Your Golden needs to be regularly groomed. Whether you learn to do it yourself or pay someone to do it professionally, the Golden Retriever's coat requires frequent brushing and occasional bathing. Most Goldens have full, medium-to-long coats that mat easily if not brushed every week.

The easiest time to start teaching your Golden Retriever to like being groomed is while he is still a puppy. Getting him used to being brushed, having his ears cleaned, having his nails trimmed, and being bathed is best accomplished by breaking the tasks down into tiny steps. This way, you get your dog used to each aspect of each procedure slowly and as positively as possible. (See Chapter 19 for grooming basics.)

Though spring and fall may find you with more hair on your grooming brush (and your slacks), there is no particular season in which Goldens shed. Frequent brushing during this time can help keep the volume of hair in your home to a minimum, but dog hair will be part of your everyday if you live with a Golden. Chapter 19 provides more information on grooming.