Golden Retriever
A Golden does not need a haircut either. It needs the loose hair out and the long bits tidied. Dogs NSW says the breed sheds all year, with two heavy runs. Book a wash, deshed and tidy every eight weeks.
- Coat type
- Long Double
- Groom every
- 8 weeks
- Brushing at home
- Brush 2 to 3 times a week, daily when it is dropping
- Shedding
- All year, and heavily twice a year.
- Watch for
- Ears, the back legs, the tail and the feet
- Time in the salon
- About 110 minutes for a Tidy Groom
A working coat with long bits
Dogs NSW describes the Golden coat as flat or wavy, over a dense layer underneath that keeps water out. On top of that, the ears, chest, back legs and tail carry long hair. Groomers call that feathering. The body coat mostly behaves itself. The feathering and the soft layer underneath are the two parts that need you.
Why eight weeks
Dogs NSW says daily brushing "can help reduce the amount it will shed and prevent matting, which can lead to skin irritations". Most owners manage two or three times a week, which is fine if it actually happens. What builds up is the soft layer underneath, plus knots in the long hair behind the ears and on the back legs. Eight weeks clears both before either gets uncomfortable.
No shaving, whatever the weather. The coat holds heat off the skin as well as in, and regrowth is not guaranteed.
Home care between grooms
- Line brush two to three times a week. Hold the coat back with one hand and work a thin band at a time, from the skin out.
- Do behind the ears, the back legs and the tail. That is where the long hair knots.
- Check the ears each week and dry them after a swim.
Line brushing, shown by iGroomHub, our partner. This is how our groomers brush, and it is the way to do it at home.
What you need at home
- Undercoat rake
Pulls out the soft layer underneath. That is the hair that ends up on your floor.
- Slicker brush
This is the brush you line brush with. Follow it with the comb.
- Shampoo and conditioner
A proper wash loosens the dead hair so the dry can lift it out. Our range is made with chemists: 100% natural, vegan and palm oil free.
What we do for Goldens at WOOOF
A Golden books a Tidy Groom, about 110 minutes. That is a bath, a full dry, ears, nails, and a tidy of the feet, ears, tail and back legs. We add Deshedding, which is a wash and a high pressure dry that lifts the loose hair out. It is quoted at check in. No clipping, and no shaving.
What a Golden Retriever groom costs
Set to a large dog with a long double coat, which is where a Golden sits.
Showing the lowest prices, for a large dog with a long double coat. Pick your dog’s weight and coat to see their price.
Add to any service
- Teeth Brush$30
- Nail Trim$25
- Nail filing$15
- DemattingFrom $34quoted on arrival
- DesheddingFrom $34quoted on arrival
Specialist grooming and programmes
Grooming that is priced after a conversation, a consultation, a coat assessment or a programme rather than a standard slot.
Happy Puppy Club
Short, positive sessions that teach a puppy the salon is a good place, so their whole grooming life is easier. Start any time from their first vaccinations.
See how the club works →
Spa treatments
Hydrospa and therapeutic treatments for coat, skin and muscular health, for itchy skin, dull coats, and older dogs who feel their walks the next day.
Browse treatments →
Hand stripping
Terriers and Spaniels whose coats are better hand stripped, or stripped and clipped. Duration and price depend on the coat.
Talk to our team →
Asian freestyle groom
Soft, sculpted, toy-like styling by an award-winning stylist: rounded faces, fuller legs, even braids. For smaller dense or curly coats groomed every 4 weeks.
Talk to our team →Cancellations and late arrivals
Please give us 24 hours if plans change. Arriving more than 15 minutes late may mean we cannot finish the groom booked.
Safe handling fee
A $30 safe handling fee applies where a dog needs two groomers or extra time to stay safe and comfortable. We always call you first.
Ready when you are
You’re 2 minutes away from happiness. Our booking portal helps you select the right services for your dog and shows you live calendar availability.
Book nowService prices are a starting point. The exact price is confirmed at drop-off, based on grooming time, coat condition, size and any extra handling. Add-on prices are exact.
Common questions
How often does a Golden Retriever need grooming?
Every eight weeks for a wash, deshed and tidy. There is no haircut. The job is lifting the loose hair out and keeping the long hair on the ears, legs and tail in check.
Will shaving my Golden keep it cooler?
No. We take the loose hair out instead of shaving. A shaved double coat can grow back rough, and it stops shading the skin. An Australian study of NSW dogs listed a double coat among the things that raise heat risk, so these dogs do need care in hot weather. Shade, water and a deshed help. Clippers do not.
Where this comes from
Dogs NSW, Golden Retriever. "Daily brushing can help reduce the amount it will shed and prevent matting, which can lead to skin irritations." A flat or wavy coat over a dense layer that keeps water out.
Tripovich and others, Feeling the heat, Australian Veterinary Journal, 2025. A study of NSW dogs from 1997 to 2017. Deaths rose about 0.6% for each degree above 25°C, and 9.5% on days over 32°C. A double coat and a body weight over 15 kg were listed among the things that raise the risk.
RSPCA Australia, Why and how should I groom my dog? Brush knots out before they turn into mats.
PetSure, Pet Health Monitor 2026. Ear infections in adult dogs cost $473 on average to treat.
WOOOF groomers are not vets. We tell you what we see on the table and send you to your vet. Nothing here is vet advice.