Golden Retriever Dog Grooming & Clean Up
Tired of Cleaning Up Dog Hair? These 15 Tricks Will Help You Manage Your Golden Retriever’s Shedding
Rocky Kanaka
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Is your Golden Retriever’s fur finding its way into absolutely everything? Do you find yourself lint-rolling your clothes multiple times a day, or going to bed only to wake up with a mouthful of your Golden’s hair? You’re not alone—basically every Golden Retriever owner can relate, but that doesn’t mean you have to live with the shed forever!
Here, we’re talking about simple tricks to control Golden Retriever shedding and keep your home a little cleaner as a dog owner.
Do Golden Retrievers Shed a Lot?
If you’re considering getting a Golden Retriever and are wondering “how much do Golden Retrievers shed?” the answer is a lot! This breed has a lot of fur, which you’ll certainly be finding stuck to your furniture, clothes, and everything that comes into your home without proper management.
Golden Retrievers are double-coated dogs, which means their fur is split into two sections. The topcoat is made up of stiffer guard hairs, which keep dirt and moisture out of the undercoat and away from the dog’s skin. The undercoat is made up of dense, soft, wooly fur, which helps your dog regulate temperature to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer.
When Do Golden Retrievers Shed the Most?
Golden Retrievers blow their coats (drop large amounts of excess undercoat) during both spring and fall to make room for healthy new growth.
Grooming Tips to Control Golden Retriever Shedding
While you’re bound to deal with fur if you own a Golden Retriever, there are ways to manage and control the shedding. Remember, even if you do everything right, your Golden Retriever will still shed—and that’s a good thing!
1. Brush Your Golden Retriever Every Day
Brushing your Golden Retriever every day helps to remove loose undercoat that has become trapped in their guard hairs. By brushing daily, you can catch many of those loose pieces of fur that would otherwise end up on your couch cushions.
2. Use the Right Brushes for a Golden Retriever
Brushing your Golden Retriever with the right tools can make all the difference. You want to make sure you’re picking up the right amount of hair, and not pulling or ripping at healthy growth. We recommend using a good slicker brush to remove loose undercoat fur and a detangling comb to gently loosen knots and tangles.
Buy the Hertzko Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush ($15.99)
Buy the Shiny Pet Dog Comb ($12.99) on Amazon.
3. Brush Your Golden Retriever in One Direction To Prevent Breakage
Take time and care when brushing your Golden Retriever, and always brush in the direction of fur growth: down towards the dog’s back or rear, and from root to tip. Brushing their fur in multiple directions can cause breakage and more shedding in your home.
4. Play Outside After Brushing Your Golden Retriever To Shake Out Loose Fur
Brushing your Golden Retriever will get a lot of loose fur, but there will always be some still trapped in the guard hairs. To fully air out your Golden Retriever, so to speak, try taking them outside for some playtime after brushing. While they walk, romp, jump, or play their loose fur will drop outside and not in your living room!
5. Give Your Golden Retriever a Bath Every 6 Six Weeks
Bathing your Golden Retriever is another important part of maintaining their fur, and it can help reduce shedding. Every 6-8 weeks is a good amount of time to give your pup between baths. Bathing more frequently can cause skin irritation, and actually damage your dog’s fur, which could increase how much they shed. Bathing less frequently can do the same, since your dog’s fur can become matted and grimy.
6. Invest in a High-Quality Dog Shampoo
Using a high-quality shampoo to wash your dog can help improve the health of their coat, thereby reducing shedding. The best dog shampoos are gentle, hydrating, and made specifically for dogs. If your pooch is blowing their coat, you can even use a deshedding shampoo to help loosen and remove stuck undercoat.
Buy FURminator deShedding Ultra Premium Shampoo ($12.79) on Amazon.
7. Try Using a Deshedding Tool on Your Golden Retriever
Deshedding tools are especially helpful to use on your Golden Retriever during spring and fall when they blow their coats. Tools like undercoat rakes help to loosen and grab dead and dropped fur, removing much more than a regular slicker brush. While this kind of tool is helpful, be very careful while using it to avoid irritating your dog’s skin or ripping out excess fur.
