The length you keep your golden's coat is ultimately a personal preference.
Whether you groom your golden retriever or hire a professional groomer, pick a style appropriate for you and your dog's needs. Consider factors such as how much time it spends outdoors, how often you want to visit the groomer and how you want your dog to look. After your golden retriever is thoroughly brushed and bathed, choose from several different coat styles. Although many groomers have their own names for these cuts, they basically fall into three categories: short, medium and long.
Short
Also called the kennel cut and strip style, the short-body style is a cut uniform all over the body, usually 1/4 to 3/4 inch in length. Get this style by running clippers over the dog's body, stopping at the neck. Blend at the neck with scissors and then scissor-trim the head. Scissor-trim any other sensitive areas, such as the feet and lower legs. This style requires the least amount of maintenance because mats and tangles are less likely to occur. A golden retriever with this style shouldn't be left out in winter weather, however, as it won't have full protection against the cold.
Medium
The medium-coat style is ideal for owners who want to combine the breed appearance of the golden retriever with the cleanness of a shorter cut. To achieve this style, trim the feathering on the chest, legs, tail and rear with scissors. Cut these areas to half their original length. Also called a feather trim, this style is easier to manage and requires fewer visits to the groomer than a long style.
Long
Many golden-retriever owners prefer to keep the dog's coat long and natural. For this style, also known as a tidy, trim the areas around the ears and feet. Lightly trim any unruly areas in the feathering on the body. Keep as much length and natural feathering as possible. While this style showcases a golden retriever's naturally beautiful coat, the coat is more likely to get matted and tangled, especially if your dog is active outdoors. Golden retrievers with this style need brushing on a regular basis, preferably daily. They also require frequent visits to the groomer, possibly at a higher price if the coat needs significant detangling.
Other Considerations
Regardless of the grooming style you choose, brush your golden retriever at least once a week to remove any undercoat shedding. Brush the coat thoroughly, down to the skin. Brush your dog's teeth once a week with toothpaste created for dogs. Keep your dog's ears dry and clean to minimize the risk of infection. Clip any long inner-ear hairs as they can trap bacteria. Trim your golden retriever's nails once a month with nail clippers made for dogs.
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