Whats the best thing to start grooming a puppy with there are so many brushes, combs  and gloves out there now it's amazing, I've also heard a lot about firminators and wondered what your opinions on them are ( for when she's older) I've seen them at varying prices some quite cheap but ive never used one and sometimes you get what you pay for while others its just the name you are paying for and I've seen them from £12ish up to £30+ I eagerly await your thoughts :)

I have a furminator while it is pretty good neither of mine shed a lot and I got more use on the cats.  They are no good for long coated breeds who don't shed.  My beagle doesn't mind it and I do get a bit of hair off with it though.  When mine were puppies I used a mikki puppy brush - black, soft bristles - pretty cheap.  Works well nice and gentle, still use it on the beagle now as she is so short coated but it is now useless for the springer.  I have a few combs knocking about too which I use.  Guess it depends how hairy your puppy is, beagle hates anything remotely stiff being used on her, springer will quite happily put up with a slicker.

The Furminator should be used for double coated breeds only (as it is the undercoat is removes), and really is only useful during a moult. I could not live without mine (a tenner on Ebay) as it gets a LOT of use when my Malis moult, but I could never use it on the Papillons (single coat) and it's no good for my cats either -coats too long.

I have a short coated breed and have always found Kong Zoomgroom to be good to start grooming a puppy with, it gives them a bit of a massage at the same time and has always been a success.

She's a goldie so moults lots ( or will do lol ) I like the sound of the kong thingy for now though

Hi there Graciemay, I've got a 16 month old Goldie.  When she was a pup we just used a soft bristle puppy brush to get her into the routine of being brushed all over.  When they are really little like yours the fur isn't thick and i found a soft brush was fine. As and when she needed a big girl's brush (I can't remember now how old she was, but you'll know), I got a ball pin brush.  Now she is older we have a furminator purchased from Amazon, a lot cheaper than say, Pets at Home.  I use this occasionally, but be careful not to do too many strokes on the same spot as it can cause grazes.  Mostly though I use the pin brush first, then a comb, especially for the feathering, tail and under the ears.  I don't know whether this is right as this is my first Goldie but this routine works a treat for us and she looks beautiful-until her next walk!!

Marianne, Does the furminator not cut the coat?  I've heard great things about them but haven't used them myself as I was worried about the cutting rumour.

Hello lisad,  I've had 3 goldies and my last one lived till she was 15 and I think what we did when she's was a puppy it was sooo long ago.  I shall get a soft brush tomorrow and get started.  I've just put another post up can you check it out and give me your opinion. 

> Does the furminator not cut the coat? 

No the furminator does not cut the coat. It grabs hold of the loose hairs and brings them out in amazing amounts. It works well on double coated dogs like labradors, gsds etc but also works surprisingly well on very short coated dogs such as dalmatians, frenchies, dobes etc.

I would use a very soft slicker brush, a metal comb, and a bristle brush. Try to get her up on the kitchen table and comb through at least once a day so that she's getting used to it; I have a Miniature Schnauzers and this helps considerably when they're adults, but I understand they're much more high maintenance than Goldies. I'd use a soft slicker on her feathers and behind the ears, very very gently, and then a metal comb through the longer hairs to make sure no matts are forming. Then the bristle brush for on top coat. xx