The best brush for a Golden Retriever
A Golden Retriever's dense double coat sheds heavily, especially during the twice-yearly seasonal blow-out, so the brush that works best is one built to reach the soft undercoat rather than just tidy the top layer — an undercoat rake or a slicker brush used regularly, rather than a basic bristle brush used occasionally.
Why this breed's coat needs the right tool
Golden Retrievers carry a water-repellent outer coat over a dense, insulating undercoat, and it is that undercoat that causes most of the shedding trouble owners deal with. A brush that only skims the surface leaves the loose undercoat hair in place, where it mats, dulls the coat, and ends up on furniture anyway once it eventually works its way out.
During the spring and autumn coat blow, when the undercoat sheds in much larger volumes than the rest of the year, this becomes especially noticeable, and a tool that cannot get down to that layer will feel like it is achieving very little for the effort involved.
What actually works
An undercoat rake, with its widely spaced teeth designed to reach through the topcoat, is the tool most groomers reach for on a double-coated breed like this one, and it is particularly effective during the seasonal blow when there is a genuinely large volume of loose undercoat to remove.
A slicker brush is a good complement for general day-to-day brushing between deeper undercoat sessions, working through the topcoat and picking up looser surface hair without needing to dig as deep. Using both together, rather than relying on just one, tends to give the best results for this breed.
How often to brush
A couple of times a week is a reasonable baseline for a Golden Retriever outside of the seasonal blow, stepping up to daily or near-daily sessions during the heaviest shedding periods in spring and autumn, when the volume of loose hair genuinely warrants it.
Regular brushing does more than manage shedding — it helps prevent matting behind the ears and under the legs, distributes natural coat oils, and gives you a chance to check the skin underneath for anything that needs a closer look, all of which matter for a breed with this much coat to manage.
What we stock for this breed
Everything below is in stock with us, priced with delivery worked out, and packed and posted by hand in the UK.
Ancol Ergo Wooden Handle Slicker Brush
A stainless steel slicker brush on a wooden handle, for short, long, wiry and curly coats
From£6.99
Wahl Competition Series Clipper Blades
High-precision, chrome-plated clipper blades with a rust-resistant finish, available in 17 sizes for every coat type and clipping style.
From£37.99
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb
Ancol Ergo Double Sided Comb: a SGL grooming comb for combing the coat
£8.79
Ancol Ergo Grooming Glove
A rubber grooming glove for dogs, for removing loose hair on wet or dry coats
£9.79
Wahl Pet Grooming Scissors with Finger Rest
Stainless steel finishing scissors with ergonomic offset handles — perfect for tidying around eyes, ears, mouth, and paws.
£5.49
Ancol Ergo Universal Slicker
A universal slicker brush for dogs, for coats from smooth to curly
From£6.79
Large Self-Cleaning Slicker Brush for Mats and Tangles
A self-cleaning slicker brush with fine, bead-tipped wire pins that gently lift loose undercoat, mats and tangles from short or long-haired pets. A one-click button releases the collected fur for fuss-free cleaning. Cat-ear shaped design.
£18.99
Slicker Brush for Dogs — Detangling & De-shedding
An ergonomic slicker brush with anti-scratch pins that works through tangles and removes dead hair from top and undercoat.
From£9.99
Groom Professional Curved Soft Slicker Brush
A professional-grade curved slicker brush with soft pins, designed to groom delicate and soft-coated pets without discomfort.
From£8.99
Round-Tipped Deshedding Rake Comb
A double-sided undercoat rake with rounded stainless-steel blades that gently cut through mats and remove loose hair. The non-slip ergonomic handle makes deshedding dogs and cats quick and comfortable.
From£8.99
Self-Cleaning Deshedding Slicker Brush
A deshedding grooming tool for dogs and cats that lifts loose undercoat and eases out tangles, with a self-cleaning button that releases the trapped fur in one press.
£25.99
Common questions
- Do Golden Retrievers need professional grooming?
- Not strictly, if you keep up with regular home brushing including the undercoat, but many owners find a professional groom every couple of months makes the deeper seasonal coat blow significantly easier to manage.
- How do I stop my Golden Retriever shedding so much?
- You cannot stop shedding entirely in a double-coated breed, but regular brushing with a tool that reaches the undercoat significantly reduces the amount of loose hair ending up on furniture rather than in the brush.
- Is a deshedding tool the same as an undercoat rake?
- They serve a similar purpose and are often used interchangeably in how owners describe them, though specific designs vary between brands and tools. The key feature to look for is teeth that reach through the topcoat to the denser undercoat underneath.
- When is the worst time of year for Golden Retriever shedding?
- Spring and autumn are typically the heaviest shedding periods, as the coat blows out to adjust for the coming season. Brushing more frequently during these windows makes a noticeable difference to how much hair ends up around the home.
Related
Written by Matt Garnett, who runs Giddy Pets and is a lifelong pet owner — not a vet. This is general information, not veterinary advice, and it cannot replace an examination by the vet who knows your animal. How we write these guides.