If you own a Golden Retriever puppy, you should be proud as you are raising one of the most popular breeds in the country. These beautiful canines have a golden coat and a golden heart to match. Loyal and friendly, Golden Retrievers are full of energy and highly intelligent. Their dense double coats shed moderately and require brushing on a regular basis. But, they aren’t too hard to maintain.
In a Hurry? Here are Our Top Choices
Golden Retriever puppies need to be cleaned like their adult siblings. They will get quite dirty during housetraining and when you take them out for exercise. Therefore, you will have to give them a bath to keep them clean. To do that, you will need a shampoo that is right for your Golden Retriever puppy. In this post, we are going to take a look at some of the best shampoos for a Golden Retriever puppy.
Things to Consider When Buying a Shampoo for a Golden Retriever Puppy
One important thing you should know about Golden Retriever puppies is that they are at a greater risk of allergies than other breeds. These puppies tend to develop allergies to allergens in the environment like mold, pollen, and dust, but they’re also at risk of developing food allergies. In puppies, food allergies present with different skin-related symptoms like itching, hot spots, and dryness. Finding the shampoo to suit your puppy’s irritated skin while moisturizing it for long-lasting protection should be your top concern. Some important things you should look for when searching for a shampoo for your Golden Retriever include:
· Hypoallergenic
Hypoallergenic means that the shampoo does not include any ingredient that is likely to trigger allergic reactions. Many hypoallergenic shampoos are either organic or all-natural.
· Moisturizers
Whether you are giving your puppy a routine bath or want to soothe its irritated, allergic skin, natural moisturizers such as aloe vera, oatmeal or almond oil should ideally be there in the shampoo.
· Natural Ingredients
For your Golden Retriever puppy, look for a shampoo that contains natural ingredients. Artificial additives like fragrances, colors, and phosphates can irritate your pup’s sensitive skin.
· pH Balance
The skin pH of your Golden Retriever puppy is different from adult dogs, so find a shampoo with a pH-balanced for puppies to reduce irritation.
· Deodorizers
If your puppy is fond of playing outside and gets dirty often, you may need something extra to keep it smelling fresh. So, look for shampoos that contain deodorizing agents.
How Often Does a Golden Retriever Puppy Need a Bath?
There isn’t any specific number of times you should give a bath to your Golden Retriever puppy. We generally recommend that you give it a bath every six weeks. But, the frequency of baths can vary depending on your dog. If your Golden Retriever puppy spends most of its time outdoors, then it will get dirty easily and need baths more frequently. If your pup has a skin condition, then you may need to give it a bath more regularly.
Tips for Giving a Bath to Your Golden Retriever
If you want to make bathing a pleasant procedure for your pup, follow these simple tips:
Use a Drain Cover
The golden fur of your canine is beautiful, but it is extremely damaging to plumbing and pipes. So, before you turn the water on, put a drain cover on the plug. This way, you will be able to catch the hairs that are removed during bathing before they get into the drain and cause a blockage.
Place a Towel Underneath
Always place a towel underneath your pup to make things safer and more comfortable for it. The plastic of the tub or the slippery ceramic combined with soap can make moving around difficult for your Golden Retriever.
Brush Before Bathing
Before you get your Golden Retriever puppy in the bath, give it a good brush. This will remove knots or matting before they get wet and become harder to remove.
Be Prepared
Make sure you have everything you need for giving your Golden Retriever a bath. If you forget something like the shampoo and leave your puppy unattended, you will end up with a soaking wet Golden Retriever. It may start running around the home while you are away. This would make the bathing process extremely difficult for you.
How to Bathe Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Brush Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Before a bath, brush your Golden Retriever puppy. Matted hair can hold water, leaving your pup with irritated skin. If you don’t know how to brush your Golden Retriever puppy, ask a professional groomer. Also, put a cotton ball in the ears of your pup to keep water out and prevent irritation and ear infections.
Don’t Use Very Hot Water
The skin of Golden Retriever puppies is very sensitive. Hot water can easily burn it causing pain to your pup. Make sure that the bath water isn’t hotter than what you would use for your own baby. If you aren’t sure about how hot the water should be, take advice from a vet or groomer.
Talk to Your Golden Retriever Puppy in a Reassuring Voice
Your Golden Retriever puppy will eventually learn that you are not torturing them. But, when your pup is new to bathing, talk to it in a reassuring and calm voice to ensure that it doesn’t overreact to the water being poured on it.
Use a Puppy Shampoo
Use a high-quality puppy shampoo for cleaning your Golden Retriever pup. Lather and massage the shampoo all over your pup’s body. Make sure that the soap doesn’t get in its eyes.
Rinse Well
If soap is left in your Golden Retriever’s skin, it can cause irritation. So, rinse thoroughly to ensure that all the soap washes away.
Air-Dry
Hot air that comes from a conventional human blow-dryer is too hot for your pup’s skin. So, you can either use a blow-dryer that is designed for dogs or air-dry.
