Golden Retrievers are one of the most intelligent, gentle and eager-to-please dog breeds in the world. And this beautiful combination of personality traits makes them brilliant to train, which is why so many of them are used as service dogs. But do you need to train your Golden Retriever?
We have put together the ultimate guide to Golden Retrievers dog training to get you started – whether you are getting a new Golden Retriever puppy or adopting an older Golden Retriever.
Yes! All dogs should be trained as it boosts their confidence and also helps them bond with their owners. Due to their high level of intelligence, Golden Retrievers thrive when being trained, as it provides them with great mental stimulation and prevents negative behaviours.
When it comes to Golden Retriever training, here are some we recommend:
Yes. Golden Retrievers were bred to be hunting dogs and are also much more intelligent than many other dogs. If you start Golden Retriever training early, you will find it very easy to train your dog.
You can either enrol your pup in a puppy class or obedience training classes, or you can take on training sessions by yourself at home.
There are many types of training the Golden Retriever will benefit from and will enjoy. While some might be to show your friends a few cool tricks, here are some types of training your Golden Retrievers will need.
Potty training a new puppy is probably the most frustrating part of Golden Retriever puppy training. House training can take up to 4 months, so it is important that puppy owners are consistent and patient.
You can start house training your Golden Retriever pup as soon as you bring it home or between the ages of 12 to 16 weeks.
Feeding times should be on a set routine so that you can guesstimate when your pup will have to “go” after eating. Sticking to a schedule will make it much easier to train your puppy and let it outside when needed.
Whether outside or inside with puppy pads, you should always take your dog to the same place to go potty. This will form a habit, and the smell of the place will encourage them to relieve themselves. Just make sure always to clean up any poo. Otherwise, they may be discouraged from relieving themselves in the same spot.
Don’t use treats when it comes to potty training, as the feeling of relieving themselves should be enough reward. Rather use praise and kind, encouraging words when your pup goes potty outside.
Punishing your dog for accidental messes in the house by rubbing their nose in it may make them scared to relieve themselves at all, which may result in them hiding and making even more mess inside.
Crate training has become increasingly popular for training puppies and young dogs. Let’s take a look at this training method.
All dogs want to have a den, and using a crate is a great way to provide your puppy with a safe space that is entirely their own.
Crate training can aid with house training, stop destructive behaviour, and will also make your dog more confident, as he will have a part of the house to call his own.
You should start crate training your dog as soon as you get it. Introduce them to the crate on the first day and take time each day to train them.
Follow these steps to crate train your Golden Retriever.
When introducing your puppy to the crate for the first time, make sure to be positive and excited about it. This will make your puppy excited as well. Store the crate in an area with a lot of movement, and fill it with blankets and toys. Leave the door open, and try to get your puppy to enter the crate by itself.
You can place treats inside the crate to get your pup to enter it. Once your puppy enters the crate, leave the door open and just allow them to get to know the space.
Once your pup enters the crate by itself, you can start placing its food bowl at the back of the crate. Make sure this is a positive experience. If the dog seems hesitant, move the bowl closer to the entrance.
Once you have fed them inside the crate a few times, shut the gate behind them until they finish their meal. After each meal time, increase the time the gate is closed until they are happy to be in there for 10 minutes.
Once your Golden pup enjoys the crate during meal times, you can start training them to enter the crate on command, using treats as positive reinforcement. Leave the room for short periods of time, and when you re-enter, calmly open the gate and let them out.
After a few weeks of leaving your dog in the crate for a shorter time period, leave them in the crate for short trips outside of the house, like a quick trip to the store.
Keeping in mind that young dogs still have to go outside to potty frequently, you can start placing your dog in their crate at night (and letting them out for potty breaks).
Crate training definitely comes with its own set of pros and cons, and it’s not for every pet owner. But take a look at the benefits and downfalls so you can make an educated decision on whether crate training your Golden retriever is best suited to you and your pet.
Goldens are smart, which means Golden Retriever training is quite easy, and you can teach your dog many commands and tricks. Because of their intelligence, they enjoy working hard and picking up new commands.
Simple commands to teach your Golden include “sit”, “lie down”, “stay”, “wait”, and “come”. You can also teach them other tricks like “fetch” (they love retrieving, after all!), “shake”, “speak”, and “roll over”.
Here are some tips to make puppy training enjoyable for you and your pup.
It is best if you establish a routine and stick to it when it comes to training and enriching your puppy’s life. Keep walk times the same, as well as feeding times and times when you let them outside.
When it comes to Golden Retriever training, be consistent in your tone of voice, the words you use, and the rewards you give for good behaviour.
Most dogs respond the best to positive reinforcement methods. Instead of punishing bad behaviour, reward wanted behaviour. You can reward Golden Retriever puppies using treats, toys, play or affectionate words.
Golden Retrievers enjoy food, so it is best to avoid using too many treats during training as they can gain weight quickly.
Replace treats with playtime, cuddles or a toy when they show desired behaviour.
Clickers are great when used with treats to let your dog know he did something right. Use the clicker before handing a treat or other reward. The dog will associate the click with good behaviour. Click when he potties outside, plays fetch, does not become distracted on walks, waits before crossing the road, or enters his crate by himself.
Training Golden Retriever puppies can be very rewarding if you follow our tips and tricks above. With proper training, you will have a lovely, well-mannered and confident adult dog
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