Training a Golden Retriever
Golden retrievers make great family dogs with their loving, affectionate nature, loyalty, and great intelligence. Training golden retriever methods will not be much different than standard dog training techniques other than the fact that golden retrievers can be on the excitable and unruly side as puppies and do require proper socialization and obedience training to become good family dogs.
Golden retrievers were bred to be hunting dogs and do love to retrieve. They enjoy also sorts of physical and mental stimulation including swimming, retrieving a ball, obedience and agility training and other types of play and sports.
Golden retrievers are often chosen to be guide and service dogs due to their good nature, intelligence and abilities to learn. Golden retrievers make great family dogs and love to be involved in family activities and thrive on human affection and attention.
Training a Golden Retriever is Easy
Training golden retrievers is therefore usually not a difficult job as long as your dog has been properly socialized as a puppy. Take the time to bond with your puppy and train him using positive reinforcement which rewards him for good behavior with treats, praise and affection, rather than punishing him for bad behavior. Training golden retriever puppies should include house training, crate training and obedience training.
Click Here for the Ultimate Golden Retriever Training Guide
There are a few tendencies in golden retriever puppies that you will not want to encourage. Golden retriever puppies do love to nip, and you will want to make sure he does not develop the habit of nipping at family members and visitors. Telling him “no” in a firm voice may be enough to stop the behavior. Do not engage in games like chasing your hands or tug of war which may encourage nipping. Give your puppy a chew toy when he starts to nip.
Golden retriever puppies also love to chew. When he starts to chew on your shoes or other household items, you can once again tell him “no” and give him a toy to chew on such as a rope toy.
Another thing you do not want to encourage is barking and growling while playing. Golden retrievers are generally fairly quiet, but if you encourage barking and growling they may develop the habit.
It is also very important that your golden retriever puppy becomes socialized and does not develop dominant traits. Everyone in the family should be able to take away toys and food from your puppy. Give and take a toy away from your puppy and place your hands in the food bowl while he is eating. This will help to ensure that your golden retriever does not become dominant. Golden retrievers do have very good natures so this is not a major concern but more of a precaution.
Obedience Training With Golden Retrievers
When it comes to obedience training and learning commands like sit, stay and down, training golden retriever methods won’t vary much from standard dog training techniques. Generally speaking, teaching a golden retriever obedience commands should not be a big problem, as golden retrievers are very intelligent dogs and eager to learn. Be sure to give your dog plenty of positive reinforcement in the forms of lots of treats and praise, and your golden retriever will learn these commands in no time at all.
Training golden retriever methods mainly rely on you providing consistency, some clear guidance and repetition. Another thing to keep in mind is that golden retrievers are very athletic, active dogs and need lots of exercise, mental stimulation and interaction. Do not leave your golden retriever isolated or inactive for long periods of time. He thrives on staying active and socially engaged with his family. If you take the time to properly train your golden retriever you will have a very good natured, intelligent, loyal dog that your family will enjoy for years to come.