Reward Your Golden Retriever Puppy
Follow up with praise, play or petting. A damp pup likes venting their frustration over bathing by playing tug-of-war with a towel.
Prep Work Before Bathing
Prep work includes nail trimming, ear cleaning, proper dental hygiene, and trimming the pads. It is important to keep your pup healthy and looking at its best. Ideally, you should do the prep work before every grooming and bathing session.
Proper nail care is extremely important. Long nails are unsightly and can cause health problems including joint issues and sore toes. They can also cause scratches on your legs and carpets. Use a high-quality dog nail trimmer to cut the nails of your pup. Good dental hygiene is also important for your Golden Retriever puppy’s health. Take your pup to a vet to confirm if you are maintaining proper dental hygiene and grooming your dog properly.
Best Shampoo for a Golden Retriever Puppy
1. Particular Paws Oatmeal Shampoo
Particular Paws is a very popular brand and its products usually do what the brand claims they do. Available in a 12-ounce bottle, the Oatmeal Shampoo from Particular Paws is ideal for dry, irritated or soothing skin. It also promotes healthy skin, restores natural oils, and improves the look of your Golden Retriever puppy’s coat.
The Particular Paws Oatmeal Shampoo is safe for puppies and contains shea butter, aloe vera, honey, and oatmeal. These natural ingredients will have a positive impact on your pup’s skin. Particular Paws claims that the Oatmeal Shampoo can help thicken the coat of your pet all while softening and straightening it. While this shampoo isn’t specifically made for light-colored dogs or Golden Retrievers, it does boost the shine of the colored coat.
Pros
- Uses natural ingredients and is non-toxic
- Excellent for soothing itching, dry or irritated skin
- Works for all dogs despite the size, age, color, breed or coat texture
- Can improve the health and look of your canine’s coat
Cons
- Not many scents are available
- Not specifically made for light-colored dogs or Golden Retrievers
2. Rocco and Roxie Supply Co. Calm Dog Shampoo
This shampoo is created to clean the fur of your puppy without being too harsh. You can use it on both a Golden Retriever puppy and adult dogs. If your pup is suffering from allergies, the Calm Dog Shampoo may be able to provide relief from itchiness. It does not contain any preservatives or artificial colors. Instead, it contains aloe vera extract and chamomile which are soothing.
The Calm Dog Shampoo will care for the tender skin of your Golden Retriever puppy, ensuring that it doesn’t get hurt during the bath. It will prevent allergies and tears so that your pup can enjoy a pleasurable bathing experience.
Pros
- Can be used on both adult Golden Retrievers with sensitive dermal conditions and Golden Retriever puppies.
- It doesn’t cause tears or allergies
- This shampoo includes aloe vera extract which seals in moisture for coat and skin.
- The shampoo doesn’t contain any parabens, drying alcohols or dyes that can mess up the endocrine system of your pup.
Cons
- Some buyers have said that this shampoo is outperformed by similarly priced products.
3. BioSilk Therapy Whitening Dog Shampoo (for light colored dogs)
The moisturizing formula in this shampoo is more than capable of maintaining and cleaning your Golden Retriever puppy’s beautiful coat. The BioSilk Therapy Whitening Dog Shampoo is pH-balanced and does not contain any sulfates or parabens, making it safe for use on a Golden Retriever puppy. If your pup tends to get very dirty while playing outdoors, this shampoo would be a good option.
The Whitening Dog Shampoo has been developed for your puppy using the same innovative technology and classic ingredients as the revolutionary BioSilk Silk Therapy line. The moisturizing shampoo is formulated with enriching vitamins and silk proteins that work together restoring the moisture balance to the coat of your pup. The formula brightens and cleanses lighter-colored coats leaving you with a well-groomed puppy following a bath. The BioSilk Therapy Whitening Dog Shampoo is also safe to use with tick and flea treatments.
Pros
- Made with healthy, natural, and moisturizing ingredients without any artificial preservatives.
- The formula is pH balanced for the hair of your pup and is free from parabens and sulfates, giving your Golden Retriever puppy healthy hair.
- Soften and conditions your pup’s hair leaving it with a silky, soft, and shiny coat and leaving your Golden Retriever puppy smelling fresh.
Cons
- Not suitable for all dogs
- Detangling the coat of your pup isn’t made effortless when you use this shampoo to clean the pup’s fur.
Our Final Thoughts
If you want to keep your Golden Retriever puppy healthy, it is essential that you give it regular baths – ideally every six weeks. To give your pup a good bath, you will need a shampoo that is right for your pup. Shampoos that are made specifically for adult dogs should never be used on a puppy as it can damage their skin. Instead, you should use a shampoo that’s suitable for puppies.
We have listed some of the best shampoos for a Golden Retriever puppy. Now, it is up to you to select the shampoo that you feel would be best for your pup. Make sure to choose a shampoo that will provide a comfortable and pleasurable bathing experience to your pooch.
We hope you found our buying guide helpful in selecting the right shampoo for your Golden Retriever puppy.
