How Often Should I Bathe My Golden Retriever? Breed Grooming Needs

As an owner of a Golden Retriever, you surely want to take good care of your dog. If you’re wondering how often to bathe your Golden, you should bathe your dog every 6–8 weeks, or more often if he gets particularly dirty.

A Golden Retriever is a double-coated dog. This breed has a long, smooth outer coat and a soft, fuzzy undercoat. The two layers work in unison to protect the dog’s skin from the sun, heat, cold, and moisture.

Overbathing a Golden can strips essential oils from the skin. When your dog’s skin loses oils, it can lead to itching, flaking, and dryness, wherein your dog can scratch himself so much that it causes wounds or hot spots, which are red patches of inflamed skin that can become infected.¹

Only Use Dog Shampoo on a Golden

While it may seem like a good idea to use your favorite shampoo to bathe your Golden Retriever, you should not use human shampoo on your dog. Unlike humans whose skin is relatively more acidic and requires shampoos with pH level of less than 7, dogs’s skin is more alkaline and requires shampoos with a pH of 7 or higher ².

If you were to continuously bathe your dog using a human shampoo with a pH lower than 7, your dog’s skin could become damaged and very dry over time. So, skip using your favorite brand of shampoo on your dog and pick up a bottle of dog shampoo instead that’s safe to use on your pup.

Tips for Bathing a Golden Retriever

The best way to bathe a Golden Retriever is to get all your supplies ready before taking your dog to the tub or shower. You’ll need dog shampoo, a dog brush, towels, and a few doggie treats to reward them for good behavior. You’ll also need a blow dryer to dry your dog’s fur and remove dead hairs from the undercoat. Once you have everything ready, give your dog a good brushing to remove dirt, debris, and loose fur.

When you’re finished with the pre-bath brushing, take your dog into the shower or bathtub and get his fur wet using lukewarm water. A handheld showerhead works best for quickly and efficiently wetting down a dog.

After thoroughly soaking your dog’s coat down to the skin, apply shampoo and work it into the fur while scrubbing everything, including his butt and belly. Be sure to hold your dog’s ears closed (or place cotton balls in the canals to prevent moisture from seeping in) and put your hand over his nose while washing his face to protect these sensitive areas during the bath.

Once you’re done scrubbing your dog clean, rinse the shampoo out using clear water until there’s no shampoo left behind. Then, use the towels to remove excess moisture before moving on to the blow dryer. During the bathing, rinsing, and drying processes, give your dog a treat now and then for being such a good boy!

Brush Your Golden Retriever Often

While you should only bathe a Golden Retriever every few weeks, you should brush your dog several times a week. Goldens are moderate to heavy shedders that benefit from regular grooming. Not only will regular brushing remove dead hairs from your dog’s coat, but it will also result in you having less dog hair to remove from your floors, furniture, and clothing!

Use a quality dog brush to remove knots, mats, dead fur, dirt, and grime. Your dog’s coat will look amazing when you’re done and feel very soft to the touch.  Plus, it will make bathing your dog a lot more effective and easier, so don’t neglect to pull out that dog brush several times a week.

In Conclusion

A Golden Retriever should be bathed every 6–8 weeks on average to keep his coat clean and healthy. Even though a Golden Retriever is a large dog, it’s not difficult to bathe this breed if you’re well-prepared and have all your supplies ready to go before bath time.

• Related Read: 11 Best Smelling Dog Shampoos That Last

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