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The Golden Retriever…..In the early 1800s game was plentiful in England and Scotland, and hunting was both a sport and a practical way of obtaining food. Retrievers came into prominence because of the desire for a medium-sized dog that would do well in wild-fowling, both waterfowl and upland game. During the 19th century, gamekeepers at the Guisachan Estate of Lord Tweedmouth at Inverness-Shire, Scotland, kept records of the development of the Golden.
Your Golden is symmetrical, balanced, active, powerful, level mover; sound with kindly expression. Biddable, intelligent and possessing natural working ability. Kind, friendly and confident.
His coat should be dense and water repellent with a good undercoat and neither coarse nor too silky. His outline should be natural and untrimmed. As this coat also needs to be a rich lustrous golden colour, whatever you use should enhance the shine of the coat without making it fluffy or soft.
Between shows I recommend oiling the coat with Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil. This will add shine, hydrate and condition the coat. It is a truly beneficial blend of using extracts of Calendula oil, Wheat germ oil, and Evening Primrose.
Add 1 tablespoon to 4 Litres of water, then either sponge on or sluice well through the coat and LEAVE IN. DO NOT RINSE. This is quite a unique product in that it is not greasy and totally water-soluble. It gives an outstanding healthy vigour to the skin and coat. It will maintain the texture and moisture in the coat and help protect from the harsh outdoors especially in some of the tougher climates where this dog is required to work. Use the oil at this dilution rate after shampooing for a show. Again leave in and do not rinse. You will get a nice healthy sheen on the coat with this routine. I also like the depth of colour it tends to add to the coat with continued use.
For a show routine, I recommend using Plush Puppy All Purpose Shampoo with Henna for great shine. Dilute it 1:3 (1 part shampoo to 3 parts water). We call this the ‘Shine’ shampoo as it features natural Henna stalk extracts that impart a beautiful gloss and shine to your dog’s coat. All Purpose Shampoo is primarily derived from organic sources and also features Alpine and Lichen herbs. It is wonderful to use on normal to slightly dehydrated coats.
At times when the Goldens coat gets a little greasy, use Plush Puppy Deep Cleansing Shampoo on the areas needing a deep clarifying clean. It is specifically designed to remove product build-up and to reduce unwanted stains in dogs coats. Its rich formulation using organic sources with added Green Tea and Seaweed extracts to provide the deepest coat clean available. Not only will it spruce up dull whites, this product can be used on any colour coat for a thorough cleansing and clarifying when required.
If your Golden is out of coat, then I suggest Plush Puppy Body Building Shampoo which gives a bodified appearance to the silhouette without an artificial feel. It is wonderful for the coat as it is primarily naturally derived and infused with beneficial plant extracts.
Dilute all shampoos mentioned above for a show bath at the ratio of 1:3 (1 part shampoo to 3 parts water).
After shampooing, condition lightly using Plush Puppy Silk Protein Conditioner. On the feathers only use a dilution rate of 1:10 (1 part conditioner to 10 parts water). Then use a much weaker ratio of 1:15 for the topline. You don’t want to over soften this area or to make it fluffy.
The head and expression is an important part of the breed. When washing faces always use Plush Puppy Let’s Face It Shampoo. This is a hypoallergenic sulfate free low foaming shampoo designed just for faces. It’s no tear formula features the highest quality Blue Cypress Extracts, Panthenol with Pro Vitamin B and SugaNate. These special ingredients clean, soothe, add moisture, aid healing and have anti-inflammatory benefits. A small golf ball sized amounts directly to the face and eye area allows you to thoroughly clean without causing irritation. It can also be used in and around the ears with the same benefits. Its low foaming design allows ease of rinsing, yet complete cleaning. Best used first and left on while using all other shampoos and rinsing off with the final shampoo rinse.
Okay here’s where the fun stuff begins!
In order to get that soft draping fall to the lengths without wave, use Plush Puppy Swishy Coat. There are those who like to apply it undiluted, but I always recommend dilution. You have a large dog and it is easier to get it evenly applied this way. As an average, dilute at a ratio of 1 tablespoon into 750ml of water. Depending on the texture of the coat you can dilute more or less as required. Sponge or pour thoroughly through the coat ensuring even distribution. Squeeze out excess and blow dry.
For show baths, you can include a small amount of Plush Puppy Seabreeze Oil to this final rinse. Add 1-2 teaspoons of Seabreeze Oil with the Swishy Coat into 4L of water and leave in. Again, squeeze out excess and blow dry.
Use a Plush Puppy Ultimate Pin Brush for drying as you don’t want to rip the coat or overstretch at this point. When ¾ dry, switch to an oval ½ bristle ½ dialon brush such as the Plush Puppy Ultimate Anti-Static Porcupine Brush. This will give you that smoother, straighter and glossier finish to your drying that the pin brush won’t do. Never entirely dry with a top brushing action only, this just flicks the short pieces in the coat outwards and gives that fly away look to the coat. You are after a polished professional look that once you have mastered, is just breathtaking.
Finish with a Plush Puppy Professional Grooming Comb, built for absolute ergonomic comfort in various sizes. The lightweight oval shaped spine combining fine and coarse pins made of hardened stainless steel with anodic oxide finish that reduces drag and static to the coat. Perfect for use for this breed of dog.
At times due to various reasons including the weather static electricity can create flyaways. If this occurs use Plush Puppy Anti-Static Coat Control. This is a lightweight spray is infused with organic extracts that offers a UV filter to stop sun damage and protect against heat strength for the perfect finished look of the coat.
Should you have a coat that is too curly or wavy, you can add 1 tablespoon of Plush Puppy Blow Dry Cream to the Swishy Coat mix as this will further flatten the coat.
The very best grooming spray for this coat type is Plush Puppy OMG.
A light spray of OMG and brushing in allows this product to refresh the coat leaving it feeling wonderful. It separates the coat and leaves the most amazing finish. Use at an approximate mixture of 1:20 up to 1:40 (1 part OMG to 20-40 parts water) using this break down from the OMG Concentrate.
This is also available in the Ready to Use version. The stronger the mix the stronger the effects. Different dogs at different coat stages require different mixtures.
For this coat type that you still wish to retain the texture, use at a higher breakdown. This will allow you to brush the dog and refresh to coat without over softening. If you need more softening and hydration to a fuller or larger coat then a higher mixture is needed.
OMG can also be used on topcoats and brushed in for that wonderful smooth and flatness to the coat. OMG never builds up, never goes stringy. Using OMG can be a one off at shows or during the drying process after bathing. It is a must have for regular brushing as it hydrates the coat, and reduces stress and coat loss. OMG and as its active ingredients smooth the cuticle and protect the coat.
The trimming is relatively easy but does need attention and time. The Standard states feet may be trimmed, and stray hairs neatened, but the natural appearance of coat or outline should not be altered by cutting or clipping.
The featherings need perhaps just a gentle shaping with thinning scissors for a softer effect giving a fairly natural look to the curve. You are only removing the stray ends and the end result is still to shape the dog to his best without looking totally contrived. All excess feathering is to be removed from the feet.
On Show day, spray with Plush Puppy Odour Muncher and Plush Puppy Shine and Comb for that final glamour. I do like a dusting of Plush Puppy Pixie Dust just lightly applied on strategic areas with your Plush Puppy Ultimate Powder Application Brush. The secret is just a dusting and not to turn it into the glitter fairy.
Your Golden with his kindly expression, all alert and full of confidence, is now ready to compete, showing himself with good reach and co-ordination as a retriever of the gundog group should be, all fit and in hard working condition. This loveable and trustworthy dog is always reliable and always a delight to behold.
Plush Puppy Australia