Puppies started young will be well accustomed to grooming.
The short coat of yellow Labrador retrievers can seem easy to care for; but these double-coated dogs will shed constantly throughout the year. Their double coat helps insulate them from the elements but it also means that regular grooming is a must for the health and happiness of the dog. Low-maintenance in comparison to some other dogs, the yellow lab generally doesn't require weekly or monthly trips to the groomer and is quite easy to take care of at home -- particularly if starting with a puppy and allowing him to become accustomed to the regular grooming.
Instructions
1. Use a slicker brush and go over the dog's coat. This will remove any loose or dead hair and when done on a weekly basis, it will not only make the dog's coat look healthier, it will also cut down on shedding.
2. Check the condition of the dog's skin. This can easily be done when grooming with the slicker brush. Yellow labs can be susceptible to a condition called acute moist dermatitis, which results in sore, red spots on the skin. If this develops, the dog will typically be put on antibiotics; catching it early will make it much less uncomfortable for the dog.
3. Go over the dog's tail with a slicker brush as well, as the plume of the tail will also contain dead hairs. The tip of the tail in many yellow labs has a small twist of hair at the tip; this can either be left or trimmed off, depending on the owner's preference.
4. Puppies can be much more accepting of nail clippers than adult dogs who have never had it done.
Clip the dog's nails. Some yellow labs don't like their paws touched or their nails done, so starting the dog as a puppy will make this much easier. The blades on the clippers must be sharp to keep from squeezing the nails and clip off only the tips. Avoid cutting too far up the nail and into the quick, as this is extremely painful.
5. Rinse the dog with water in order to get off any dirt. Since yellow labs are prone to skin conditions but have a short, sleek coat, simply rinsing with water is usually the best way to get the dog clean if they come in from playing dirty or muddy.
6. Give a bath only when absolutely necessary; for yellow labs this shouldn't be often. The telltale sign that it's time for a full bath is the smell of the dog. There is a variety of shampoos available and those geared for dogs with sensitive skin or those containing moisturizers work well for yellow labs.
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