Breed · Double-coated shedders
Golden Retriever grooming: coat, tools and what to avoid
AKC coat facts for the Golden Retriever, how often to brush in and out of shedding season, the slicker routine, nail care and why not to shave.
Also listed as Golden
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Short answer
The Golden has a medium-length double coat that AKC rates 4 of 5 for shedding: heavy once or twice a year, moderate the rest of the time. Brush it out with a slicker brush once or twice a week, daily during heavy shedding, and comb through the feathering on the backs of the legs, neck, underbody and tail. Core tools: slicker brush, metal comb, undercoat rake. Don't shave it: AKC says shaving a double coat doesn't cool the dog and can leave the coat uneven.
What fitsAll 6 items that fit
- Slicker brushSelf-cleaning slicker brush (PS1140)View on AliExpress
- Nail clipperScissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightView on AliExpress
- Grooming vacuumINSE P30 grooming vacuum (4.5 L dust box)View on AliExpress
Key facts
Watch out for
- After a bath, the coat must be completely dry before you brush (AKC).
- Don't shave for summer: AKC says dogs cool mainly by panting, and shaving takes away the insulating undercoat and its sun protection.
- Press lightly. Brush the hair, not the skin (AKC), and let the slicker do the work, as Chris Christensen's slicker directions put it.
- Hold back any long hair around the feet when you grind nails; VCA warns that grinders can catch long hair.
What fits
Product details below are the seller's own description unless a source is shown. Pick the variant named for each item.
Slicker brush
Self-cleaning slicker brush (PS1140)Choose the single brush; any color.
AKC names a slicker brush for the Golden's weekly brush-out.
Sold by Stone's Store
View on AliExpressNail clipper
Scissor-style pet nail clipper with LED lightChoose the gray clipper.
Scissor-style, with a light; VCA suggests staying about 2-3 mm from the visible quick on light nails.
Sold by Shop1105233629 Store
View on AliExpressGrooming vacuum
INSE P30 grooming vacuum (4.5 L dust box)Choose the US-plug variant.
For a 4-of-5 shedder. 4.5 L dust box and US plug variant, per the seller; noise is not measured, so introduce it gradually.
Sold by INSE Global Store
View on AliExpressUndercoat rake
FURminator Grooming Rake for dogs and cats with thick coats (P‑92930)Choose the FURminator Grooming Rake (P-92930), the plain rake with rotating metal teeth, not the FURminator deShedding tool. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or FURminator before you buy.
For heavy shedding, after the slicker. A plain rake with rotating metal teeth, not a bladed deshedder; FURminator makes it for thick fur and dense double coats. Pull it in the direction of hair growth, as AKC describes, and stop if the skin reddens. We have no maker figure for its tooth length.
Check price on AmazonMetal comb
Andis 68550 stainless steel pet dematting comb, 7.5 inChoose the Andis 68550 7.5 in stainless steel dematting comb. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or Andis before you buy.
For combing through the feathering on the legs, neck, underbody and tail. Andis doesn't state its tooth spacing.
Check price on AmazonDog dryer
XPOWER B‑8 Elite Pro force dryer (4 HP, 115 V)Choose the B-8 Elite Pro, rated 115 V / 60 Hz. On Amazon, check that 'Ships from / Sold by' shows Amazon.com or XPOWER before you buy.
XPOWER states an ETL/cETL mark that we have not looked up in Intertek's directory, and doesn't state the plug type. AKC says airflow, not heat, dries the coat: keep the heat low or off, the air moving and away from the face and ears, and never leave the dog alone with it.
Most of the year: a slicker brush-out once or twice a week, then a comb through the feathering on the backs of the legs, neck, underbody and tail. During a heavy shed: daily sessions, with an undercoat rake for the loose undercoat. A bath helps loosen dead hair, but brush only once the coat is fully dry (AKC).
Before you use the rake, see undercoat rake vs deshedding tool; for drying without heat, see can you use a human hair dryer on a dog?
A grooming vacuum helps contain hair during the heavy shed but doesn't replace the rake or comb; see home grooming vacuum kits.
Questions
How often should I brush a Golden Retriever?
AKC says a good brushing-out with a slicker brush once or twice a week removes much of the dead hair before it lands on the furniture, and that the sessions become daily during heavy shedding.[1]
Should I shave my Golden Retriever in summer?
No. AKC says shaving a double coat removes both layers, doesn't cool the dog and can leave an uneven coat as the undercoat regrows faster than the topcoat. If a coat is clipped close, regrowth usually takes 3 to 4 months and can take 12 to 24 months in some dogs.[2][5]