Be prepared to spend up to a half hour daily during shedding season for Golden Retriever grooming sessions. For feathery-coated dogs, it can take a half hour daily just to prevent the matting to which the dog is prone. Both types of Golden Retriever, the smooth-coated and the feathery-coated, will shed and are prone to matting and hot spots.

Hot spots are an irritated skin condition for which you must regularly check your dog's skin. Since Golden Retriever grooming is so important to your dog's health and comfort, you have to start grooming puppies with good grooming supplies. This way, you can introduce and familiarize the puppy with the Golden Retriever grooming supplies.

It takes thirty minutes to thoroughly brush your pet. You can control the amount of hair that is shed in your home with regular Golden Retriever grooming. A smooth-coated dog needs one thorough grooming session a week. A feathery-coated Golden Retriever may need daily grooming depending on the amount of matting that is present.

Matting should be cared for immediately through proper grooming. For some feathery-coated Retrievers, resting for long periods can produce a mat. The typical locations for matting are the ears, rear, tail and feathery sections. For dogs with feathering, a mat problem can result overnight.

A mat will enlarge by pulling in nearby hair into itself. This can produce painful spots that are prone to irritation. Wetting the mat worsens the condition by pulling the hair tighter. Mats are inviting hiding spots for fleas. Regular Golden Retriever grooming must be performed regularly to avoid matting problems.

There are several Golden Retriever grooming supplies that will help with mats. A mat should be gently combed out with a wide toothed comb. Problem mats can be removed safely and gently with mat breakers. A hair detangling formula or oil can help with detangling a mat. Trimming the feathering or cutting the mat may be necessary. Use rounded scissors to prevent any accidents during grooming.

Regular brushing is a part of correct grooming. You can choose two main brushes for your Golden Retriever grooming supplies needs.

The slicker brush is versatile. The wide head and short bristles, set wide, are useful for shedding and regular brushing of smooth and feathered coats. The pin brush has longer pins, set wide, is useful for brushing feathered portions. The pin brush will reduce shedding as well. Regular brushing will remove any particles and dirt from the coat.

Brush your dog thoroughly before a bath or wetting the coat. Tangles tighten with water. A vegetable oil or detangle solution can help to detangle tangles. Avoid too much bathing or using detergent based shampoo because of undercoat fall out or skin irritation. Brush dirt from the underside and legs for spot cleaning and wet as necessary.

Use a flea comb to detangle mats and check the skin for hot spots or other irritated spots. Clip the nails when necessary. Check and clean the nails and ears once a week. Include all these Golden Retriever grooming tasks in your grooming plan to maintain your dog's health.