waiting. If you find any, remove them with your hand or with the help of a flea comb (a good quality metal one can be purchased at your local store), then put them into a container of soapy water.
Whether you’re bathing to get your Golden tidy or to kill fleas, be sure to thoroughly wash the shampoo off your Golden. Any stubborn soap residue might aggravate his skin.
Specifically wash his armpits. Soap likes to hide there. Soap can likewise conceal under his hind legs in addition to in the groove that runs along the belly area between the ribs.
Once you’re positive all the soap is washed, using only your hands, carefully squeeze all the excess water from his coat. Then towel him thoroughly. Squeeze the longer hair on his chest, tummy, and his legs.
Don’t rub him dry, as you do when you leap out of the shower. This technique just develops unneeded tangles in his hair. This, in turn, makes it more difficult to brush out.
Once you let go of your Golden, beware! Wet dogs– and Golden Retrievers are definitely no exception– like nothing much better than to run around, roll around and rub up against all sorts of items when they get out of the bath tub.
They have a habit of rubbing up against walls, bedspreads, forniture and even having a good roll on the carpets. Prior to you “setting him free,” place a collar and leash on him for simpler retrieval.
Some owners prefer to use a hair blow dryer to dry their long, gorgeous hair. This is not a bad concept at all, just make certain to use a cool setting. Hot air will damage his skin, and in warm weather condition, the extra hot air of the blow dryer can in fact overheat your animal.
Other owners prefer their goldens to air dry. If you go this path, keep your aggravation level down by confining him to a waterproof room. It wouldn’t be unexpected if, following his bath, your friend may need to go the toilet following the bathing experience.
Take him out on a leash when you take him outside. You might watch in fright as your gleaming Golden Retriever grooming efforts rolls around gleefully in the dirt.
Feet and Nails
A Golden Retriever’s feet are one of his most attractive features. Take a look at those massive, powerful feet. They’ll need grooming on a regular basis to stay beautiful, healthy, and strong.
Many property owners are wary about this location. Don’t be concerned; with a little planning and creativity on your part, you can easily acclimate your retriever to you inspecting and working in this area.
Here’s how to convince him to not just accept but also love dealing with his feet!
Examine his feet for a moment. Take a close look at the lengthy hair growing between his toes. On flat surfaces, this hair might reduce traction.
That means if he comes bounding in from the cold, he might not be able to halt when he lands on the smooth kitchen floor. He’ll resemble an animated dog skidding around the room rather than a genuine dog.
While it’s amusing, it’s absolutely not safe!
This hair also serves as a natural collection place for burrs, small stones, ice balls, and… well, you get the idea. Keep an eye on his feet and keep his hair trimmed.
Thick nails can also prevent your dog from making good contact with the ground. Long, uncut nails have the ability to completely distort his feet, which is a much more significant threat.
This can make walking quite difficult for him. How do you know if his nails are very long? Simply pay attention. When he walks, can you hear them click, click, click? Then they’re excessively long.
This means you’ll need to trim his nails. Many owners prefer to take their pets to a groomer for this service, which is fine but not necessary. It’s something you can do on your own.
Just make sure the little man is ready for the experience before clipping. (And now for the trick I hinted about previously!) Manage his feet when the two of you are simply settling in, hanging out together, relishing in the moment and unwinding.
Massage and bend his toes one at a time, one foot at a time. Do you see what’s going on here? You’re instilling in him the belief that having his feet handled isn’t a bad thing.
The majority of Golden Retrievers enjoy a good foot massage. This can be accomplished over the course of several daily sessions.
As soon as he accepts your management of his feet, you can start trimming those nails. If he has trouble during his first session, just trim that one toe nail. Offer him a prise, then let go of that paw. Don’t let him run away just yet; take care of his other paws while he’s there.
But don’t cut any more nails. Simply return to the wonderful experience that he remembers. The session has come to an end. Allow him to pursue other interests (while you pursue your own!).
Continue to handle his other paws throughout the day. Make no attempt to clip them, at least not on the same day. Be patient and wait a little longer. Soon enough, you’ll be trimming all of his nails in one convenient session.
The Fine Art of Trimming Nails.
Maybe you’ve heard horror stories about Golden Retrievers’ nails needing to be cut? However, there are two needs that must be met before cutting his nails. After making sure your companion is comfy, you’ll need a nice source of light to work with.
Many puppy owners ask me how they should position their dog for a nail clip. It really doesn’t make a difference. He may be seated, lying down, or standing. The most important quality you require from him is his ability to remain still.
You may want to put him on a leash and attach it to a post, or you may prefer to have a second person present who can help you hold him and converse with him— at least at first.
Take a firm but gentle grip on your dog’s paw. Press down on the foot pad’s bottom. Then, slightly lengthen the nail. Just below the point where the nail narrows and curls down, cut the nail.