Buy Maxpower Planet Double-Sided Shedding & Dematting Undercoat Rake ($14.97) on Amazon.
8. Let a Professional Groomer Bathe & Brush Your Golden Retriever
Taking your dog to a groomer regularly is a fantastic way to reduce the amount of fur that is dropped around your home, and will help to generally keep your pup’s skin and coat healthy. Even two appointments a year during shedding seasons can make a huge difference, especially with regular brushing and baths at home.
9. Keep Your Golden Retriever’s Fur Long—Never Shave It
You should absolutely never shave down your Golden Retriever—even if you aren’t going down to the skin—unless absolutely necessary. Cutting away the guard hairs and shaving the undercoat of a Golden can irreversibly damage their fur, and make shedding much worse.
Lifestyle Tips to Control Golden Retriever Shedding
Remember that a dog with a healthy coat and an active lifestyle will shed less!
10. Take Your Golden Retriever Swimming
Swimming is a great way to help your dog shed loose fur! After they take a dip, give them a rub down in a towel to catch all the fur they’re dropping.
11. Give Your Golden Retriever a Stress-Free Life
Like humans, dogs can lose their hair when they’re stressed! Creating a routine with plenty of walks, playtime, mental stimulation, and snuggles can help keep your pup feeling confident and comfortable.
12. Treat Allergies Right Away
If you notice your dog licking their paws, itching more than usual, or experiencing skin inflammation, visit your vet right away to talk about allergies. Dogs with allergies often shed more, especially when they are having a flare or allergic reaction.
13. Take Your Golden Retriever to Regular Vet Visits
Similarly, taking your Golden Retriever to the vet for their annual checkups can help you prevent health issues that could reduce skin and coat health, and create more shedding.
Dietary Tips to Control Golden Retriever Shedding
What your dog eats is naturally linked to their health, which in turn affects shedding.
14. Feed Your Golden Retriever High-Quality Dog Food
Feeding your Golden Retriever the best possible quality of dog food you can afford and access readily is one of the most effective ways to nourish and support healthy skin and coat. By feeding a protein high in animal protein, healthy fats, moisture, and essential nutrients, you’ll have a Golden Retriever with shiny, glowing fur! Read: Top 4 Biologically Appropriate Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers
15. Give Your Golden Retriever a Fish Oil Supplement
Fish oil is a healthy source of omega-3 fatty acids, which are an essential part of a healthy canine diet. Healthy skin and coat are just two of the benefits of giving dogs fish oil—omega-3s are also beneficial for cognitive health, immunity, vision, and much more.
Tips for Managing Golden Retriever Fur in Your Home
Remember, there’s no way to completely eliminate shedding from your life if you own a Golden Retriever. Instead of hoping the shedding will stop, develop a routine to keep the shed fur under control in your home.
Create a Regular Vacuum Routine
Whether it’s once a day, a few times a week, or every weekend, creating a regular and consistent routine for vacuuming your home can cut down on piles of fur and dust bunnies.
Keep Lint Rollers in Every Room
Keeping a few lint rollers in every room of your home can help you address fur the moment you see it, and avoid ever having to desperately search for a lint roller right before an event.
Embrace Using a Dog Bed at Night to Reduce Fur in Your Bed
If you don’t want dog fur in your bed, give your Golden Retriever their own super comfy dog bed instead!
Or if you’re really generous, let the dog take the bed, and you can sleep in a dog bed made just for humans!
Related articles:
- Just brushing your dog’s coat can help alleviate itchy skin
- Try ‘Shampoo Therapy’ to help your dog’s itchy skin
- Your Guide To The Best Dog Shampoos
- Top 4 Biologically Appropriate Dog Foods for Golden Retrievers
- 200 Rescues Specializing in Golden Retriever Adoption
