Do Golden Retrievers need grooming?

[Stumpedasatree]

Ours is 6 years old with a beautiful coat we take care of ourselves with a good brush. She loves water and mud in typical golden style, and sheds a fair bit. Do I need to take her to a groomers? She's never been.

No, my old boy was happy with a brush and a trim by me, current boy is the same I keep him looking nice though trim paws etc but he loves mud etc my mum used to show dogs so showed me how to keep him looking tidy - doesn’t take a lot really. If your dog is happy and knot free then I don’t think they must be professionally groomed

I have dogs with similar coats and never take them to the groomers.
As long as they aren’t matted and don’t smell I don’t see the need!

I never have mine groomed but I do brush him regularly all over with a pinhead brush and he absolutely loves it - lies on his back legs akimbo, eyes all sleepy closed. It's hilariously stupid and loveable.

I’m on Retriever number 4 and none of them ever went near a groomer.
They somehow shed the mud (on your floor) and an occasional brush at home seems adequate. We do sometimes have a session and a cuddle but it’s for bonding and so I can check him over as things can hide under all the floof

No groomers for our retriever! We brush him most days though.

@Hoppinggreen

I’m on Retriever number 4 and none of them ever went near a groomer. They somehow shed the mud (on your floor) and an occasional brush at home seems adequate. We do sometimes have a session and a cuddle but it’s for bonding and so I can check him over as things can hide under all the floof

Oh the floor, the floor

Ours tried to roll in something even fouler than usual yesterday 🦊☠ and he's still beautiful and relatively fragrant.

Yes. You'd be surprised how much better my GR looks after a good groom. Tail trimmed, undercoat stripped, paws trimmed, clean and lovely.

The mud does just kind of fall off them, doesn't it? Into dry, dusty stuff.

We've just got a lab puppy and I'm really interested to see how his coat differs - so far he doesn't seem to get as wet and dries really quickly. He hasn't got muddy yet, but we did once meet people walking a spotless Labrador through the fields, while our retriever was possibly the muddiest he has ever been.

I think it depends on their coat, they do vary quite a bit. My last one I only had groomed 3 times in his 14 1/2 years. His coat was not so feathered as his mum was slightly curly coated. My current one with straighter more feathered fur I have done about once a year. It just gets really thick despite me brushing more occasionally, not every day, and gets really untidy around his back legs and needs trimming around rear to avoid poo! I am not up to styling dog fur, feet trimming is ok but the rest I have to leave to the professionals. He does come back with lovely soft fluffy fir and smelling sweet

Mine goes sometimes - it does help with their paws and claws, and she does look (and smell!) beautiful after she's been. However, she's become increasingly anxious about going, so I haven't been for aeons.