Check out his toenail. Is there a black dot in the centre? That is what is referred to as the quick. It’s the nail’s living portion. If it’s in the centre, you’ve clipped enough. If it isn’t, snip a little longer. However, don’t go past the quick. It will not only harm but also bleed your puppy.
Styptic powder or cornstarch will halt the bleeding if this happens. Simply place a small amount in a shallow dish or the palm of your hand and dip his nail into it.
Every 3 to 6 weeks, you should have his nails cut. Obviously, this schedule is dependent on how quickly the nails develop as well as how much they wear down when they come into touch with hard surfaces.
Focusing on the Ears
Make no mistake about it, your retriever’s ears are adorable. They are, nonetheless, an unpleasant magnet for vexing problems.
Why? Part of the reason for this is what’s known as “ear leather.” It’s commonly referred to as the ear flap by you and me. The ear flap is particularly close to the head and easily retains moisture in the ear canal.
This wetness might provide an ideal environment for yeast or bacteria to grow. If your dog suffers from allergic responses or hormonal imbalances, these conditions can swiftly spiral out of control.
Ear mites, the tiny arthropods associated with spiders and ticks, may also be a problem for your Golden. Ear termites, which are more typically found in felines, can irritate your dog’s ears if he is allergic to their saliva.
And, because your Golden Retriever is an active breed, he can acquire dirt, plant matter, and other foreign objects in his ears, causing inflammation or injury.
Check your Golden’s ears at least once a week to avoid problems. Inside his ear, the skin must be pink or flesh-colored. It must not be bloated or neat.
You’ll almost certainly come across some ear wax, which is both necessary and common—it actually protects your pet’s ears. What isn’t normal is a lot of filthy-looking discharge. There should be no odour emanating from the ears.
However, your pet’s actions may be offering you advice on ear problems. He may have a problem if you notice him scratching or rubbing his ears. If he shakes or tilts his head frequently, he could be suffering from an ear problem.
Ear infections are excruciatingly painful. They’re also difficult to treat in Golden Retrievers. These infections might result in permanent hearing loss. You should consult your veterinarian about your pet’s ear issues. It will need a trained professional to pinpoint the problem.
If no symptoms are apparent, you can keep a close eye on his ear health at home by monitoring and cleaning it on a regular basis. Simply by utilising a brand name or even a homemade ear cleanser, you’ll be helping to prevent future problems.
If his ears are really waxy or he frequently plays in the water, you should clean them at least once a week.
Be aware that this method can be messy before beginning. You might want to clean his ear outside or in a room where “flying ear cleaner” won’t be an issue. Don’t clear Goldie’s ears on the brand-new carpet in front of the brand-new couch in the living room.
Once into his ear, place the cleaner.
Cover the ear’s opening with a bandage and gently massage the area. This makes it easier for the cleaner to infiltrate the space. Be ready to face opposition.
He will shake his head to cleanse her ears once the ear cleaner has been applied evenly. Allow him to go about his day after gently wiping his ears with a cotton ball.
Eye Hygiene
Your heart melts when your Golden Retriever looks at you. So you obviously want to do everything in your power to keep his eyes healthy and dazzling.
The first thing you should do is make sure you’re protecting his eyes from harm caused by “risky conditions.” By this, I mean that you should be exposed to soap and other chemicals. These can cause more damage to a Golden Retriever’s eyes than you can imagine.
When you shower him or apply any form of insect repellant or flea treatment on him, you’ll need to take extra precautions to protect his eyes.
Allowing your companion to hang his head out the window while riding shotgun with you in the car or truck is not a good idea. It’s way too easy for a bug or a speck of dirt to fly into his eyes with incredible speed.
The eye goo that builds up in the corners of your eyes was once referred to as “sleepers.” These are also available to your mate. Allow them to stay for a little while, but not too long. These are the ideal breeding grounds for bacteria that might cause an infection in the eyes.
All you have to do is clean the muck away with a warm, damp washcloth. Normally, you only need to do this once or twice a day. It will also be appreciated by your puppy!
Regardless matter how well you care for your friend, he or she may have an eye infection at some point. If his eyes redden, get inflamed, or tear excessively, you should suspect something is wrong.
You might suspect an eye infection or possibly a nasty scrape on his eye if you notice you’re wiping more “eye goo” out of his eyes than usual. This necessitates a trip to the veterinarian as soon as possible. The importance of prompt treatment cannot be overstated.
Nuclear sclerosis is a cloudiness that develops over your friend’s eye as he gets older.
This ailment, believe it or not, has very little effect on his ability to see.
The presence of cloudiness, on the other hand, could indicate the presence of a cataract. This could have an effect on his vision and lead to blindness. Take him to the veterinarian as soon as you notice changes in his eyes.
