Hi, I'm hoping that somebody can help me.  I've got a lovely Golden retriever but I am struggling to find a decent groomer in North east England (Newcastle Upon Tyne) that actually knows how to groom/trim this breed correctly.  every time I try a new place and I am assured that they know how to groom him I end up taking a Golden Retriever/Westie cross home.  he looks silly! this time they have insisted on shaving his tummy and the base of his penis!

Please can anyone recommend somewhere that knows how to groom a Golden?!?

cheers
Tim

Is this for showing? If so why not learn yourself, it's not hard and all the tools required are scissors, thinning scissors, brush and comb -your breeder might be able to show you? There's also step by step instructions in Bernard Bargh's book (can't remember what it is called now, but something like Pet owner's guide to the Golden Ret) which is a cheap book published by Ringpress, with photos.

If it's just to keep him nice as a pet, no real need to do anything but bath and brush and perhaps keep the tail tidy -that's all I do with mine when not shown.

We are taught just to thin out particularly fluffy bits round the back end, and trim round feet and under pads, and tidy wispy ends on the tail or tummy. But I'm in north London I'm afraid. Can't imagine why your groomer is trying to do a Westie look on him, how weird!!

I've heard really good things about
Angela's Grooming Room
161, Whitley Rd, Whitley Bay, Tyne and Wear NE26 2DN
Tel: 0191 2518001

I haven't used them myself but the wife of one of our trainers works there and Angela is one of the few people around who knows how to properly hand strip a dog. Most people at my training club use her and their dogs look good.

Excellent thanks will try this one.  It's not for showing (he's been castrated) just to clean him up a bit but then he comes out looking like a westie i kinda feel for him

Thanks

Just thought I'd add, I know goldens don't get stripped; it's just a measure of a groomer's abilities so I've been told.

I hope she works out for you.

Ooh, that bodes well for my business, as I'm already becoming known as one of the few people in Enfield who will handstrip a terrier! :-)

Well done Lucy.  Owners will travel many, many miles to someone who will make their dog look like it should instead of clipping it off!
Most owners with Cockers think that clipping them is the 'right' thing to do because all the other Cockers in the park look the same and they know no different! :rolleyes: