3 Handy Tips to Maintain Your Golden Retriever's Coat

In an ideal world, your Golden Retriever would wake up every morning, run to the washroom, and start taking a shower. They’d know what shampoo to use for their lustrous golden coat. And they’d even comb their coat with a soft-bristled brush after bathing.

But the world is far from perfect. Until your Golden learns to wash and brush their coat, it’s your responsibility to maintain their shiny and healthy fur. From finding the best dog brushes for Golden Retrievers to identifying the signs of any underlying health conditions - looking after your dog’s coat can be complex and time-consuming.

Nevertheless, it’s essential to regularly brush their fur to eliminate the likelihood of mats and tangles. Also, it helps remove dead skin cells from the undercoat, and distributes natural oils throughout their coat, thus keeping it shiny and clean.

Similarly, bathing your Golden helps get rid of loose fur and dander. It’s particularly crucial during the spring and fall when your pooch is more likely to shed. Also, regular grooming helps you identify any abnormal growths, abscesses, or infections on your Golden Retriever's skin.

So, how do you help your furry friend retain their long, flowy, and shiny coat? Here are a few useful tips to help you get started:

1. Build a Fur Care Kit

First things first - you can’t use your go-to comb to brush a dog’s fur. Instead, you need to find the best dog brushes for Golden Retrievers that come with soft bristles or pins. The wrong brush could cause discomfort and injuries to your dog.

The good news is that you’ll find a wide array of dog brushes that have been specifically designed for Golden Retrievers. Choose a brush depending on the age and preferences of your dog. While a soft-bristled brush works fine for puppies, a stiff-bristled brush is better suited for adult Golden Retrievers.

Additionally, an undercoat rake is useful for de-shedding and grooming your dog’s thick undercoat. It comes in particularly handy during the shedding season.

Apart from dog brushes, you also need to find the right grooming products, such as shampoos and conditioners. Human shampoos and body soaps can cause a severe imbalance in your dog’s skin pH levels. That, in turn, will affect the quality and thickness of their coat.

That’s why it is important to use products that have been formulated to suit the needs of Golden Retrievers. Try a few different varieties of shampoos and conditioners to understand your dog’s preference.

2. Start Grooming Early

The sooner you introduce your dog to brushing and bathing, the easier it’ll be for them to get used to these activities. In other words, it is important to start bathing and brushing your Golden Retriever from a young age.

Keep plenty of treats handy and offer a ton of praise to help them develop a positive attitude towards grooming.

3. Watch the Diet

While grooming goes a long way to help maintain your Golden Retriever’s fur, their diet plays a key role too. It’s worth noting that more than 70% of your dog’s fur is composed of protein.

That means even the best brushing and bathing regimen would fail to maintain a healthy coat when your dog is suffering from a protein deficiency. Similarly, fats are essential for keeping your dog’s coat thick, shiny, and sturdy. Also, vitamin E prevents skin and fur damage caused by the sun’s rays.

So, you need to ensure that your Golden gets a balanced diet that’s packed with vital nutrients, including proteins, carbohydrates, minerals, vitamins, and omega-3 and omega-6 fatty acids. Start by including whole grains, as well as fresh fruits and vegetables in their diet.

Also, make sure their diet is loaded with protein-rich foods, such as eggs, poultry, and fish. It’s a good idea to include coconut oil and olive oil in their diet as well. Other ingredients that promote a healthy and lustrous coat include oats, cranberries, chia seeds, and sweet potatoes.

Additionally, you could add omega-3, omega-6, and vitamin supplements to their diet. Talk to a canine nutritionist or veterinarian before giving any nutritional supplements to your Golden Retriever.

Final Thoughts

Golden Retrievers are known for their long, flowy, and shiny coats. But maintaining their fur in proper condition demands proper care and grooming. Also, you need to provide them with a balanced diet that’s rich in protein, fats, and vitamin E.