Realistically, you can probably groom a Golden Retriever anywhere – on the couch, in the bathroom, on the deck. However, keep in mind that dogs feel comforted by routine, so if you always groom in the same spot at the same time, your Golden Retriever will know exactly what to expect when you take him to that special grooming spot.
Another consideration is what room to use if you are grooming indoors. Golden Retrievers shed, and because they have medium length coats, that can translate to a lot of dog hair. While one good reason for brushing your Golden frequently is to collect dog hair in the brush so it doesn’t get all over the house, you will still get some “fallout” when brushing, so choose a place that is easy to clean. Tile floors can be swept, or choose a carpet that is easy to vacuum and a room without a lot of nooks and crannies or furniture that can hide tufts of Golden hair underneath.
If you are grooming indoors, some people have the space for a grooming table. Grooming tables are particularly convenient for small dogs and breeds that require long hours of brushing and combing. While it’s not necessary for a breed like a Golden Retriever, if you have the space for a grooming table and you want to use one, you may find it easier to brush, trim, clip, and examine your Golden without having to bend over. Grooming tables are definitely more ergonomic.
Many people prefer to groom their Golden outside. Goldens love to be outside with you, and if you have a convenient spot on the deck or porch for grooming, this can be an excellent option. Goldens tend to shed most prolifically in the fall and spring when the weather is usually relativelly mild, so if you groom inside most of the year, you might decide to groom outdoors during these seasons of heavier shedding.
Finally, consider where you will keep your grooming supplies. If you groom your Golden in the bathroom, can you designate space for a brush, comb, nail clippers, and Golden toiletries like shampoo and coat conditioner? If you groom outside, you might want to keep a basket of supplies somewhere near the door, so you can easily grab it and go.
Keeping To A Grooming Routine
Your Golden Retriever doesn’t need to be brushed and have his nails trimmed, or even have his teeth brushed every day. However, a daily grooming routine is a good idea, because a grooming check is also a daily health check. A daily grooming routine does more than alert you to any physical changes in your Golden Retriever. It also accustoms your Golden Retriever – particularly a Golden puppy – to the kind of handling your Golden will need to endure at the veterinarian’s office.
A daily grooming routine is particularly important for Golden Retriever puppies. Daily grooming is an effective and gentle way to train your puppy to tolerate things like nail clipping and tooth brushing – things that an adult dog might have more difficulty accepting for the first time. Now is the time to teach your Golden Retriever some of the things necessary for life in a world with those strange humans who always seem to want to poke, prod, and palpitate, not to mention clip, trim, brush and comb.
Grooming For Better Bonding
You’ve heard it a hundred times: Golden Retrievers love to be with their people. You spend time with your Golden Retriever every day, walking, playing, or sitting on the couch watching television. But don’t neglect the opportunity for human-dog bonding that the daily grooming outine provides.
When grooming a Golden Retriever, you are totally focused on him. You aren’t doing anything else at the same time. Unlike other activities you and your Golden do together, grooming is all about you attending to your dog. What a great luxury for your Golden Retriever!
Goldens typically love grooming time, especially if you make it a positive and rewarding experience right from the beginning. Talk to your Golden while you brush his coat. Praise him when you check his eyes, ears, and feet. Gush over him when he sits nicely for nail trimming or lets you bathe him without leaping out of the tub and splattering water all over the house. This daily attention will go a long way towards building your relationship with your Golden and improving your communication. The more you pay attention to your Golden, the better you will understand each other, so make grooming a daily ritual and enjoy a closer relationship because of it.